Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels @Suncorp Stadium, Thursday 7:50pm

Stat Fact: Anthony Milford this season has seven tries and 12 try assists.

Big Talking Point: Parramatta captain Tim Mannah claimed his side were guilty of believing the reports, the ones that were based around Parramatta’s favouritism for the title due to their recent six-game winning streak. Newcastle then beat the Blue & Gold last week 29-10, and Mannah went on to say that it was the slap in the face that his team needed. They bounced back last round to comprehensively beat the struggling Gold Coast. Against Brisbane they will need to be calm and collected and not being arrogant and full of themselves in order to be within a shot of winning.

What Will Happen: Brisbane’s hot form should continue given that they have won seven of their past nine games. Among those teams have been finals contenders in Canberra, Cronulla and St George, mixed in there was also a record 54-zero win over the Gold Coast. Based purely of what has happened recently, Brisbane should make it eight of their past 10.

What Won’t Happen: A repeat of the last time the two teams met at Suncorp. Back in Round 23, 2016, Brisbane ran out 22 point victors. Given all that is on the line for both teams this game, for Brisbane a Top Two spot and for Parramatta a Top Four Spot, expect the game to be closely contested with Brisbane just coming out on top.

Our Tip: Brisbane by 12.
 

Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights @GIO Stadium, Friday 6:00pm

Stat Fact: Despite all the positivity surrounding Ricky Stuart’s time at Canberra this will be the third time in four seasons that they have missed the finals under his tutelage.

Big Talking Point: At the start of the season they were considered absolute locks for the finals and by many one of the teams that would be occupying a spot in the Top Four come finals time. But oh how wrong it has all gone for Canberra this season. Bar a recent streak where they won four out of five games Canberra have been very poor by their own standards this year. Ricky Stuart and his team will have to gather at the end of the season to see what went wrong but after last week's loss they were mathematically ruled out of the finals resulting in disappointment for all those involved within the team.

What Will Happen: Emotions coming into play. For Canberra they’d love nothing more than to win their final two games of the season and finish it on a high after their disappointing year. For Newcastle they have to win to avoid finishing with the Wooden Spoon for the third year in a row, meaning they’ll look to have a good start. This game will be played with a real passion and intensity to it, with both sides leaving it all out on the field.

What Won’t Happen: A fairytale finish for Newcastle. Despite Newcastle showing their true potential this year it won’t be enough against a Jarrod Croker led Canberra side that will want to win their final home game of the season. Newcastle will, unfortunately for their passionate fan base, be finishing last for the third consecutive season.

Our Tip: Canberra by six.

Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys @Campbelltown Stadium, Friday 7:50pm

Stat Fact: In 2014 North Queensland beat Wests 64-6 and in 2013, 50-22.

Big Talking Point: In the 2005 NRL season the Wests Tigers won their first Premiership led by Benji Marshall. In positive news for the recently struggling fan-base, the 27-time Kiwi and four-time All-Star will be returning to where it all began from next season onwards. Marshall this year for Brisbane has been very valuable whether coming off the bench or starting. The leadership that the veteran will provide to the young Leichardt brigade will be invaluable. Marshall is just a small yet very good part of the Ivan Cleary rebuild.

What Will Happen: An improved North Queensland performance resulting in a much needed win. Recently they have tried and tried and tried against their opponents but have just missed out on winning due to the large amount of injuries they are currently suffering. But this week Antonio Winterstein returns to the starting line-up while Shaun Fensom is coming off the bench. This should have helped improve the player's mood around camp which will result in a much needed win. As a result their spot in the finals will be safe for another week.

What Won’t Happen: An element of the unknown. If you expected North Queensland to lie down and cop it with their hospital ward full of injuries you’d be wrong. As for Wests despite being the lowly placed side that they are they’ve still been pushing the top sides to their limits all year. One things for sure though and that is that this game won’t be boring to watch, it will be an absolute cracker decided within the last five/ten minutes of play.

Our Tip: North Queensland by seven.

Gold Coast Titans vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs @Cbus Super Stadium, Saturday 3:00pm

Stat Fact: Moses Mbye has scored a pathetic two tries this year.

Big Talking Point: The media circus up on the ‘Glitter Strip’ is finally over as Neil Henry was relieved as his role as the head-coach of the Gold Coast with a season and two games left on his contract. Linked to the current role have been the likes of QLD coach Kevin Walters, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy and ex-Manly coach Geoff Toovey. Many have regarded the boards choice to cut Henry and not Jarryd Hayne as the wrong choice given it was largely viewed as Hayne being the problem due to his ‘toxic-like training attitude’ and not Henry. So the player has won out over the coach yet again due to the very arguable ‘spineless’ decision made by Graham Annesley and the Gold Coast board. But at what cost will this saga have impacted the future of the side in the likes of Ash Taylor and Kane Elgey?

What Will Happen: From the Gold Coast’s perspective anything could happen. They performed very badly during this whole saga but have had games where they’ve been on fire this year. On the same accord they might perform differently now that Henry is actually gone and at least for now, a larger part of the problem has been solved. For Canterbury it is the same as well, last Sunday afternoon/evening they gained a much needed & shock 30-16 win over the finals aspiring Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. But on the whole, much like the Gold Coast’s, their season has been pretty disappointing. You can expect a close game but besides that it’s hard to say given both teams seasons so far.

What Won’t Happen: A high-scoring affair. This year the Gold Coast have been kept to eight points or under four times while Canterbury an even worse six times. Combined with their back-line struggles, Will Zillman (two tries this season) and Will Hopoate (zero tries this season) you can see why not many points will be scored in this encounter.

Our Tip: Gold Coast by four.
 

Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs @AAMI Park, Saturday 5:30pm

Stat Fact: Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr have combined this season for an incredible 35 tries along with five try assists.

Big Talking Point: He’s less than a season in with his new club, but if the reports are true Robbie Farah may have angered some of the South Sydney hierarchy as he is reportedly being shopped to rival clubs for next season. South Sydney are only paying $200,000 of Farah’s $950,000 contract with Wests paying the rest but even South’s don’t want to pay that amount for a player that at times this year hasn’t resembled a player close to what he’s being payed. South Sydney already have Damien Cook on their books who is doing his job right and is a lot cheaper of an option than Farah. Newcastle could be an appropriate location for Farah provided they don’t have to give him the outrageous contract that he is on at the moment.

What Will Happen: Melbourne using this game as a trial-run and to fix any potential problems they may have coming into the finals. With Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith all named and fit to play, this game has the potential to get ugly for Michael Maguire’s side.

What Won’t Happen: South Sydney have never won at AAMI Park from their six previous attempts there. History should continue along its merry path as after this game they will be zero of seven from there.

Our Tip: Melbourne by 30.
 

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Sydney Roosters @Southern Cross Group Stadium, Saturday 7:30pm

Stat Fact: Cronulla have won their past six games against Sydney and the last two being by 32 and 25 points respectively. For the side that’s in equal 2nd this encounter should be a lot more competitive than the previous ones.

Big Talking Point: Sydney skipper Boyd Cordner has fired a shot to their Premiership rivals saying that on their day, his team can beat anyone. Despite his side sitting comfortably inside the Top Four this is still a big statement given that recently Sydney have struggled against other teams in the Top Eight as evident through their recent 36-18 loss to finals hopefuls Manly. This weekend will prove to be another big test for Sydney as they take on Premiership contenders Cronulla who they haven’t beaten since 2014.

What Will Happen: A fiery encounter given that both teams are trying to fight for 2nd spot on the competition ladder. With Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen on one team and the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Dylan Napa on the other expect a hard hitting, blood-spilling encounter with the more physical, tougher team to come through with the victory.

What Won’t Happen: Sydney breaking that streak. At home this year Cronulla are a very poor five out of 12. Heading into the finals with home-ground advantage for the first week is a massive likely for the Shire side. Expect them to try and make it a fortress again starting with a win against Sydney.

Our Tip: Cronulla by eight.

New Zealand Warriors vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles @Mt Smart Stadium, Sunday 2:00pm

Stat Fact: Tom Trbojevic is averaging 184m per game to go along with 10 tries and 15 try assists.

Big Talking Point: Manly are now in crisis mode. Ever since the salary cap saga started Manly were sitting comfortably in 3rd place, now they are in danger of missing the finals altogether. A loss this week to New Zealand and a win to St George (because of their significantly better points difference) would see them move into 8th spot ahead of the Maroon & White. Despite all the crap that has affected Manly this will not change and in the context of their season, this is arguably their most important game. Manly have been bad recently but against an even worse New Zealand side this is their best opportunity to stop their slump and save their season.

What Will Happen: Manly could either come out and play like they have the past two rounds in their poor losses to both Canterbury or Wests (which many view as the more likely option) or they can fight to save their season (which I see as the likely option). Despite all the adversity that the Northern Beaches club has faced they still have the Trbojevic brothers, DCE and Martin Taupau in their squad that should see them over the line.

What Won’t Happen: Anything good. This game will be contested by two struggling teams and won’t be easy on the eyes. Both Stephen Kearney and Trent Barret are suffering tough years, it’s about to get a whole lot worse for one of them.

Our Tip: Manly by 14.
 

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Penrith Panthers @Pepper Stadium, Sunday 4:00pm

Stat Fact: St George have won the last three clashes that these two teams have contested. The last one being a 42-10 win in these two teams first game of the season this year.

Big Talking Point: Win and they’re alive or lose and it’s all over until next season. The Red V are desperate to make the finals and nothing less than a win will do against a resurgent Penrith side. Against a Penrith side aiming to make the Top Four this won’t be as easy as it was back in Round One, but St George still need the same result, which was a victory.

What Will Happen: The Dragons will breathe fire into their season with a win over Penrith. It’s pretty simple maths that they need to win or they can start booking their end of season holiday's because it certainly won’t be a trip to the finals if they lose this one.

What Won’t Happen: Penrith getting a second life in the playoffs. If they wish to make the Top Four then this is a must win for Penrith, but due to St George’s desperation they’ll just miss out on a place they so dearly covert.

Our Tip: St George by four.