North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights – Thursday night – Queensland Country Bank Stadium

The Cowboys have a shorter turnaround from last round into this game, but at least they're playing at home where they have won their last three. The Cowboys struggle a little to pull big crowds on Thursday nights but those that are there will be boisterous as always. The Knights were disappointing in their loss to the Tigers, and while they can't blame the loss on the absence of Kalyn Ponga, they are clearly a better team when he's there. There's some talk he'll play in this, but I'm assuming he won't. While the Cowboys also lost in Magic Round, they were well and truly in the game until the (unfair) sin binning of Lachlan Burr shifted the momentum. A competitive loss to the Roosters looks like better form than an 18 point loss to the Tigers, and we shouldn't forget that the Knights (including Ponga) played the Roosters in Newcastle in round 8 and lost by 34.  

Verdict – Cowboys by 4

Result – Cowboys 36 defeated Knights 20

New Zealand Warriors vs Wests Tigers – Friday night – Central Coast Stadium

The Tigers racked up win number three for the season last week (and win number two over the Knights). The wins have been few and far between, but they are usually in the contest when they are competing with teams outside the top eight. The move of Mbye into the halves and Doueihi to the centres proved a masterstroke. They're getting better. The Warriors defensive lapses in recent weeks are proving costly - they've conceded 134 points in their last four games. Coach Nathan Brown has made it clear it will be a key focus at training this week, but i would have hoped it's a key focus every week. In what looks like a high scoring contest I'll back the Tigers in an upset. One of the more entertaining games of the round.

Verdict – Tigers by 4

Result – Warriors 30 defeated Tigers 26

Cronulla Sharks vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Friday night – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

The Dragons have lost four of their last five, with their one win coming at the expense of the wooden spoon favourite. The Sharks have lost six in a row, including a game against the wooden spoon favourite. Clearly the mid-season coach-sacking didn't have the impact the Sharks board were hoping for. While all seems dire for the men from the shire, they'll remember that they did defeat the Dragons quite comfortably in round one. That round one Dragons side included Dufty, Lomax, Ravalawa, Sims, Fuimaono and Merrin. They have also lost McGuire for five weeks, suspended for actions that didn't look great from where I was sitting all the way up in the bleaches on the weekend. Somehow, this is the Friday night game on free-to-air television which is intriguing at best and baffling at worst. Perhaps the Wide World of Sport knows that Scomo will be there. If he is, I think he'll see a rare win for his beloved Sharkies.

Verdict – Sharks by 8

Result – Sharks 13 defeated Dragons 12

Gold Coast Titans vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Saturday afternoon – Cbus Super Stadium

After that resounding demolition job by the Penrith Panthers the Titans should find this considerably easier. They'll be desperate for the two points on offer here, as they are about to enter a very difficult stretch of games (during the next six weeks their opponents include the Storm, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Raiders and Eels). The Bulldogs made a contest of their clash with the Raiders but they still couldn't win, and I'm expecting a similar outcome here. Note that Bulldogs captain Will Hopoate may be a little, how do I put this, distracted this weekend.

Verdict – Titans by 10

Result – Titans 30 defeated Bulldogs 20

Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos – Saturday night – Sydney Cricket Ground

As I write this I can here the Brisbane Broncos playing basketball just outside my window. They're in fine voice and appear to be having a very good time. I expect none of that exhuberance from the Broncos on Saturday night at the SCG - perhaps they're playing the wrong sport.

Verdict – Roosters by 20

Result – Broncos 34 defeated Roosters 16

Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm – Saturday night – GIO Stadium

Over the course of the last fortnight the Raiders have lost to the Knights and barely held on for a two point victory over the Bulldogs. It's hardly compelling form heading into a contest with a team that has scored 244 points in their last six games. The only time during that period the Storm have scored less than 40 points was against the Roosters, and they still won by 16. The purple machine has a few unusual cogs in some unusual places at the minute (including Chris Lewis in the halves) but the machine just keeps on keeping on. As for the Raiders, they've lost Wighton, Papalii and Hodgson for this game. Ouch!

Verdict – Storm by 16

Result – Storm 34 defeated Raiders 10

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – Apex Oval, Dubbo

Dubbo have done very well for themselves getting this game on a Sunday afternoon. Both teams are playing attractive football, and the Bunnies welcome back Latrell Mitchell. He slots straight back in at fullback but I suspect he'll need a few runs before he's match fit. This is a tantalising prospect but tipping against the Panthers is a hiding to nothing at the minute. I had the pleasure of watching them perform on Sunday night at Suncorp and they are pretty to watch. Pretty to watch and almost impossible to beat. It's the game of the round...obviously.

Verdict – Panthers by 10

Result – Panthers 56 defeated Rabbitohs 12

Parramatta Eels vs Manly Sea Eagles – Sunday afternoon – Bankwest Stadium

It's not unusual for the Eels to start a season well, but it is unusual for them to still be humming along after ten rounds. Now there's still plenty of season left for the Eels to falter, but I'm starting to wonder if they are a different team this year. If they have changed, it's probably because players in key positions are growing into their roles and becoming genuine stars of the game. Specifically, I'm referring to Moses and Gutherson, who are fast becoming two of the most important players in the NRL. Mahoney at hooker is a notch below that, but he's getting better with experience too and wouldn't look out of place in a QLD jersey if Harry Grant isn't ready. There's been plenty of false dawns for the Eels over the years. Maybe, just maybe, they're a contender in 2021. They face a stern test on Sunday afternoon. In the last five weeks the Sea Eagles have scored 180 and conceded 72. They did lose a game during this period, but it was to Penrith. During the same period the Eels have scored 178 points and conceded 62. On recent performances it's very difficult to separate these two, but I'm leaning ever so slightly to the Eels who are even harder to beat at home. It's almost the game of the round...obviously.

Verdict – Eels by 1

Result – Sea Eagles 28 defeated Eels 6

Wally Lewis - round eleven selections (in bold)

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

• COWBOYS vs Knights
• WARRIORS vs Tigers
• SHARKS vs Dragons
• TITANS vs Bulldogs
• ROOSTERS vs Broncos
• Raiders vs STORM
• Rabbitohs vs PANTHERS
• EELS vs Sea Eagles