Wests Tigers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Thursday night – Bankwest Stadium

The Tigers, theoretically at least, kept their top eight hopes alive with a stunning win over the Sea Eagles in round seventeen. To stay in contention they will need to win their last three games of the regular season...and they can't. They can't because they have played top eight teams nine times this year, and they lost eight times. The only top eight team they have beaten this season is the Sharks, and they aren't a proper top eight team anyway. Their last three games are against the Bunnies, Storm and Eels. It can't happen, it won't happen, and it can't happen. The Rabbits gave the Storm a shake last start. Specials.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 10

Verdict – Rabbitohs 26 defeated Tigers 24

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

People with their ears closer to the ground than I do are suggesting that the once mighty Bulldogs are a club on the verge of self-implosion. Their on-field performances wouldn't have helped, but those on the park are certainly trying. They face an opponent spiralling out of finals contention on Friday night, and have to be some chance, but the season ending injuries to Dylan Napa and Kieran Foran make it hard. Manly dont have a lot to play for anymore, but I think they can pick up their first win since July.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 1

Verdict – Sea Eagles 32 defeated Bulldogs 20

Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels – Friday night – Panthers Stadium

Penrith take on the only team that has beaten them this season. That was back in round five, when the Eels were going much better than they are now. Even then, Penrith were the dominant team on the night, and it was peculiar (to me at least) that they lost. Isaah Yeo returns for the black cats, bolstering them even further. For the Eels, Reed Mahoney has overcome a shoulder injury which is good news for them (and potentially for Queensland later this year). It's hard to come up with a reason why the Panthers will lose this, so I won't...and they won't.

Verdict – Panthers by 13

Verdict – Panthers 20 defeated Eels 2

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday afternoon – WIN Stadium

It doesn't bring me any joy talking down NRL teams. I genuinely wish we had 16 teams in contention for the minor premiership. Sadly, we do not, and I have to be honest. The Dragons are no hope here, and the Raiders have an opportunity to bolster their points differential and shore up a home final, or even a top four finish if the Eels completely lose the plot. For the Raiders, Soliola isn't far away from a return. Despite the loss to the Roosters last weekend, they are still a genuine contender.

Verdict – Raiders by 28

Verdict – Raiders 37 defeated Dragons 8

Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos – Saturday night – Cbus Super Stadium

I expect the Broncos will be up for this game, because a win here puts to rest any thoughts of them running last this season. That's a pretty low bar for success for any team, but especially this team. The Broncos are training next door as I write, so I took the trouble to duck over and watch them go through their drills for twenty minutes. They look sharp, but I've thought that several times this year and it hasn't made a lick of difference. Alex Glenn and Joe Ofahengaue are back, adding some experience and starch to the pack. You can't possibly tip them with any confidence, but Saturday night could be a rare chance for the Broncos to sing the team song after a game (if any of them can remember how it goes).

Verdict – Broncos by 4

Verdict – Titans 18 defeated Broncos 6

Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday night – Sydney Cricket Ground

The Roosters, on the wrong end of the top four, face a side that thrashed a top eight team last weekend, and they're a $1.10 favourite. Normally I would say that is madness, but in this instance it's probably about right. The Knights are resting their two most potent backs (Ponga and Hunt) and their line-up numbers 1 through 7 looks woefully inadequate in comparison with their opponent. Jake Friend returns and Mitch Aubusson isn't far away. As the finals loom, Victor Radley is perhaps the only first seventeen Rooster that is unavailable. Here they come.

Verdict – Roosters by 25

Verdict – Roosters 42 defeated Knights 12

Melbourne Storm vs North Queensland Cowboys – Sunday afternoon – Sunshine Coast Stadium

While both sides won last start, there is a clear divide between the very good sides and the also rans. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they are clearly in that latter group. Papenhuyzen is rested here and he was at his absolute best against the Rabbits, but the Storm have been pretty good at finding useful replacements when needed. Nicho Hynes gets a chance to shine...and probably will. While the Storm can't win the minor premiership from here, a top two finish looks a certainty.

Verdict – Storm by 22

Verdict – Storm 36 defeated Cowboys 20

Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors – Sunday night – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

A few important returns for the Sharks - Johnson, Fifita and Rudolph. I rate Rudolph as both a player and a reindeer, but I have some doubts about the fitness of Johnson and Fifita. This is a very important match for both sides, and I think the winner here makes the top eight at the expense of the loser. After this the Sharks have two games where they will probably be torn to shreds, so they need this, and the pressure will break them. As for the Warriors, anything they do this season is a bonus, and if they can win this they will probably only need one more win from their last two to sneak into the top eight. What a freakin story that would be. Crossing everything.

Verdict – Warriors by 2

Verdict – Sharks 22 defeated Warriors 14

Wally Lewis - round eighteen selections (in bold)

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

• Tigers vs RABBITOHS
• Bulldogs vs SEA EAGLES
• PANTHERS vs Eels
• Dragons vs RAIDERS
• Titans vs BRONCOS
• ROOSTERS vs Knights
• STORM vs Cowboys
• SHARKS vs Warriors