Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Sea Eagles – Thursday night – ANZ Stadium

Manly are two wins adrift of four other teams vying for finals spots, and in their last four games they face top eight teams playing well. Coach Trent Barrett all but conceded that their campaign this year was over...and it is. Once the coach has given up, the players have every excuse in the world to give up too (unless they're desperately seeking a new contract). Jamie Lyon returns and they'll lift for his testimonial game at Brookvale, but that selection is for another day. The Dogs are talking. Woof! Woof!

Verdict – Bulldogs by 10

Result - Bulldogs 20 defeated Sea Eagles 16

Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

When last they met it was the very first game of the season, when the Broncos prevailed (17-4) at Pirtek. Foran was a late withdrawal before the game, and Norman got injured before half time and never returned. Since then the season has only gotten worse for them both. While the Eels last start victory over the Sea Eagles showed they haven't given up completely, they had their share of luck to get there. The 50-50 calls are less likely to go their way away from home. Abolutely no-one should be backing the Broncos to win this game at $1.22, but they are the team to tip. There were positive signs last round, and those that have written them off this season should note that the Sharks lost, the Cowboys lost, the Storm scraped home at home and the Bulldogs had their share of challenges getting over the Knights. Broncos...not finished just yet. 

Verdict – Broncos by 8

Result - Broncos 38 defeated Eels 16

Wests Tigers vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday afternoon – Campbelltown Stadium

Critics of Jarryd Hayne and his return on the Gold Coast take note - he's good for business. The Titans loss to the Warriors last week was the highest rating show on Foxtel ever - not bad for an expansion club and a team from New Zealand. I'm not sure how many of those 396,000+ will be glued to televisions on Saturday, but it's worth a look. Robbie Farah was probably wrong when he said he was at least as good as Cameron Smith, and Jason Taylor was probably right when he said the Tigers were a better team without him. They've won three games on the trot, and every win has been convincing. Given their last start win over the Cowboys, you would expect these young Tigers will be starting to believe that they deserve to be playing finals football this year. This season might be one season too early, but it's great to see a young side giving it a shake. If Hayne was rusty in his first game back then his best will be very good indeed. I'll assume he improves this week, and I'll assume the Titans are a more cohesive unit this week too. Will that be enough to beat an in-form Tigers in daytime conditions at home? Not quite.

Verdict – Tigers by 2

Result - Titans 19 defeated Tigers 18

New Zealand Warriors vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Saturday night – Mt Smart Stadium

Every season the Warriors get on a run, and this season their run has arrived later than it usually does. I blame climate change. I'm not sure what's causing the steady decline at South Sydney but this once mighty side has lost nine games in a row. Yes they put up a fight against the Storm last week, but I'm declaring that performance a one-off. Prior to that they got beaten by 50, and teams that get beaten by 50 often bounce back next start. Bounce is what they did, and now it's time they bounced back down again. The Warriors have beaten two top eight contenders in a row, and any losses in recent times have been in extra time. You can never say the Warriors are a certainty, but I feel like saying it.

Verdict – Warriors by 14

Result - Rabbitohs 41 defeated Warriors 22

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday night – UOW Jubilee Stadium

Somewhere out there is a planet whose inhabitants believe the Dragons can win on Saturday night, but it's not this planet. Perhaps it's where Johnny Ray went - there were times when he did seem like he was from another world. I've felt for a while that the Sharks peaked too early this season, and their last two performances may indicate that to be true, but they're better than the Dragons. They're so much better than the Dragons. If the Sharks went into this game assuming the two points were already theirs, I could give the Dragons a slight hope, but given the Sharks comprehensive loss last start, that won't be the case. Joel Thompson, Tyson (you can't tough this) Frizell and Josh Dugan return for the Red V, but I doubt it matters. I think the Sharks win by 30, and I can't believe the bookies have them at $1.25. I like that...gamble responsibly.

Verdict – Sharks by 30

Result - Dragons 32 defeated Sharks 18

Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Hunter Stadium

The Knights have an old boys game up their sleeves, but this isn't it. It's not even next week when Jarryd Hayne heads to the Hunter. The Panthers are level with two other teams on the ladder but ahead on points differential. This game gives them an opportunity to stretch that lead further, and that differential could be very important indeed when we call time on the last game in round 26. Hook knows it, and he has a team capable of racking up a score. $1.17 for the Panthers. I actually like that more than the Sharks at $1.25.

Verdict – Panthers by 34

Result - Panthers 42 defeated Knights 6

Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys – Sunday afternoon – Allianz Stadium

If there is a crazy result this round (and nearly every round has one) then this game could be the game. The Roosters barely tried last week, and its very likely they're too busy getting their end of season holidays organised to be worried about winning football games. If that is the case this game is over already, but it's possible the Chooks can find a reason to win this. That reason - to finish ahead of the Rabbitohs on the ladder this season. That's all I've got. Pearce and Waerea-Hargreaves return for the tricolours, and the Cowboys are without Granville in that all important role. His absence may slow the Cowboys down in attack just enough. We are the Roosters...the red white and bluesters.

Verdict – Roosters by 2

Result - Roosters 22 defeated Cowboys 10

Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm – Monday night – GIO Stadium

Josh Hodgson isn't better than Cameron Smith, but he's a lot better than Robbie Farah, and he might be the best English rugby league player in the world right now (I know...that's a small world, but still). There's every chance they'll be vying for the Dally M this year (unless Ben Barba or Jason Taumalomo get in the way). The Raiders proved (to many) they're a contender this season with their win over the Sharks. Now they get a chance to back up that impressive left jab with a stunning right hook by knocking off the team on the top of the ladder for the second week in a row. A win for the Storm and they maintain their lead over the Sharks - a loss and they probably drop to second. A win for the Raiders and they stay in third - a loss and they probably drop to fourth. It's an important game and it's the game of the round, so who do you want on your side in those clutch moments? Answer: Cameron Smith.

Verdict – Storm by 1

Result - Raiders 22 defeated Storm 8

Wally Lewis - round twenty-three selections (in bold)

Note: tips from Wally will be published on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

• BULLDOGS vs Sea Eagles
• BRONCOS vs Eels
• TIGERS vs Titans
• WARRIORS vs Rabbitohs
• Dragons vs SHARKS
• Knights vs PANTHERS
• Roosters vs COWBOYS
• Raiders vs STORM