South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Sydney Roosters
ANZ Stadium, 7:50pm, Thursday September 5
Team News: Tom Amone replaces the injured Kyle Turner on the bench. Boyd Corder's return sees Angus Crichton drop to the bench, with Taukieaho out. Cooper Cronk returns in place of Drew Hutchison.
Prediction: A huge match for both clubs, South Sydney must win to guarantee themselves a top-four berth. The Roosters can't change ladder positions, though they don't want to carry the momentum of a loss in the finals series. The Rabbitohs won the last matchup between the clubs in Round One, though the Bondi boys have hit peak form at the right time, and will beat Souths in another chapter of rugby league's greatest rivalry. Roosters by 10.
Parramatta Eels vs. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Bankwest Stadium, 6:00pm, Friday September 6
Team News: Tepai Moeroa and Ray Stone join the bench in place of Peni Terepo and David Gower. Tom Trbojevic, Jack Gosiewski and Morgan Boyle are all out for Manly. Brendan Elliot starts at fullback, Corey Waddell moves in the second-row with Lloyd Perrett and Sean Keppie join the bench.
Prediction: It's a shame this game was handed the Friday 6pm timeslot because it's going to be a blockbuster. Manly can still sneak into the top four but must do so without Tom Trbojevic, an incredibly hard task. Parramatta is guaranteed a home elimination final but would love a win over their rivals, and Mitchell Moses will guide them to it. Eels by 14.
Melbourne Storm vs. North Queensland Cowboys
AAMI Park, 7:55pm, Friday September 6
Team News: Cameron Munster is out, with Brodie Croft recalled at five-eighth. Josh Addo-Carr has been rested, with Sandor Earl on the wing, with Tui Kamikamica returning in place of Brandom Smith on the bench. Josh McGuire returns in place of Reuben Cotter.
Prediction: Ignore ladder position, this will be a cracker. Cameron Munster's omission brings this back to a level field, with some colossal matchups. Scott Drinkwater returns to Melbourne after being released by the Storm mid-season, while the likes of McGuire and Taumalolo against Bromwich and Asofa-Solomona in the middle is mouth-watering. The deciding factor will be Brodie Croft, who'll lift after getting dropped, and guide them to a win on home soil, before collecting the JJ Giltan shield. Storm by 16.
Canberra Raiders vs. New Zealand Warriors
GIO Stadium, 3:00pm, Saturday September 7
Team News: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jordan Rapana, Sia Soliola and John Bateman have all been rested. Bailey Simonsson shifts to fullback, with Michael Oldfield and Sebastian Kris the new wingers. Hudson Young starts, with JJ Collins and Emre Guler added to the bench. Peta Hiku and Patrick Herbert are injured, with Blake Ayshford and Adam Pompey the new centre duo. Chanel Harris-Tevita is injured and Sam Lisone is out, which sees Bunty Afoa and Adam Keighran on the bench.
Prediction: A points fest. Canberra is resting four of their best, while the Warriors have lost more to injury. New Zealand look lost during their games like they're waiting for this season to end. Canberra is a chance of slipping out of the top four so they must win at home, and despite all the missing faces, they will. Aidan Sezer is playing career-best footy, and he'll take that into the semis with another dominant display. Jarrod Croker is a good tip for any time try scorer as well, the centre has a phenomenal try-scoring rate against the Warriors. Canberra by 20.
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Brisbane Broncos
ANZ Stadium, 5:30pm, Saturday September 7
Team News: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Kerrod Holland both picked up injuries last week. Hopoate shifts to fullback for DWZ with Morgan Harper named to debut in the centres, while Reimis Smith replaces Holland. Jake Turpin returns from suspension in place of Sean O'Sullivan, while Izaia Perese replaces Gehamat Shibasaki on the bench.
Prediction: Unless Canterbury win and the Tigers/Sharks game ends in a draw, the Broncos have secured themselves a top-eight spot. Jake Turpin returns as Brisbane's Mr Fix It, while the Dogs have lost DWZ to a knee injury. This reeks of a low-scoring, sloppy affair, but with the form that Payne Haas and David Fifita are in, that could be enough to blow the Bulldogs away through the middle. Expect one of those teenage prodigies to earn Man of the Match honours. Brisbane by 16.
Gold Coast Titans vs. St George Illawarra Dragons
Cbus Super Stadium, 7:35pm, Saturday September 7
Team News: Kallum Watkins has been dropped, meaning Tyrone Peachey shifts to the centres and AJ Brimson starts at five-eighth. Mitch Rein's return at hooker means Nathan Peats starts at lock and Jai Arrow moves to prop in place of the injured Fotuaika. Jack Stockwell is on the bench. Corey Norman returns at fullback with Tristan Sailor on the wing in place of the concussed Zac Lomax. Reece Robson comes in at hooker with a broken leg ending Cameron McInnes' season, while Jeremy Latimore replaces Pat Kaufusi for his farewell match.
Prediction: Yuck. This mightn't just be the worst game of the round, but the worst of the season. Between both these clubs, since Round 17, they have won one game between them. And that was when they played each other a month ago. It's Gareth Widdop's last NRL game before he shifts to the Super League, while veterans Michael Gordon and Jeremy Latimore will hang up the boots after this game. The Gold Coast hasn't won since June, but in front of a home crowd, they'll lift big time in an error-riddled thriller. Titans by 1.
Wests Tigers vs. Cronulla Sharks
Leichardt Oval, 2:00pm, Sunday September 8
Team News: Josh Reynolds will start at hooker, meaning Ryan Matterson shifts to lock and Matt Eisenhuth drops to the bench. Moses Mbye and Robbie Farah are on the reserves list. Shaun Johnson returns in place of Kyle Flanagan, Siosaia Feki replaces Sione Katoa and Jack Williams comes onto the bench for Jason Bukuya.
Prediction: Game of the round. Old NSW teammates Robbie Farah and Paul Gallen face-off, with one set to end the other's career prematurely. But will Farah play? You'd think not, but who knows. If Cronulla loses, they could be the most talented roster ever to miss the finals (except those that had their points stripped). Shaun Johnson will doubtfully be at 100%, and though the game is at Leichardt, Cronulla just looks a little too strong on paper. Sharks by 8.
Penrith Panthers vs. Newcastle Knights
Panthers Stadium, 4:05pm, Sunday September 8
Team News: Wayde Egan starts at hooker with Sione Katoa dropped, and Jarome Luai joining the interchange. Lachlan Fitzgibbon starts for Newcastle with Aidan Guerra dropping to the bench, while Kurt Mann replaces Jacob Saifiti on the bench.
Prediction: Flashback to just before the Origin series ended, and both these teams looked like world-beaters, top eight certainties at least. Now they finish off the regular season in a meaningless game, knowing both sides had the roster to challenge this season. James Maloney will say au revoir to the NRL while the Knights look to give their fans and more importantly Adam O'Brien a sign that next year will be different. It'll be a tight game but may blow out late, with the Knights finishing their season the way they started it, with a win. Knights by 14.
