Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm – Thursday night – Southern Cross Group Stadium

The Sharks have had plenty of time to prepare for this game, and their big-name Origin players return after a confidence-boosting performance for NSW. These sides met in round 6 when the Sharks prevailed 11-2 in Melbourne, but a few important points to take away from that game. The weather was terrible, and the Sharks scored just one try in the 73rd minute. Those conditions, I would argue, suit the Sharks more than the Storm. The weather in Sydney does look pretty bleak (again), so it's worth keeping an eye on the sky. Another wet night and you have to start leaning toward the home side again. Also worth noting that the Sharks in round 6 had much the same team as they do this Thursday, while the Storm have some pretty handy additions to their seventeen this time around (Cameron Munster, Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris and Cheyse Blair). Furthermore I note the performances this season of the Sharks at home and the Storm away from home. The Storm are undefeated on the road in 2017 – six wins from six starts. The Sharks home ground used to be a fortress but this season they've won just 3 from 6 – those three wins were a one point victory over the 16th-placed Knights, a one point victory over the 14th-placed Bulldogs and a four point victory over a Thurston-less Cowboys. If the Sharks want to beat the Storm they'll need to be better than that. Clearly they can be better, but I'll stick with my purple buddies in what looks likely to be a gripping, low-scoring contest.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Cooper Cronk has now been ruled out and he's pretty darn important. I'll stick with my original tip but you should all be aware of this team change before you select yours.

Verdict – Storm by 1

Result – Storm by 5

Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights – Friday night – Lottoland

The Knights have won just two games this season and they've won just two of their last ten starts at whatever Manly are calling their home gound these days. Akuila Uate gets a chance to show his old club he isn't a spent force just yet. He's worth backing in try scoring markets if such things interest you. Sea Eagles comfortably on a dry track and slightly less comfortably on a wet track, but Sea Eagles whatever the weather.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 14

Result – Sea Eagles by 4

Brisbane Broncos vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

The Rabbits have lost five of their last six games, and that one victory was over the Tigers who are a rabble. One of their more competitive losses during that period was a one point loss to the Broncos. On that occasion, Cody Walker played in the halves and I think they're a better side when he's there. On Friday night he's playing at fullback to make way for Adam Reynolds, and this playmaking combination just doesn't have the spark to challenge the defence of their opponents. The Bunnies record at Suncorp isn't flash at the best of times and we are a long way away from seeing the best of the Bunnies. The Broncos just fell short against the Roosters in Sydney in round 13. Back at home and with Milford and Nikorima returning – they just look like a team with points in them. I can't see the Bunnies keeping up.

Verdict – Broncos by 16

Result – Broncos by 6

Gold Coast Titans vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday afternoon – Cbus Super Stadium

On paper this should be the game of the round and it would be if the Warriors weren't such a useless lump of lumpiness. Jarryd Hayne has agreed to terms with the Titans and picks up the number one jersey this weekend for his troubles. He's a better player at fullback...surely. A good chunk of the crowd on Saturday will be ex-pat Kiwis but it won't make a lick of difference. The Titans pack will actually turn up to play and they'll win that battle for sure and certain. On the back of that, this fabulous Titans spine of Peats, Taylor, Elgey and Hayne will outpoint that fabulous (on paper) Warriors spine. Back the total points overs I say – there'll be no shortage of razzle and dazzle on the Coast on Saturday afternoon.

Verdict – Titans by 8

Result – Warriors by 22

Penrith Panthers vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday night – Carrington Park (Bathurst)

Forgive me Ricky Stuart for I am about to sin. From memory I had these sides pegged as my top two teams at the start of the season. The Panthers then went out of their way to prove to everyone just how wrong I was, but in recent weeks things are starting to look up. Now I accept that their last three victories have been against some pretty ordinary opponents, but they have scored 114 points in those three games, and last week they kept their opponent on zero. That tells me that, slowly but surely, the Panthers are finding their feet. Beating the Raiders is a step-up compared to their recent opponents, but I think they can do this. Note that the Raiders are without the two prop forwards that were injured in the Raiders loss to the Sea Eagles. That evens up the contest for the big men, and the Panthers little men have clearly started to work out where the try line is. Those of you in the greater Bathurst region should find your way to this game. There should be plenty of attacking flair on show and I'm expecting one of those 38-30 scorelines.

Verdict – Panthers by 8

Result – Panthers by 4

Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys – Saturday night – TIO Stadium (Darwin)

Note the venue folks – this is closer to Townsville than it is to Parramatta, but it's really an away game for everyone. Keep in mind that Darwin still gets maximum temperatures in the low 30s this time of year, which is a little more like Townsville in June than what you'll cop during a western Sydney winter. There'll be more thongs than ugg boots in the crowd on Saturday night. On extended benches we have Corey Norman for the Eels and Jonathan Thurston for the Cowboys, but I'm assuming neither will play. The Cowboys have named debutant Kyle Laybutt in the halves for this game. Laybutt is a promising kid (and at 6 ft 3 inches you won't miss him) but this is a big ask. John Asiata was a revelation in the playmaking role for the Cowboys earlier this season but clearly the Cowboys need him as a prop. You can't trust the Eels for a minute and this is just the sort of game they should win but will throw away with ten minutes of stupidity (I'm looking at you Kenny Edwards), but I'm tipping them anyway. No confidence...and I'm actually hoping I get this wrong.

Verdict – Eels by 2

Result – Cowboys by 26

Wests Tigers vs Sydney Roosters – Sunday afternoon – Campbelltown Stadium

In round 11 the Broncos beat the Tigers 36-0, and just last week the Roosters beat the Broncos 18-16. I have every expectation that the Roosters will do to the Tigers what the Broncos did to the Tigers. 36-0 would be a stretch, given the venue, but it's the tri-colours in what I expect will be a dominant performance.

Verdict – Roosters by 20

Result – Roosters by 22

Canterbury Bulldogs vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Monday afternoon – ANZ Stadium

If the Bulldogs weren't awful in round thirteen they were something very close to it....unlawful perhaps? I expect they will improve after that effort, if only because they couldn't possibly get any worse. The problem for the Dogs, above and beyond their crappiness right now, is that the Dragons know the Bulldogs will improve and will prepare accordingly. Given there's next to no chance the Dragons will take this game lightly, they will take this game and win it. It's the Red V for me.

Verdict – Dragons by 8

Result – Bulldogs by 14

Wally Lewis - round fourteen selections (in bold)

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

• SHARKS vs Storm
• SEA EAGLES vs Knights
• BRONCOS vs Rabbits
• TITANS vs Warriors
• PANTHERS vs Raiders
• Eels vs COWBOYS
• Tigers vs ROOSTERS
• Bulldogs vs DRAGONS