Canterbury Bulldogs vs Canberra Raiders – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

A tricky game to open Magic Round, with the Bulldogs and Raiders coming off narrow victories in round nine. It's a Bulldogs home game on paper, and while they are likely to have slightly more Bulldogs fans in the crowd, the neutrals at the game are more likely to be getting behind the Raiders. I'll be getting behind the Raiders too, who have had an extra day to prepare and are less effected by injuries in their squad. Note that Max King has been named to start at prop for the Dogs but is racing the clock to be ready, as is Franklin Pele off the bench. Braidon Burns is also out after a gallant performance last week, but Jacob Kiraz is a timely return. Flanagan has been added to the reserves, with rumours swirling everywhere that he's heading to Manly. That could easily be paper talk, so wait and see on that front. For the Raiders, Savage is a welcome return from a jaw injury, but he starts on the wing because Sebastian Kris has been a shining light at fullback. I've gone green.

Verdict – Raiders by 4

Result – Raiders 34 defeated Bulldogs 30

Manly Sea Eagles vs Brisbane Broncos – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

The Sea Eagles were comprehensively beaten by the Titans at Brookvale last week, and now they face a road trip to Brisbane to take on the competition leaders. Granted the Broncos were soundly beaten too, but the Rabbitohs are looking like genuine contenders. Importantly, the Broncos have Haas and Mam returning from suspension, and the biggest Bronco and the littlest Bronco are vital cogs in the Broncos machine. As for the Sea Eagles, there's talk of punch-ons at training, club captains having a crack at team mates for not having a dig, and an injury to Jake Trbojevic. Baby brother Ben returns on the interchange, and middle brother Tom is carrying niggles every time he laces on the boots. The Broncos will need to be on their game, because the Sea Eagles have a team that can put it all together on their day, but I expect the Broncos to turn up in front of a big crowd and deliver. 

Verdict – Broncos by 10

Result – Broncos 32 defeated Sea Eagles 6

New Zealand Warriors vs Penrith Panthers – Saturday afternoon – Suncorp Stadium

Through three seasons, from 2020 to 2022, the Penrith Panthers lost just 8 games of football. So it feels a bit weird pointing out that have just lost two games in a row. It feels even weirder to point out that they lost their last game to a team that hadn't beaten anyone else this year. I doubt anyone has hit the panic button out at Penrith, but a loss to the Tigers is proof that you can be beaten, by anyone. James Fisher-Harris is an important return for the defending premiers, and Spencer Leniu has been named on an extended bench but may not make the seventeen. For the Warriors, Nicoll-Klokstad and Tohu Harris are back. The Warriors can't name their best seventeen but they aren't far from it. Both teams will appreciate a chance to play some dry weather football in the Sunshine State, but the return to better conditions has me leaning to the Panthers. They did everything but beat the Rabbitohs in round nine on a dry surface and that should be good enough for this. A sneaky upset isn't out of the question though, and the Warriors will have plenty of support at the ground.

Verdict – Panthers by 1

Result – Panthers 18 defeated Warriors 6

Cronulla Sharks vs Redcliffe Dolphins – Saturday night – Suncorp Stadium

900 premiership games. That's a Wayne Bennett milestone that's hard to get your head around. It's a long time in one of the toughest jobs in the world, and for some context the other elder statesmen in the coaching ranks are a fair way behind him (Sheens - 678, Bellamy - 529, Stuart - 476).  And to think Wayne didn't coach last season. Wayne Bennett isn't getting any younger, but he's only a year older than Sheens. Bellamy and Stuart can't keep coaching angry for another couple of decades, so it's hard to imagine how anyone else can ever get close to that milestone. There's no way that Wayne will make this game about Wayne, but the players might in the first ever battle of the fins. Redcliffe has been slow coming out of the gates in recent outings. That's not a good habit against anyone, but especially against the Sharks who have been doing the complete opposite. There's a risk the Sharks get out to a big lead and take the crowd out of this. There's also a chance the Dolphins come home with a surge and pull off another ridiculous victory. I'd prefer the latter, but I'm tipping the former.

Breaking news - Brenko Lee is unlikely to play after coming off early at training today (Wednesday). Valynce Te Whare is a big chance to be named - which will get the folks on the peninsula excited as he just might be a superstar-in-waiting. 

Verdict – Sharks by 7

Result – Dolphins 36 defeated Sharks 16

Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Saturday night – Suncorp Stadium

It's a weekend of magic, but this game is the showstopper. The last team to beat the Rabbitohs was the Storm back in round five, and the Storm have a dominant record over the Bunnies that stretches way back before then. The Storm are also coming off a bye, and we've noted several times that teams coming off the bye perform well. I assume the Rabbits went back home during the week, but they are back in familiar surroundings after their dominant win over the Broncos in round nine. That has to help a little, although travelling up and down the eastern seaboard wouldn't. Munster and Mitchell will bring out the best (and the worst) in each other here, and there's every chance one of them will prove the difference on the night. It's a bit exciting, yes?

Verdict – Storm by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Rabbitohs 28 defeated Storm 12

Wests Tigers vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Sunday afternoon – Suncorp Stadium

This game won't be of the same standard as the games on the Saturday, but it could be the closest. The Dragons have lost four in a row but, incredibly, they scored as many or more tries as their opponent in all four of those games. Goal kicking has often been the difference, and the Dragons coach has hooked his goal kicker. That would be fine, but now the Dragons don't really have a regular goal kicker in their starting thirteen. Perhaps it falls to Ben Hunt (who already has a bit to do) or Jack Bird. I would have considered switching Lomax back to right centre where he might be a little more comfortable and confident, but I am a lousy coach. The Tigers will go into this game with a bit of confidence after knocking off the defending premiers but they have to back it up. If they do, they're every chance of getting themselves off the bottom of the NRL ladder, but I'm sticking with the Dragons in what would be a slight upset.

Verdict – Dragons by 1

​​​​​​​Result – Tigers 18 defeated Dragons 16

Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys – Sunday afternoon – Suncorp Stadium

I can't even bring myself to talk about the Cowboys. Should the Tigers win the game prior the Cowboys will need to win this, or else they are running last. Like I said, I don't want to talk about it.

Verdict – Roosters by 14

​​​​​​​Result – Cowboys 20 defeated Roosters 6

Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels – Sunday night – Suncorp Stadium

The Titans were excellent last week in their surprise win over the Sea Eagles, but they'll need to back that up with a similar performance to win this, and consistency hasn't been their strength since...well, forever really. AJ Brimson is out with an injury which doesn't help, and I'm not convinced Foran will play as he managed issues with a knee and a foot. He's been named but there could be changes, and if he does play I have doubts he'll get through 80 minutes. The Titans forwards could really dominate here if they turn up with their winning goggles on but, again, consistency is the doubt for mine. The Eels have lost more games than they've won this season, but they have had a difficult draw to start the year, and they have some match winners in that line-up that can get them over the line. There's a sneaky chance this game could be a rip-snorter, so try and keep an eye on it if you can.

Verdict – Eels by 7

​​​​​​​Result – Titans 26 defeated Eels 24

Wally Lewis - round ten selections (in bold)

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

• Bulldogs vs RAIDERS
• Sea Eagles vs BRONCOS
• Warriors vs PANTHERS
• SHARKS vs Dolphins
• Storm vs RABBITOHS
• Tigers vs DRAGONS
• ROOSTERS vs Cowboys
• TITANS vs Eels