Broncos (2) v Panthers (3)
Thursday 7.50pm, Suncorp Stadium
The absence of Adam Reynolds is a huge blow for the Broncos who were brave and physical against the Melbourne Storm. Brisbane’s forwards have been outstanding, and Reece Walsh is dynamite in attack. Cameron Munster did have some joy testing Walsh under the short bomb, which Penrith’s Nathan Cleary would have noticed. The Panthers blew the Roosters off the park, and while the premiers were good, the Chooks were awful. Still, Penrith dug deep a week earlier as well against the Warriors. They are battle hardened. Panthers by 8.
Christian Nicolussi
Dragons (16) v Roosters (12)
Friday 6pm, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Talk about two clubs with their backs to the wall. The Dragons start life after Anthony Griffin with interim coach Ryan Carr, desperately trying to halt a six-game losing run.
Carr has put his stamp on his first team list with Zac Lomax and Jacob Liddle earning recalls from NSW Cup and Ben Hunt being named at halfback. Drew Hutchison is in the halves for the Roosters in place of Joseph Manu (ankle) with Sam Walker (knee) still sidelined. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves needs to overcome a pectoral strain to play after the club’s record loss to the Panthers. The Dragons haven’t beaten the Roosters in a non-Anzac Day fixture since the 2010 grand final. Roosters by 8.
Adam Pengilly
Rabbitohs (1) v Eels (14)
Friday 8pm, Allianz Stadium
Parramatta sure picked a crummy week to take on the high-flying Souths. The Bunnies always lift for Indigenous Round — and always seem to lift against the Eels. They have the wood on their western rivals, and have racked up some decent scorelines in recent years. Souths were given a decent contest against the Tigers, but still somehow notched up 20 unanswered points. Shaun Lane is a big loss for the Eels, and Dylan Brown will not want to do it all himself without his lanky back-rower again. At least Mitchell Moses is back. Rabbitohs by 22.
Christian Nicolussi
Sharks (4) v Knights (11)
Saturday 3pm, C.ex Coffs International Stadium
Save for one poor performance against Parramatta, Newcastle have had a proper crack this season. Their last performance, a 20-point win over the Titans, was their best of the season.
Kalyn Ponga was in mercurial form in the Knights’ win over Gold Coast.Credit: Getty
This is a much sterner test, but the return to form of Kalyn Ponga gives them a chance. Coach Adam O’Brien has the luxury of naming an unchanged 17 against a Cronulla side clinging to a top-four spot. This will be the final Origin audition for Nicho Hynes and Dale Finucane, the latter the forgotten man in the debate about the composition pf the Blues pack. The Sharks can’t afford to clock off early like they did last week against Manly. Sharks by 6.
Adrian Proszenko
Tigers (17) v Cowboys (13)
Saturday 5.30pm, Leichhardt Oval
Luke Brooks celebrates 200 games, and his Tigers were right in it last week against the table toppers Souths for 70 minutes before dropping away.
Reece Walsh, Nathan Cleary, Ben Hunt, Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses.Credit: Getty
They have been in every contest the past month. The Tigers pack have matched it every week, and they just need a bit of spit and polish at the end of their sets. The Cowboys turned the corner against the Roosters, but that is suddenly looking like no mean feat. They are building momentum, but you get the feeling the Tigers will be stubborn, and eke out a rare win at league’s eighth wonder. Tigers by 1.
Christian Nicolussi
Dolphins (6) v Storm (5)
Saturday 7.35pm, Suncorp Stadium
This is a battle of the supercoaches. Wayne Bennett is an enduring figure in rugby league and Craig Bellamy has confirmed he will coach on at least until the end of 2024.
Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy in 2004.Credit: Colin Whelan
It’s also the first time that Felise Kaufusi, Kenny Bromwich and Jesse Bromwich face off against their former team and mentor. Jesse Bromwich’s return from a hamstring injury is a huge boost, while Nelson Asofa-Solomona is expected to play despite injuring his ribs in last week’s confidence-boosting win over Brisbane. The Dolphins have made just 85 errors all season, less than any other side in the NRL, a trait that has kept them in every contest. However, a bit of magic from Cameron Munster or Harry Grant will prove the difference. Storm by 4.
Adrian Proszenko
Bulldogs (15) v Titans (9)
Sunday 2pm, Accor Stadium
There are two particularly intriguing selections for Canterbury; the return of Josh Addo-Carr and the shift of Karl Oloapu to a starting halves spot.
Josh Addo-Carr will have 80 minutes to push his case for Origin selection.Credit: NRL Photos
This is the first and last opportunity for “The Foxx” to prove his form and fitness for a NSW jersey ahead of Origin I. Club officials have no doubt they have a rare talent on their hands on Oloapu, but they’re not quite sure where he will end up. Is he a halfback? A five-eighth? A ball-playing lock? How he performs alongside Matt Burton could be a pointer. The Titans, meanwhile, are impossible to run a rule over. They were so good against Parramatta and so poor against Newcastle. This is a toss-of-the-coin job. Titans by 4.
Adam Pengilly
Raiders (7) v Sea Eagles (12)
Sunday 4.05pm, GIO Stadium
Tom Trbojevic? Jake Trbojevic? Hudson Young? NSW’s State of Origin selection debate will come down to the very last game of the round with the Trbojevic brothers trying to state their case and Young making one last pitch to Brad Fittler. Ricky Stuart’s Raiders are closing in on a record winning run under the coach after five straight victories and will fancy themselves against the Sea Eagles, who have lost form in the last month. Xavier Savage and Zac Woolford are missing from the Canberra team which swept past the Eels, while Manly have lost some starch in the middle with Aaron Woods, Josh Aloiai and Kelma Tuilagi all out after last week’s loss to the Sharks. Back to a daytime slot, the Raiders look hard to beat. Raiders by 8.
Adam Pengilly
