Parramatta Eels vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Thursday night – CommBank Stadium

These sides met not so long ago in round 12, where the Rabbitohs prevailed 42-26 and haven't lost since. Notably that round 12 Eels line-up didn't include Moses or Gutherson, and they clearly make a difference. They did have Hopgood and Sivo in round 12, and they won't be there on Thursday night. Not as significant, but significant nonetheless. The Rabbitohs didn't have Walker or Murray in round 12, so this round 18 line-up looks stronger too. The Bunnies have conceded just 24 points in their last three games, while the Eels have leaked 84. For the Eels to have any hope of making the finals this year, they need to get their defence in order. Given the short turnaround from their last game they don't have much time to resolve it. To make matters worse, they cop a five-day turnaround and they face a team who had a bye last week.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 8

Cronulla Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans – Friday night – C.ex Coffs Harbour International Stadium

Technically a Sharks home game, but Coffs Harbour is about as neutral as a venue can get. Curiously, the team that lost last week are a very warm favourite here, against a team that won by 60 (yes...60) in their last outing. That said, the Titans haven't won two games in a row all season, and we just don't know if we'll get the Titans that beat the Warriors by the biggest margin all year, or the Titans that scored just 10 points against the Tigers the week prior. Katoa is out this week for the Sharks, and he's not just a winger that can find a try. Katoa delivers north of 150+ metres with the ball in hand almost every week. The Titans will be without Campbell, but the return of Brimson in the halves is timely. David Fifita has an opportunity to remind the QLD selectors that he can do a job for them. A proper upset this, but here goes:

Verdict – Titans by 4

Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers – Friday night – Suncorp Stadium

A grand final rematch for two teams coming off a loss last week. Both sides rested Origin stars (although Yeo backed up for the Panthers) in round seventeen, and while the Broncos loss to the Warriors wasn't a great surprise, the Panthers loss definitely was. The Panthers rarely play two poor games in a row, and the return of Edwards, Luai, Martin and To'o clearly lifts them. So too the Broncos, who welcome back Haas, Carrigan and Walsh. The Broncos have now fallen out of the top ten and I'm hoping that will shock them into action. Hopefully, a near sold-out stadium will do the same.

Verdict – Broncos by 2

Canterbury Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday afternoon – Accor Stadium

Since round two this year, only two teams, the Raiders (once) and the Roosters (twice) have managed to score more than 20 points against the Bulldogs in 80 minutes. It's this defensive integrity that will see the Bulldogs playing finals football in 2024, a remarkable turnaround from where they were as a club not so long ago. The only team to beat them since mid-May is the Roosters, and they look like a premiership contender to me. The Warriors bounced back from the horror loss to the Titans and have a very good recent record against the Bulldogs, but many of those wins were in New Zealand, and this Bulldogs side is a different animal to the one they've come up against previously. 

Verdict – Bulldogs by 4

Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm – Saturday night – Leichhardt Oval

I can't tip the Tigers here, but it's the sort of mad game they could bob up for when you least expect it. The Storm are holding their backline together with masking tape and good intentions but they keep on winning and they're on top of the table. An undeniable force as always, but they're beatable. Paphenhuyzen returns at fullback this week which is a huge inclusion, but they'll be without Coates for at least a month. A game that might be surprisingly closer than most are expecting, but the Storm should do enough to get the job done.

Verdict – Storm by 4

North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly Sea Eagles – Saturday night – Queensland Country Bank Stadium

The Sea Eagles haven't won a game in Townsville since 2016, but they're pulling out all stops on Saturday night. Six big inclusions for Manly this weekend, including their Origin representatives and Tom Trbojevic and Garrick in the centres. Plenty of changes for the Cowboys too, with their six Origin reps returning after being rested last week. That the Cowboys were able to beat Penrith last week, in Penrith, often with just 12 players on the park, just demonstrates what this side is capable of. It's a shame they can't seem to deliver it each and every week, but I'm crossing everything and hoping they can show us who they should be.

Verdict – Cowboys by 8

Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Sunday afternoon – Allianz Stadium

The Roosters racked up 60 points against the Dragons on ANZAC Day, so this team and this venue might trigger some unpleasant memories for the Red V. They're going pretty well, and are a real chance of making the top eight this year, but the Roosters are a very good side, and they're going at least as well now as they were on ANZAC Day. Granted, the injury to Manu is a loss, and the centre pairing of Jennings and Tupouniua is a little unusual, but there's no doubting the Roosters credentials this year. Their points differential is lengths above all others, they've scored 80 more points than the next best attacking team in the NRL, and only the Panthers and Bulldogs have conceded less. I think they're the team to beat.

Verdict – Roosters by 10

Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights – Sunday afternoon – GIO Stadium

I've mentioned the weather a few times when it comes to games in Canberra this season, but I don't think it's helped my tipping one bit. The word on the street is that the Knights have salary cap issues for next season and beyond, and they need to find some space to sign some new recruits. Daniel Saifiti has already been advised that he can seek a contract elsewhere, and he's not likely to be the first. It's the sort of thing that just could bring out the best in the Knights roster, knowing they have to sing for their supper if they want to keep getting fed. Ponga is a big return this weekend - he's also one of the reasons they are under salary cap pressure, but it's unlikely they'll be showing him the door. He's some chance of being brought back into the QLD origin side with a strong performance on Sunday. The Knights have been going well without him, and they're likely to improve with him at fullback. The Raiders battled hard last week against the Storm, but their only win since 11 was an extra-time victory over the Dolphins, and they had their fair share of luck there.

Verdict – Knights by 4

Wally Lewis - round eighteen selections (in bold)

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

• Eels vs Rabbitohs
• Sharks vs Titans
• Broncos vs Panthers
• Bulldogs vs Warriors
• Tigers vs Storm
• Cowboys vs Sea Eagles
• Roosters vs Dragons
• Raiders vs Knights