Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers – Thursday night – Suncorp Stadium

Broncos fans are doing it tough at the minute. A number of them have confided in me and told me how difficult it has been to stay solid. To these people I say this - a football team is like your wife or husband. Sometimes they let you down, sometimes they embarrass you, and sometimes you wonder if you should just give up and start supporting someone else. But you made a commitment to your team, and that beanie on your head means something. So my advice is to stick with your club/wife/husband, but don't tip the Broncos on Thursday night because they are bloody hopeless this season. For the record, if we excluded the first two rounds of the season (pre Covid), not only would the Broncos be outright last, their points differential would be 142 points worse than the team running second last. For the wealthiest club in the NRL, it is simply extraordinary. Kikau and Koroisau return for the Panthers to strengthen the visitors in what should be a procession.

Verdict – Panthers by 22

Result – Panthers 25 defeated Broncos 12

Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks – Friday night – McDonald Jones Stadium

The Knights and the Sharks are almost certainly playing finals football this year, but a win on Friday night virtually seals it while the loser will have to hold out the Warriors. The Knights were disappointing last start but the circumstances of that game were unusual. Returning to their home ground (where they have won three games in a row) has to help. I'm assuming Daniel Saifiti returns for the home side and he's a big inclusion if he does. As I write the Sharks are still running the set squares over Townsend, Johnson, Moylan, Ramien and Dugan. Some of them may play, with Townsend most likely, but with so many potential line-up changes I'm with the Novacastrians.

Verdict – Knights by 2

Result – Knights 38 defeated Sharks 10

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Melbourne Storm – Friday night – ANZ Stadium

Just as Latrell Mitchell was getting fit and warming into the fullback role he goes down for the season. Ouch! Johnston is the likely replacement, but Allan is a viable option. Gagai should return in the centres. The Storm lose Asofa-Solomona and Seve, while Kenny Bromwich and Eisenhuth are some chance of lining up. The Storm haven't spent a lot of time in Sydney this season, and they haven't enjoyed it when they were there. Three losses from four games, all against top four sides (Panthers, Roosters, Eels). The Rabbitohs aren't in the top four but showed us why they should be with a comprehensive demolition of the Eels. A top four finish isn't beyond them, and that game against the Chooks in the final round could be all important. The Storm are a very warm favourite (as they usually are), but I'll take the Bunnies who are looking pretty switched on after their coach had his little bubble break.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 2

Result – Storm 22 defeated Rabbitohs 16

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Gold Coast Titans – Saturday afternoon – ANZ Stadium

I doubt the Titans have started favourite in a game all season, but they do here (albeit barely). The Bulldogs are clearly still trying, knowing full well that they are better than the Broncos and need one solitary win to avoid the spoon, so they'll put everything into this. That said, the Titans have won their last five games against teams outside the top eight, and even some of their losses against the top eight teams (Panthers and Roosters) have been competitive. They finished strongly against the Dragons while the Bulldogs limped to the finish against the Raiders, and the Titans have had extra time to prepare for this.

Verdict – Titans by 4

Result – Titans 18 defeated Bulldogs 14

Manly Sea Eagles vs Wests Tigers – Saturday night – Lottoland

The mathemagicians will tell you that the Sea Eagles or the Tigers could still make the top eight this season, but it's all wizardry and smoke and mirrors. In reality, they are stuck in that dreadful no-mans land where they are out of the running but safe from the wooden spoon. It leaves you with little to play for, but at least Manly can try and give their rusted on fans at Brookvale a win on a Saturday night. Injuries have not been kind to either side, but the Manly forward pack looks strong. Note than Benji is still in the official team lists, but I assume he will be replaced by someone (Reynolds).

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 4

Result – Tigers 34 defeated Sea Eagles 32

Canberra Raiders vs Sydney Roosters – Saturday night – GIO Stadium

This was always going to be the game of the round, and how it ended up scheduled on a Saturday night is beyond me, but it just got a lot more interesting with the return of the biggest acronym in sport. SBW has been named on the interchange, and it will be interesting to see how the Roosters use him. The general consensus is he'll play at lock, shifting to an edge back-row role for the finals as his match fitness improves. He's not the player he once was, but he creates plenty of interest. Perhaps more importantly, Luke Keary returns for the Chooks. They've scored 96 points in their last two games, and he can only improve them in attack. Clearly this is a tougher challenge than recent outings, but a threepeat isn't beyond them (which is freaking unbelievable when you think about it). For the Raiders, Jack Wighton continues to blossom, and has to be in contention for the Dally M this year. I'm gutted this game isn't on a Sunday afternoon, but what a game.

Verdict – Roosters by 4

Result – Roosters 18 defeated Raiders 6

New Zealand Warriors vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday afternoon – Central Coast Stadium

Does anyone else think Todd Payten has beautiful eyes? No? Just Ms Thinker then huh! Anyways I keep telling Ms Thinker this bloke can coach and she just keeps scrolling through images of him on her ipad in bed. I might have to grow a beard and keep the lights off. In a year that has really tested us all and, to borrow a phrase from the French, been pretty shit, the New Zealand Warriors have given us that one glint of joy and sunshine. They probably can't make the top eight, but sheesus mcsneezus how good would it be if they did? I learned today that Warriors players on loan from other clubs can't play against those clubs, so George Jennings and Daniel Alvaro have to sit this one out. The Eels went from keeping the Storm on zero to getting stuck on zero themselves. I think they can bounce back with a win here - not a win that says their campaign is on track, but enough to keep them in contention for the top four.

Verdict – Eels by 1

Result – Eels 24 defeated Warriors 18

North Queensland Cowboys vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Sunday night – Queensland Country Bank Stadium

The Cowboys are on quite the losing streak at the moment, and they'll be desperate to win this because the two games that follow for the Cowboys look like losses. They have been better at home, but still losing, and I fear we might see more of the same here. The Dragons will be desperate after letting the two points slip in the final five minutes against the Titans in round sixteen. A little like the earlier game on Sunday I suspect. The Dragons won't be convincing, but they'll get the points.

Verdict – Dragons by 4

Result – Cowboys 23 defeated Dragons 22

Wally Lewis - round seventeen selections (in bold)

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

• Broncos vs PANTHERS
• KNIGHTS vs Sharks
• Rabbitohs vs STORM
• Bulldogs vs TITANS
• SEA EAGLES vs Tigers
• Raiders vs ROOSTERS
• Warriors vs EELS
• Cowboys vs DRAGONS