Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Sydney Roosters @Lottoland, Sunday 2:00pm

Stat Fact: Dylan Walker will be playing in his 50th game on Sunday while Tom Trbojevic also celebrates his own games played milestone.

Big Talking Point: Manly have copped a lot this season and this week was no different with numerous reports suggesting that Manly head coach Trent Barrett could be switching allegiances to Canterbury from next year onwards. Barrett has helped to build up again the best club of the past decade and losing him would be an absolute blow to the Maroon & White. He has done a tremendous job in his role this season considering they have one million dollars out of the cap, yet are still in position to make the finals.

What Will Happen: The salary cap drama and the rumours on their head coach have clearly gotten to the playing squad these past couple of weeks conceding 92 points in their past two games and in the same span scoring only 28. Expect a massive bounce back from Manly with their season on the line.

What Won’t Happen: One of Sydney’s back five not scoring a try. Sydney are high up on the ladder this season and that is in no small part to their back five which have combined for 37 tries this year. In what will be a Sydney loss at least one of them should get up on the board.

Our Tip: Manly by two.

 

Penrith Panthers vs Wests Tigers @Pepper Stadium, Sunday 4:00pm

Stat Fact: Elijah Taylor has as many tries this season as James Tedesco and Chris Lawrence combined (4).

Big Talking Point: Many Wests fans have hated Aaron Woods this season for his controversial decision to leave the side at the end of the year and link up with Kieran Foran at Canterbury. But could the NSW forward be staying after all? According to various reports Canterbury have a poor salary cap situation at the moment and may no longer be able to afford to bring in their star recruits for next season.

What Will Happen: Who knows? Both teams seasons this year have been so unpredictable and Wests 26-4 win last week threw another spanner into the works as no one saw it coming. Both teams however can put up points on their day so I’d say to expect at least 50-60 points will be scored in a high-scoring, see-sawing affair.

What Won’t Happen: Wests win as big as they did last week. Last week the Gold Coast put up an absolutely horrific performance against Wests in the process of losing and all but ending their own season. Wests will win but in a tight one.

Our Tip: Wests by eight.