Blythy’s Round 21 Rev Up

New Zealand Warriors vs. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Mt Smart Stadium, 6:00pm, Friday August 9

Team News: Chanel Harris-Tavita starts with Nikorima out, while Ligi Sao replaces Josh Curran on the bench. Manly are unchanged.

Prediction: Where do the Warriors go from here? They were dreadful against Canberra, and that first half was something shocking.  Can they turn themselves around? Manly are storming home, and have their eyes focused on a top four place. With all four top teams playing each other this weekend, this is a must-win for the Sea Eagles. And they'll get the win on the back of usual suspects DCE, Trbojevic x2, Taupau and Fonua-Blake. Manly by 16.

Penrith Panthers vs. Cronulla Sharks

Panthers Stadium, 7:55pm, Friday August 9

Team News: Viliame Kikau returns on the left edge in a straight swap with Frank Winterstein. Jarome Luai and Wayde Egan are both out, replaced by Sione Katoa and debutant Spencer Leniu. James Maloney's suspension also sees Dubbo junior Matt Burton debut at five-eighth. Matt Moylan is out, which sees Josh Dugan move to fullback, Josh Morris push into the centres and Sosaia Feki return on the wing.

Prediction: This could be a belter of a match. Kikau is big and will face off against in-form rookie Nikora. James Maloney is a huge out against his former club, as is Moylan against his own former side. The Panthers have been forced to blood two rookies, and while both have dominated NSW Cup, first-grade is a big step up and a nearly full-strength Cronulla will target the duo and capitalise. It will be tight early, but the gap will widen. Cronulla by 10.

St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Gold Coast Titans

Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 3:00pm, Saturday August 10

Team News: James Graham shifts from lock to prop and Blake Lawrie is out. Tyson Frizell shifts to lock and Pat Kaufusi moves to the back-row, with Jackson Ford debuting on the bench. Jai Arrow returns for the Titans, shifting Jai Whitbread to prop and Jack Stockwell out. Jesse Arthars replaces Anthony Don, while Michael Gordon's injury sees AJ Brimson returning to fullback.

Prediction: It must be hard to be a Titans fan sometimes. Last week was just embarrassing for the club, where do they go from here? It seems Ash Taylor won't line-up, and Michael Gordon may have played his last game. The Dragons aren't much better off, losing to Parramatta, but there's a sense they've been building for this game. They won't be playing finals footy, but they'll certainly lift big time for this. A lot of teams that lose by 50 find a way to win the next week, but that won't be the Gold Coast, unfortunately. They'll be better than last week, but that's not hard. The Dragons will get the win in a high-scoring affair, along the lines of a 34-20 win. Dragons by 14.

Parramatta Eels vs. Newcastle Knights

Bankwest Stadium, 5:30pm, Saturday August 10

Team News: Both sides have resisted making changes from last week's games.

Prediction: This is a hard game to tip. Both need the win if they want a spot in the eight come finals time. Newcastle has a good record against the Eels, winning 11 of the last 13, including the last four straight, the last of which a win in Round 7, which sparked a six-game winning streak for the Knights. Parramatta ground out a tough win over St George Illawarra while the Knights couldn't withstand a second-half barrage from Manly. It'll be close, and Bankwest is a huge factor, but in desperation is where Newcastle shine, and they'll get home at any cost. Knights by 8.

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Wests Tigers

ANZ Stadium, 7:35pm, Saturday August 10

Team News: Adam Elliot is out, with Chris Smith starting at lock, and Raymond Faitala-Mariner joining the bench. Wests are unchanged.

Prediction: Props to the Bulldogs, they looked destined for the spoon for a while there, and have now managed to win three of the last five. Wests have the longest finals drought currently in the NRL, their last appearance coming in 2011. They're in a good place to snap that streak, and great motivation with Robbie Farah having less than 10 games left in the NRL. The Bulldogs will keep with them, but the Wests Tigers will be good to go, Michael Maguire is a great coach and will have his team firing. Wests by 12.

Canberra Raiders vs Sydney Roosters

GIO Stadium, 2:00pm, Sunday August 11

Team News: Nick Cotric returns from suspension, which sees Michael Oldfield drop out. Ryan Sutton replaces Emre Guler on the bench, while Joey Leilua is in the reserves. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves returns from suspension as well, with Zane Tetevano dropping to the bench and Lindsay Collins dropping out.

Prediction: What a Sunday, with all top four sides playing each other. Canberra is on the verge of a full-strength backline, with Cotric back and Leilua in the reserves. The Roosters were amazing against the Gold Coast, but they're not the toughest opposition. The interesting stat is the majority of sides that score 50 go on to lose the following week. Canberra was amazing in last week's game against New Zealand, especially the first half. They've shot deep into the top four now thanks to their stellar for and against. But the one negative for Canberra, they're yet to beat any of the other top four sides this year. That'll change this week. The Roosters will start flat after that giant win over the Titans, and the Raiders will win on the back of their defence.  Raiders by 4.

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Melbourne Storm

Central Coast Stadium, 4:05pm, Sunday August 11

Team News: The Rabbitohs have stuck with the same side that lost to Cronulla, with Sam Burgess beating his charge. Christian Welch's season is done, replaced by Tui Kamikamica.

Prediction: A huge game in the context of South Sydney's season. These two sides haven't faced each other this year. But the two games they played last year were incredibly memorable. Their regular season clash, a Bunnies victory, is shown over and over again for that solo Damien Cook try from 40 metres out, while their second clash was one of the best finals games in recent years, a 29-28 Melbourne win. Souths have been shaky since Origin began, and if they want to lift before finals, they at least need this game to be close. If Melbourne blows them out, Souths could be gone. A Rabbitohs win or narrow loss will have them full of confidence for the next few games. The Storm is firing too well at the moment, though they do have their shaky periods in the final few rounds of the regular season. Melbourne will win, but don't expect a blowout, think maybe 18-16 win on the Central Coast. Melbourne by 2.