New Zealand Warriors vs Wests Tigers – Friday night – Go Media Stadium

Successive losses by narrow margins have all but put an end to the Warriors finals prospects this season - disappointing for all of us I say, because when the Warriors are playing well they are a beautiful team to watch. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been (I think) playing out of position for most of the season because the Warriors have plenty of fullbacks, but not anymore. He spent some time there last week and seemed to enjoy the return to his natural habitat. I expect he'll be even better on Friday night. The Warriors don't have much to play for but they do have their support at home. I expect they'll turn up again and I expect the Warriors will deliver. A few Tigers appear to be heading for the exits already, and on Friday night they'll take to the field without Doueihi, Sezer, Klemmer and Bateman. I hope they haven't given up, and I hope the Warriors goal-kicking is a little better this time.

Verdict – Warriors by 10

Result – Warriors 28 defeated Tigers 16

Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm – Friday night – CommBank Stadium

200 games in the blue and gold for Eels captain Clint Gutherson - he deserves our congratulations, and our sympathy, for carrying the club for so long. I do hope the team pull up their socks and make it a fitting occasion, but I won't be tipping that outcome. A long list of significant names are returning for the Storm, but most are listed on the extended reserves bench. Welch and Asofa-Solomona will play, and it looks like Grant Anderson has bounced back after an injury late last week. I honestly expected them to struggle against the Roosters last week, but the Storm never looked like losing. How the Storm and their coaching staff keep churning out quality football teams is a riddle that confuses most of us. They should be studied at university.

Verdict – Storm by 10

Result – Storm 32 defeated Eels 14

Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs – Saturday afternoon – Suncorp Stadium

I've said for some time that the Broncos are a far better team when Adam Reynolds is out there conducting the orchestra. He understands the game, and has a future in the coaches box when he finally hangs up the boots. They were too strong for the Knights last week, and should be even better this week, given their Origin players won't be backing up and the whole squad have been able to train and prepare for this assignment. They need to keep winning if they want to play finals this year, but they are the sort of team that could get on a run. The Bulldogs were a little unlucky to lose to the Cowboys last week, but their record against the Broncos, especially in Brisbane, is poor. Back-to-back games in Queensland isn't likely to help their cause either.

Verdict – Broncos by 8

Result – Bulldogs 41 defeated Broncos 16

North Queensland Cowboys vs Cronulla Sharks – Saturday night – Queensland Country Bank Stadium

The Sharks overcame a run of disappointing performances with a masterful display over the Tigers, but it was over the Tigers. That said, racking up 58 points against anyone is a decent effort, particularly when your key playmaker is unavailable. They have another key player unavailable on Saturday, with William Kennedy suspended. Liam Ison makes his NRL debut in a key position on hostile soil...welcome to first grade Liam. With key players missing from the Sharks backline they look a little vulnerable - notably their interchange is full of big boppers, so any injuries, HIAs, sin bins, or send-offs in the backs will give coach Fitzgibbon a headache. The Cowboys are in a similar boat to the Broncos, needing to string some solid performances together leading into the finals. What they do have going for them is a favourable draw (particularly with the whispers that the Storm will rest players in round 25) and, by Cowboys standards, not too many injuries. A top four finish is a stretch but not beyond them, and at the very least they'd be hoping to secure a home game in week one of the finals. The run starts now.

Verdict – Cowboys by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Cowboys 30 defeated Sharks 22

Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles – Saturday night – Allianz Stadium

4th plays 5th and it looks like the match of the round. The Chooks were disappointing last week but, to give them their due, they were playing the ladder leaders in Melbourne, and four of their forwards were backing up after a fairly brutal Origin encounter. Collins and Leniu are the starting props on Saturday night, after coming off the bench last week. Beyond that minor tweak, the Roosters have stuck with same seventeen. The Sea Eagles were a little slow out of the box against the Titans, but once they got going they were really going. They could have won by 200 if they played for another 40 minutes. What concerns me a little is the gap between their performances at Brookvale and their performances elsewhere. They've won just 3 games away from home this season - one at a neutral venue against the Bunnies who weren't awesome at the time, a 4 point win over the Titans, and a 1 point win over the Cowboys. Seven other away games have resulted in a draw with the Warriors and six losses, and some of those were against teams that aren't Roosters standard. If Tom Trbojevic fires (and he has been) this is a proper contest, but I'm pickens the chickens.

Verdict – Roosters by 1

​​​​​​​Result – Roosters 34 defeated Sea Eagles 30

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Penrith Panthers – Sunday afternoon – WIN Stadium, Wollongong

It didn't take long for Nathan Cleary to remind us what he can do, slotting a two point field goal in extra time against the Dolphins last week. This week his team is bolstered by the return of To'o, Yeo, Luai and Martin who were all rested. Edwards won't be available for a few weeks, but his replacement (Laurie) is no slouch. The Dragons did beat the Panthers earlier this season (22-10), but the Round 13 Panthers line-up didn't include the five Panthers I have listed earlier. The Dragons are going well, and my slightly mad suggestion that the Dragons were a good roughie to make the top eight looks slightly less mad now, but this is a test. More competitive than most might expect, but if it's close Cleary will just slot a field goal from anywhere to get his side over the line.

Verdict – Panthers by 7

​​​​​​​Result – Panthers 46 defeated Dragons 10

Redcliffe Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday afternoon – Suncorp Stadium

If you're the betting type, this is the game of the round where the scoreboard attendants will be kept busy. We know both sides can score points, but the Dolphins have conceded 26, 28, 30, 26, 28 and 28 points in their last six games. They've actually won a couple of those, but it's hard to win when you concede at least 26 points per game. The Phins haven't lost to the Titans yet, and handled them comfortably when they met on the Gold Coast in round four. I expect they'll get the job done, particularly now that it looks like the Titans finals hopes are dashed. But there will be points. Plenty of points. Have one of those mad same game thingies where you include about 8 players to score a try and cross your fingers. Insert appropriate gambling disclaimers here.

Verdict – Dolphins by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Titans 21 defeated Dolphins 14

Canberra Raiders vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Sunday night – GIO Stadium

The Raiders are a warm favourite on Sunday, but I wasn't overly impressed with their win over the Warriors last week. They are a team that struggles to put teams away when they should, and their last five victories have been by narrow margins (1,2,4,1,2). They'll put their coach in an early grave if they keep it up, and they continue to give opposing teams chances that they shouldn't. It's likely to cost them a finals berth this season, and it's likely to cost them on Sunday night, too.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 4

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Result – Raiders 32 defeated Rabbitohs 12

Wally Lewis - round twenty one selections (in bold)

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

• WARRIORS vs Tigers
• Eels vs STORM
• BRONCOS vs Bulldogs
• COWBOYS vs Sharks
• ROOSTERS vs Sea Eagles
• Dragons vs PANTHERS
• DOLPHINS vs Titans
• RAIDERS vs Rabbitohs