Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm – Thursday night – Bankwest Stadium

I held off writing this preview until we had news from the judiciary, and it wasn't a great headline for the Storm. Jesse Bromwich fought the law and the law one, and he joins a pretty long list of pretty good first graders who won't be lining up for the purple machine on Thursday night - C Smith, J Bromwich, Munster, Finucane, Vunivalu and Kamikamica. Take note that Jahrome Hughes has been named but could be a late withdrawal. They were tremendous against the Chooks last week (who, to be fair, ended up more injured than the Storm), but without three of their most important forwards this is another step up for a team that doesn't know how to step down. The Eels couldn't beat the Dragons a week ago, but I think they get lucky here.

Verdict – Eels by 4

Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks – Friday night – Panthers Stadium

The Panthers, atop the table and with a nice short casualty list that is the envy of almost every team in the NRL, just keep on winning. They've been beaten once this season, back in round five to the Eels, and it's still a mystery to me how they lost that game. Meanwhile the list of the teams the Sharks have beaten this season look like also-rans - Broncos, Cowboys, Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Titans, Warriors, Dragons. I can't see any premiership contenders there. So there's that, and there's the result from round nine when these sides actually played it each other. The Panthers were away from home, and they piled on 56 points.

Verdict – Panthers by 10

Brisbane Broncos vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

The Broncos suffered another second half capitulation last week - it's all getting a little bit predictable isn't it? When one is in the business of predicting the near future it doesn't hurt to use the near past as a guide. As such, I predict the Broncos will try hard for somewhere between 20 and 60 minutes, then leak points like they just dont care late in the game. Milford slots in for Croft in the halves, but I feel like the Broncos have already played this song before and it didn't get the crowd on their feet. With so many Broncos forwards unavailable (Haas, Lodge, Pengai Jnr, Flegler and Turpin) I can't see any other result but the obvious one. For the record, I have seen the Siebold rumour, and I'm not surprised he's taken the action he has taken.

Verdict – Dragons by 22

Gold Coast Titans vs Canberra Raiders – Saturday afternoon – Cbus Super Stadium

The Raiders are on the cusp of the top four after putting the Broncos away and improving their points differential. Given their run into the finals I think a top four finish is all but inevitable. Proctor is out for a month following his apparent indiscretion - I'm gobsmacked there wasn't a single newspaper or media outlet that ran with the headline 'Man Bites Shark'. He is a big out for the home side, particularly with Jai Arrow also unavailable. The Titans aren't exactly having a great year, but they have won more games than the other two Queensland teams and their future is looking bright. They won't win this, but they won't lose any fans with their effort on Saturday either.

Verdict – Raiders by 10

Wests Tigers vs Sydney Roosters – Saturday night – Leichhardt Oval

The Roosters were never in the hunt against the Storm last start, and they lost a few prized chooks through the course of the game. Waerea-Hargreaves was named last week and didnt play, so I'm a little gun-shy here in case he doesn't play again. They'll win if he does (at least, they usually do). Flanagan is back after a rest, and the promising playmaker Sam Walker is included on an extended reserves list. Despite the injuries to the defending premiers, they have kept Sonny Bill in cotton wool for at least another week. For the Tigers, they need to keep winning to secure a top eight berth, but they only just got there last weekend against the team running last. They'll be competitive, but this is harder than that.

Verdict – Roosters by 4

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles – Saturday night – ANZ Stadium

Every time I think about this game, I visualize the tongue injury to Manly backrower Joel Thompson. Not cool Joel...not cool at all. He's actually talking up his chances of playing, but his doctor has asked him to talk less (because he keeps popping stitches). Not cool Joel. Stand-in fullback Brendan Elliot has done his ACL, and regular fullback Tommy Turbo has had his return delayed even further. Marty Taupau is back which helps, but the depth of the Manly squad has been well and truly tested this season. The Rabbitohs keep plodding along and winning games. They aren't shooting the lights out and no-one is paying them much attention, but they do look set to play finals football this year. I expect they'll do just enough to win this too.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 7

Canterbury Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors – Sunday afternoon – ANZ Stadium

One day I'm going to sit down and put together a 17 man squad of under-appreciated NRL players. The fullback picks himself...Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. All the players with hyphenated surnames are pretty good, but he is is the king of the hyphens. If the Bulldogs can lessen his impact they can go close here, just as they did against the Tigers last week. One win for the Dogs in their last six games might be enough for them to avoid the wooden spoon, and I think this could be the game. They're the outsider here and they should be, but the Warriors record at ANZ isn't flash.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 2

Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys – Sunday afternoon – McDonald Jones Stadium

The last time the Cowboys won a game was against the Knights back in round seven. Since then the Knights have won 4 from 7, and their losses were all competitive. A win here should all but secure them a finals berth this season. The Cowboys should have won last weekend, but found a way to lose. Struggling teams make a habit of that, and it's hard to break out of it. Knights at home.

Verdict – Knights by 8

Wally Lewis - round fifteen selections (in bold)

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

• EELS vs Storm
• PANTHERS vs Sharks
• Broncos vs DRAGONS
• Titans vs RAIDERS
• Tigers vs ROOSTERS
• RABBITOHS vs Sea Eagles
• Bulldogs vs WARRIORS
• KNIGHTS vs Cowboys