Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels – Friday night – McDonald Jones Stadium

14th plays 17th in a contest where the quality might be down but the (likely) even nature of this contest can keep it interesting. Knights coach Adam O'Brien appears frustrated and is struggling for answers, and who could blame him? They've now lost six of their last seven and blew a 20 point lead last week against a team below them on the ladder. This week they'll be without Thompson and Marzhew, so any perceived yardage advantage they have over their opponents has been diminished. It's a bit grim. The picture isn't much brighter for the Eels, but their recent form has clearly improved. They've lost two in a row, but competitive losses to the Sharks and Dolphins is better than where they were earlier in the season. Rarely would I suggest the inclusion of a winger can change a game, but it could here. Zac Lomax has been named to return, and he has a week to impress the Origin selectors. He can find the stripe, he can defend an edge, he can kick goals, and he can slot a field goal. In what looks a close contest, his inclusion could make the difference. I can't let a big milestone go by without a mention - congrats to Dane Gagai who joins the 300 club this weekend. Just 54 members in that club, so he joins an elite group of humans. 

Verdict – Eels by 1

Result – Eels 28 defeated Knights 6

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Sydney Roosters – Friday night – Accor Stadium

The weather in Sydney looks a little bleak in the days ahead. A shame, because the Dogs can pull a crowd when the Dogs are playing well. That second half against the Raiders last week is the best the Bulldogs have been all season, and I think the coach and players knew it. It was a top-shelf performance, and this team can win the premiership. Just one change for the Bulldogs, with Salmon out with an ankle injury for an extended period. Collins returns for the Chooks off the bench, and he's one of many playing in this game that will be hoping to get the attention of Origin selectors. I doubt Tedesco could do any more, but I still don't think he'll get the nod. This will be the Bulldogs third game of the year at this venue, and in their previous two outings they didn't concede a point. It's clearly a venue they like, and it's a clearly a venue the Roosters (2 wins from their last 8) don't like. Regardless, the Chooks are a team that almost always give it a red hot go. I suspect they'll fall short, but this is a contest, and it's the game of the round.

Verdict – Bulldogs by 4

Result – Bulldogs 24 defeated Roosters 20

Redcliffe Dolphins vs New Zealand Warriors – Saturday afternoon – Suncorp Stadium

The Warriors are in the top two, and I'm probably not the only one that enjoys seeing them do well. Incredibly, they have a points differential of +1, which indicates they're winning the close contests. The only games they've lost this season have been to the third-placed Storm and the fourth-placed Raiders. Handy form that. The Dolphins are in 12th place on the ladder but have a better points differential (+10) than the Warriors. That indicates they're losing some close contests, but can rack up the tries when they're on. This will be their fifth appearance at Suncorp Stadium this season, where they have won two and lost two. The losses were competitive, and the wins were dominant displays over the two grand finalists from last year. They're a slight outsider on Saturday afternoon, but I'm backing the Phins on a drying surface in the daytime slot. I also think they're facing the Warriors at a good time - this will be the Warriors third game in a row in Australia, and the travel has to wear them down at some point. Note the return of Fisher-Harris for the Wahs. He's a massive inclusion, but the Dolphins pack are playing well and I think they can get the job done.

Verdict – Dolphins by 4

Result – Warriors 16 defeated Dolphins 12

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

Since round four this season, every team has won their game prior to the bye in the round that followed. Even the Eels won their game before the had a bye (and they don't win a lot). Perhaps it's just a meaningless statistical quirk, but perhaps teams want to head into the break on a winning note. The Cowboys have a bye next weekend, and they'll want to turn the tables after the Sea Eagles tore them to pieces in round one. Quite a bit has changed since then - the Cowboys have improved while the Sea Eagles have found themselves in a genuine rut. Their only recent win was over the team running second last, and their performance last weekend at Brookvale was disappointing. Manly haven't had to leave Sydney very often this season but when they have they've really travelled - to Auckland and Perth. They lost both those games, and I think they'll lose in Townsville too. An interesting positional change for the home side, with Purdue joining Deardon in the halves. He'd been playing out of position in the centres anyway, and this is probably a more natural position for him. Laybutt returns in the centres after a long lay-off, and I've got wraps on him.

Verdict – Cowboys by 8

​​​​​​​Result – Sea Eagles 24 defeated Cowboys 6

Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm – Saturday night – Sharks Stadium

A really interesting contest this one, and the venue does turn this one into a bit of a coin toss. No-one wants to be playing at Shark Park on a Saturday night, and I suspect the Storm will want to fly in and fly out and hopefully pick up the two points in the process. They were switched on last week, and delivered one of those performances the Storm can deliver, but they aren't as consistent this season and a repeat of that seems unlikely. Kamikamica returns to boost their forwards, while the Sharks lose Hazelton to a shoulder issue. Talakai returns on the bench for the latter. As per seasons past, the Sharks tend to be very good at beating the lesser teams, but struggle against the top tier. Thus far this season, they appear to be repeating the trend. They've played two teams above them on the ladder in 2025, and lost them both. These sides met in week one of the finals last year where the Storm won comfortably (37-10). I expect the Sharks will make them uncomfortable on Saturday night, but I'm tipping the Storm to get the job done.

Verdict – Storm by 4

​​​​​​​Result – Sharks 31 defeated Storm 26

Brisbane Broncos vs St George Illawarra Dragons – Sunday afternoon – Suncorp Stadium

Two daytime games at Suncorp Stadium this weekend - a rare treat for those of us within stumbling distance of the most haunted sporting venue in the country. Broncos fans will be hoping they show some spirit on Sunday, after a bafflingly poor performance last week. Consistency is the big issue, and the gap between the Broncos best and worst is cavernous. By way of example, the Broncos have scored more than 30% of the points that have been scored against the Bulldogs all season, and they scored those points in one game...in the rain. We know what they can do, but we don't know if they're going to do it. Ezra Mam is the controversial inclusion this week, replacing the injured Ben Hunt. He'll likely need the hit out but there were good signs last week when he pulled on a Souths Logan jersey. The Dragons are much more consistent than the Broncos, but they have limited upside. I'll take a punt on a return to form for the home side in front of what is likely to be a solid crowd.

Verdict – Broncos by 10

​​​​​​​Result – Dragons 30 defeated Broncos 20

Canberra Raiders vs Gold Coast Titans – Sunday afternoon – GIO Stadium

These sides met fairly recently, when the Raiders prevailed 30-20 on the Gold Coast. There wasn't much between the sides last time, and I expect a similar result this time. A couple of important inclusions for the Titans on the bench on Sunday - with Foran and Joliffe returning. The Raiders have lost the promising Nicholson to a long-term injury, but Horsburgh returns at prop, giving him another chance to impress Billy Slater. The Raiders were terrific in the first half last week and then found themselves under assault by a team at the top of their game. I don't think they'll win this by much, but I do expect them to bounce back.

Verdict – Raiders by 2

​​​​​​​Result – Raiders 40 defeated Titans 24

Wests Tigers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs – Sunday night – Campbelltown Sports Ground

Most of you would have noticed that I had a bit of a dig at Latrell Mitchell last week, and look what I made him do? I better not talk the bloke up this week because he might respond by getting sent off. A repeat of last week's heroics and he simply has to be named in a Blues origin jersey...I think. The Tigers will be hoping we all can forget what happened to them last week. They won't be the last team to get flogged by the Storm in Melbourne, but that was a proper flogging. Typically teams bounce back with an improved performance after such a loss, but I don't know how much the Tigers have in them. That they've lost one of their under-appreciated forwards (Pole) doesn't make things any easier either. As for Laui...but awkward. That said, he's not the only person embarrassed by what their parents post on social media.

Verdict – Rabbitohs by 8

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Result – Rabbitohs 22 defeated Tigers 12

Wally Lewis - round eleven selections (in bold)

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

• Knights vs EELS
• BULLDOGS vs Roosters
• DOLPHINS vs Warriors
• Cowboys vs SEA EAGLES
• Sharks vs STORM
• BRONCOS vs Dragons
• RAIDERS vs Titans
• TIGERS vs Rabbitohs