Gold Coast Titans vs Wests Tigers – Thursday night – Cbus Super Stadium

Ms Thinker reckons that if the Titans were your husband you'd be disappointed with their performances in the second half. I think I know what she's referring to but I'm trying not to picture it in my mind. Once again, the Titans led at half time only to be run down by the Rabbitohs in round 14. There's too much of a pattern for it all to be a coincidence, and I haven't a clue how they will change the pattern. More importantly, it feels like the Titans aren't sure how to change it either. On Thursday night they face the Tigers, a team that has finished strongly in the second half in their last two performances. There's a pattern there for both sides, so there's a fair chance that the Titans will start well on Thursday, only to be run down by the fast-finishing Tigers when it matters most. 

Verdict – Tigers by 1

Result – Titans 28 defeated Tigers 12

Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors – Friday night – GIO Stadium

On form you would give the Warriors every chance in this, but this is one of those circumstances where form won't count for much. The Canberra Raiders have played 1075 first grade games in their history, and a Croker has been on the team list in 617 of them. On Friday night, Jarrod Croker plays game number 300. It looked like a milestone he wouldn't quite make, but here he is, and he's in some of the best form of his career. The Warriors have been terrific in recent weeks, but the Raiders lift for this and they win. They simply win. It would be a fitting touch if Croker himself slots the winning conversion from the sideline to seal the victory. Fingers crossed we get the fairytale.

Verdict – Raiders by 2

Result – Warriors 36 defeated Raiders 14

Manly Sea Eagles vs Redcliffe Dolphins – Friday night – 4 Pines Park

There was always a likelihood that the depth of the Dolphins inaugural roster would be tested this season, and things are starting to get testing. Suspensions to Kaufusi, Wallace and Milford, and a season-ending injury to Tom Gilbert leave the Dolphins stretched. There is some good news though, with Sean O'Sullivan recovering well from his injury. He's not back this weekend, but he isn't far away. Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles have found a way to convince the people that matter that Tom Trbojevic wasn't concussed in Origin after all. Or, at least, less concussed than people thought. He's a big boost to a refreshed team playing at home in front of their ardent supporters. It's hard to tip against them.

Verdict – Sea Eagles by 8

​​​​​​​Result – Sea Eagles 58 defeated Dolphins 18

St George Illawarra Dragons vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Saturday afternoon – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

In the early rounds of this season the Rabbitohs struggled with their attack, but ever since they cracked the half century against the Bulldogs in round six they've made the ball sing. Last week they racked up 46 points on the Gold Coast, and they did that with their high profile fullback unavailable and losing their two Origin representatives during the game to injury. Those three (Mitchell, Arrow, Murray) won't be available for this game, but the remaining Rabbitohs are still a high quality opponent for anyone. Siliva Havili is a welcome return to their engine room and Shaquai Mitchell, a terrific story, moves into the starting thirteen at lock. For the Dragons, Jack de Belin has succumbed to his head injury and won't be available, Jack Bird is one more week away from a return, and who knows who will put their hand up to coach the mighty Red V. To think this once glamour side won 11 premierships in a row back in the day. The empire has fallen.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 7

​​​​​​​Result – Dragons 36 defeated Rabbitohs 30

Brisbane Broncos vs Newcastle Knights – Saturday night – Suncorp Stadium

The NRL ladder this season won't always be an accurate representation of how teams are travelling. The most glaring examples are the Broncos and Rabbitohs, who have won more games than the team on the top of the ladder. In fact, those two sides have played two more games than all the other teams in the top five. Both teams get their first bye (and free two points) after this weekend, and I'm sure they'll appreciate the chance to refresh. The Broncos return to, as Kotoni Staggs might say, their f*cking home on Saturday night. They do so after racking up successive victories on the road. They weren't expected to win either, but did so with Origin-impacted squads against two teams who make zero of two-fifths of buggar all of a contribution to the Origin series. It says something about the depth of their squad, which has grown up and look a genuine premiership contender. They'll need to keep winning through the back end of the season, which is where it all came unstuck last year, but two Byes will help in that regard. If Reynolds stays fit and well I think they're the team to beat. Such a team should take care of the Knights. The Knights are going okay, but their last win was at home against a Manly side without it's Origin stars, and before that they got touched up by the Sharks. Given the Sharks couldn't beat the Origin-impacted Broncos last week I think this result picks itself. We could even see a blowout here.

Verdict – Broncos by 22

​​​​​​​Result – Broncos 24 defeated Knights 20

Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium

A lot can happen in a month. These sides met in round 11, where the Panthers gave the Chooks a 48-4 footballing lesson. But with the hamstring injury to Nathan Cleary, the Chooks will give themselves a chance in this. They're wrong. The Panthers get an opportunity to make a statement about their premiership credentials and Luai gets an opportunity to prove he's entitled to a Blues jersey if his playmaking sidekick isn't starting alongside him.

Verdict – Panthers by 8

​​​​​​​Result – Panthers 30 defeated Roosters 6

Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks – Sunday afternoon – AAMI Park

It's a big game for Nicho Hynes on Sunday. It would have been anyway, but it comes with added pressure now. Hynes gets a chance to lead a team away from home and convince Brad Fittler he's the player that can lead a team around the park in a must-win contest. I've no doubt he can do that, but the Sharks have struggled against the top teams this season, and the Storm will be as cranky as their coach after their performance last week. If Munster takes control of this game, and I've no doubt that he can, then the Storm win and the NSW coach will have some thinkering to do. Expect a big game from Christian Welch also, with the QLD coach on the lookout for a few forwards that can handle themselves when the stakes are high.

Verdict – Storm by 7

​​​​​​​Result – Storm 54 defeated Sharks 10

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Parramatta Eels – Monday afternoon – Accor Stadium

I've mentioned State of Origin a few times already, but it's impact on the NRL season at this time of the year can't be under-stated. These two teams are impacted greatly by that series, but Brad Fittler will be watching this game with interest. Most of his interest will be focused on the performances of the two halfbacks (Moses and Burton), either of whom could find themselves in the halfback jersey for NSW in game two. Of most interest of all will be their kicking games, because NSW needs a halfback who can kick long and find the grass and/or kick high and put the QLD back three under dizzying pressure. There's another very important issue to flag about this game, which I'll talk around rather than talk about directly. There's some chance Moses may be partnered with a new playmaker for this game, so keep an eye out for any changes to the named line-ups. All that focus on the playmakers, but this game could be run and won in the middle. The two big inclusions for the Eels are Campbell-Gillard and Paulo - two of the best prop forwards in the game. With those two talismen taking charge in the middle, they'll give Moses every chance to impress.

Verdict – Eels by 7

​​​​​​​Result – Eels 34 defeated Bulldogs 12

Wally Lewis - round fifteen selections (in bold)

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

• TITANS vs Tigers
• RAIDERS vs Warriors
• SEA EAGLES vs Dolphins
• Dragons vs RABBITOHS
• BRONCOS vs Knights
• Roosters vs PANTHERS
• STORM vs Sharks
• Bulldogs vs EELS