Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders – Friday night – Campbelltown Sports Stadium

The Tigers should be well rested after the bye last week, while the Raiders refound their form with a win over the Rabbitohs. A slightly controversial selection choice from the Raiders coach resting Jarrod Croker so he can play his 300th game in Canberra next week. If I were running the NRL, and I think we all know that one day I will, I would have negotiated a swap - moving this game to Canberra and then giving the Tigers home ground advantage when these sides meet again in round 23. The Raiders will also be missing Harawira-Naera for about a month, and I'm sure we all wish him well in his recovery. The debut of Hudson Young at Origin level was fairly brief, so I expect he will back up in this. I'm less certain about Koroisau backing up, given he topped the tackle count for NSW in his 80 minute performance on Wednesday night. He's a significant omission if he's rested. The Tigers conjured magic in their last outing as they racked up 66 points. That's the highest tally by an NRL team in about 30 years, but can they sustain the magic. The Raiders didn't have much trouble scoring points in their last outing either, against a tougher opponent. I'll lean their way in what should be an entertaining spectacle.

Verdict – Raiders by 2

Result – Raiders 20 defeated Tigers 19

New Zealand Warriors vs Redcliffe Dolphins – Saturday afternoon – Go Media Stadium

The Dolphins stick with the same seventeen that got the job done over the Dragons - that means Tabuai-Fidow gets a rest, and we wait on news for how long Gilbert will be out with his shoulder injury. Some important returns for the Warriors this week, with Wayde Egan back in the 9 jersey, and Walker and Barnett back on the interchange. The Dolphins keep on defying the expectations of almost everyone, and another win wouldn't surprise me at all, but I'm tipping the Warriors to bounce back after the disappointment of last week. Worth keeping an eye on this contest - I think it's the game of the round.

Verdict – Warriors by 1

Result – Warriors 30 defeated Dolphins 8

Gold Coast Titans vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Saturday night – CBus Super Stadium

A difficult game to make a call on right now, with both sides having players returning (or not returning) from Origin duties. For the Titans it's Fifita and Fa'asuamaleaui, and for the Rabbitohs it's Murray and Arrow. Latrell Mitchell won't be playing but Campbell Graham is back from the sternum complaint that saw him drop out of the NSW side. Kieran Foran has succumbed to the foot issue that was bad enough for him to be eligible for a disability parking permit. Campbell moves into the halves and Keano Kini gets the all-important fullback role in just his second NRL game. Verrills is a welcome return for the Titans off the bench. If the Titans Origin reps back up, this game could go either way, but with some doubts around their inclusion I'm with the Bunnies here.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 8

​​​​​​​Result – Rabbitohs 46 defeated Titans 28

Cronulla Sharks vs Brisbane Broncos – Saturday night – PointsBet Stadium

Nicho Hynes was on the field for about 10 minutes on Wednesday, so it would be a surprise if he didn't play on the weekend. The same could be said for Payne Haas, who only played for 30 minutes in another interesting piece of rostering strategy from the NSW brains trust. There may be some doubts about Cobbo backing up, as he looked to pick up a hip injury on Wednesday, but I suspect the Origin players for the Broncos will front up.  With that in mind, I see no reason why the Broncos can't surprise the Sharks in this. While the Sharks are above the Broncos on the ladder it's due to a technicality. The Broncos have won two more games than the Sharks this season, and in fact have won more games than any other team in the NRL. They're the better team, and may the better team win.

Verdict – Broncos by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Broncos 20 defeated Sharks 12

Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Sunday afternoon – Industree Group Stadium, Gosford

No team has scored less points than the Chooks this season. It's unusual for a glamour side blessed with a roster that includes some of the most brilliant attacking players in the game. I'm sure they can be better than they are, but they look less like a top eight team every week. Radley and Smith are out, but they do welcome back Waerea-Hargreaves and Manu. The Bulldogs appear to be resting their Origin players (Addo-Carr and Pengai Jnr) but they may change. Note the neutral venue here, with some chance the Bulldogs could have more of the support at the ground. With little confidence, I'm tipping the Roosters because I suspect Tedesco might pull out a big game here. The critics are getting chirpy and champions often make the critics look like numpties.

Verdict – Roosters by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Roosters 25 defeated Bulldogs 24

North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm – Sunday afternoon – Queensland Country Bank Stadium

They are an enigmatic group these Cowboys. From what you would hope was a season low against the Tigers to a vastly improved competitive effort against the Eels. While their fans will appreciate the improved performance, it still wasn't enough to get the win. Their most recent victories have been against the Dragons and the Roosters, and neither of those clubs are flying high right now. The Storm aren't at the peak of their powers, but they're still in the top four. You'd think they'll be too professional to let this game slip. The Cowboys haven't named their Origin players in their seventeen, and Taumalolo is still another week away. Note the timeslot for this one - neither team gets to play a lot of daytime footy, and I can't recall the last time the Cowboys played a home game on a Sunday afternoon.

Verdict – Storm by 7

​​​​​​​Result – Cowboys 45 defeated Storm 20

Penrith Panthers vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Sunday night – BlueBet Stadium

The Dragons offered a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract to an untested assistant coach, and he turned it down to take up a gig as an assistant in another state. On the same day, the bank that has sponsored the team for decades (and shares their name) has called it a day. It's all a bit grim is it not? But I have found the answer, and when I'm running the NRL, and I think we all know that one day I will, the Dragons will be the first merged club in the NRL to merge again. I give you all the St George-Illawarra-Cronulla-Sutherland-Dragons-Steelers-Sharks. Gosh that just rolls off the tongue doesn't it? Make it happen, Peter V'Landys. Make it happen. Penrith have named all of their Origin players in this game. They could rest them all, and I'd tip them regardless.

Verdict – Panthers by 10

​​​​​​​Result – Panthers 26 defeated Dragons 18

Wally Lewis - round fourteen selections (in bold)

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

• Tigers vs RAIDERS
• Warriors vs DOLPHINS
• Titans vs RABBITOHS
• SHARKS vs Broncos
• ROOSTERS vs Bulldogs
• Cowboys vs STORM
• PANTHERS vs Dragons