The NRL moves into Round 17 with finals-bound teams jockeying for positions in the Top 8. There are a couple of those teams which are dangerously out of form, but only the Sharks are in real danger of slipping out of finals contention.
This week we start with the struggling Broncos up against the unstoppable Panthers, the Knights looking for form against the desperate Sharks, followed by two blockbusters as the Rabbitohs tackle the Storm and the Roosters take on the Raiders.
Good luck with your tips.
Jump ahead to a particular game.
Broncos vs. Panthers
Knights vs. Sharks
Rabbitohs vs. Storm
Bulldogs vs. Titans
Sea Eagles vs. Tigers
Raiders vs. Roosters
Warriors vs. Eels
Cowboys vs. Dragons
Thursday, September 3
Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers, Suncorp Stadium, 7:50pm (AEST)
Broncos: 1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Richard Kennar 6. Sean O'Sullivan 7. Tom Dearden 8. Payne Haas 9. Issac Luke 10. Rhys Kennedy 11. David Fifita 12. Ben Te'o 13. Patrick Carrigan
Reserves: 14. Cory Paix 15. Jordan Riki 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Jamil Hopoate 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Pride Petterson-Robati 20. Tyson Gamble 21. Brodie Croft
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Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Brent Naden 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To'o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Moses Leota 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. James Fisher-Harris
Reserves: 14. Tyrone May 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Kurt Capewell 17. Zane Tetevano 18. Apisai Koroisau 19. Billy Burns 20. Matt Burton 21. Pat Hollis
Verdict: The Broncos dumped Anthony Seibold last week before putting in another insipid performance against the under strength Roosters. The Panthers were slow out of the gates against a determined Tigers side, but their confidence grows each week and they powered home after the break. This could get ugly unless the Broncos find some heart.
Tip: Panthers by 28
Score: Broncos 12 def. by Panthers 25
Friday, September 4
Newcastle Knights vs. Cronulla Sutherland Sharks, McDonald Jones Stadium, 6:00pm (AEST)
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Starford To'a 3. Enari Tuala 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Mason Lino 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Kurt Mann 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Mitchell Barnett
Reserves: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Herman Ese'ese 16. Josh King 17. Brodie Jones 18. Tex Hoy 19. Jirah Momoisea 20. Tautau Moga 21. Chris Randall
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Dugan 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Chad Townsend 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Toby Rudolf
Reserves: 14. Connor Tracey 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Royce Hunt 18. Jack Williams 19. Bryson Goodwin 20. Teig Wilton 21. Andrew Fifita
Verdict: The Knights were rocked last week by the spirited Warriors, while the Sharks kept eighth spot secure with a victory over the Cowboys. This is an intriguing clash, with the Sharks keen to keep ahead of the pursuing Warriors and the Knights painfully out of form with a long list of injured stars. I can't see the Knights turning around last week's effort.
Tip: Sharks by 8
TAB odds: Knights $1.85 (-1.5 $2) Sharks $1.95 (+1.5 $1.80)
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Melbourne Storm, ANZ Stadium, 7:55pm (AEST)
Rabbitohs: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Corey Allan 3. Campbell Graham 4. Dane Gagai 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Jaydn Su'A 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Cameron Murray
Reserves: 14. Mark Nicholls 15. Liam Knight 16. Patrick Mago 17. Keaon Koloamatangi 18. Jed Cartwright 19. Steven Marsters 20. Troy Dargan 21. Ky Rodwell
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Isaac Lumelume 3. Brenko Lee 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Chris Lewis 13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Reserves: 14. Nicholas Hynes 15. Ryley Jacks 16. Albert Vete 17. Darryn Schonig 18. Sandor Earl 19. Max King 20. Aaron Pene 21. Kenneath Bromwich
Verdict: The Rabbitohs lost star fullback Latrell Mitchell in thrashing the Eels last week, while the Storm ran away from the Sea Eagles. This should be a great game with the expansive Rabbitohs needing to learn quickly how to click without Mitchell and the Storm starting to look like themselves with players returning from injury.
Tip: Storm by 8
TAB odds: Rabbitohs $2.60 (+5.5 $1.90) Storm $1.50 (-5.5 $1.90)
Saturday, September 5
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Gold CoastTitans, ANZ Stadium, 3:00pm (AEST)
Bulldogs: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Nick Meaney 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Kerrod Holland 5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 6. Kieran Foran 7. Lachlan Lewis 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Aiden Tolman
Reserves: 14. Jake Averillo 15. Renouf To'omaga 16. Matt Doorey 17. Luke Thompson 19. Sauaso Sue 20. Jack Cogger 21. Reimis Smith 22. Tim Lafai
Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Corey Thompson 3. Brian Kelly 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Phillip Sami 6. Ashley Taylor 7. Jamal Fogarty (c) 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Jaimin Joliffe 11. Sam Stone 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tyrone Peachey
Reserves: 14. Erin Clark 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 16. Keegan Hipgrave 17. Sam Lisone 18. Tanah Boyd 19. Jai Arrow 20. Anthony Don 21. Jai Whitbread
Verdict: The Bulldogs played another excellent 40 minutes of football last week, before knocking off and allowing the Raiders to walk straight through them. The Titans came back late to upset the Dragons who had everything to play for. Even the Titans can be formidable opponents if you're only going to play one half of football. The Bulldogs to maintain their wooden spoon position.
Tip: Titans by 8
Score: Titans 18 def. Bulldogs 14
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs. Wests Tigers, Lottoland, 5:30pm (AEST)
Sea Eagles: 1. Tevita Funa 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Brad Parker 4. Albert Hopoate 5. Abbas Miski 6. Cade Cust 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Danny Levi 10. Martin Taupau 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic
Reserves: 14. Lachlan Croker 15. Corey Waddell 16. Sean Keppie 17. Taniela Paseka 18. Josh Schuster 19. Morgan Harper 20. Morgan Boyle 21. Haumole Olakau'atu
Tigers: 1. Moses Mbye 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Joseph Leilua 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Asu Kepaoa 6. Benji Marshall 7. Luke Brooks 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Harry Grant 10. Thomas Mikaele 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Alex Twal
Reserves: 14. Matt Eisenhuth 15. Elijah Taylor 16. Jacob Liddle 17. Sam McIntyre 18. Chris Lawrence 19. Tommy Talau 20. Josh Reynolds 21. Russell Packer
Verdict: These two teams played their grand finals last week, needing wins to stay in the hunt for the finals, and they both lost. There is always a good rivalry between these two and neither will want to lose this one regardless of their ladder position. The Tigers are a tough team to tip, and the Sea Eagles have the home field advantage here.
Tip: Sea Eagles by 6
Score: Tigers 34 def. Sea Eagles 32
Canberra Raiders vs. Sydney Roosters, GIO Stadium, 7:35pm (AEST)
Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Curtis Scott 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Siliva Havili 10. Ryan Sutton 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine
Reserves: 14. Tom Starling 15. Dunamis Lui 16. Hudson Young 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Sam Williams 19. Matthew Timoko 20. Kai O'Donnell 21. Semi Valemi
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Isaac Liu
Reserves: 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Nat Butcher 17. Sonny Bill Williams 18. Angus Crichton 19. Mitchell Aubusson 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Drew Hutchison
Verdict: Another grand final replay, with both teams finding form last week against lowly opposition. The Raiders won the first clash between these two this year, and with Jack Wighton at his best, they'll be hard to beat at home. Their defence against the Bulldogs in the first half last week rang some alarm bells and the Roosters will be ready to exploit any weaknesses.
Tip: Roosters by 8
Score: Roosters def. Raiders 18-6.
Sunday, September 6
New Zealand Warriors vs. Parramatta Eels, Central Coast Stadium, 4:05pm (AEST)
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Jai Field 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown
Reserves: 14. Ray Stone 15. Marata Niukore 16. Kane Evans 17. Oregon Kaufusi 18. Haze Dunster 19. Andrew Davey 20. Brad Takairangi 21. Stefano Utoikamanu
Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Adam Pompey 3. Hayze Perham 4. Peta Hiku 5. Gerard Beale 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Chanel Harris-Tavita 8. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 9. Karl Lawton 10. Lachlan Burr 11. Jack Murchie 12. Tohu Harris 13. Jazz Tevaga
Reserves: 14. Wayde Egan 15. Adam Blair 16. Josh Curran 17. Isaiah Papali'i 18. Paul Turner 20. Tom Ale 21. Adam Keighran
Verdict: The Eels were ordinary last week against the Rabbitohs, while the Warriors were very impressive against the Knights. The Warriors are playing an interesting mix of carefree and desperate football - they are throwing the ball around, and know they have to keep winning. They really look like they are enjoying themselves on the field and that spells danger for any team, especially a flat looking Eels side.
Tip: Warriors by 6
TAB odds: Warriors $3 (+6.5 $1.90) Eels $1.40 (-6.5 $1.90)
Cowboys: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O'Neill 4. Esan Marsters 5. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Jake Clifford 8. Francis Molo 9. Reuben Cotter 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Mitchell Dunn 13. Josh Mcguire
Reserves: 14. Daejarn Asi 15. John Asiata 16. Tom Gilbert 17. Corey Jensen 18. Shane Wright 19. Jake Granville 20. Peter Hola 21. Ben Hampton
Dragons: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Euan Aitken 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Adam Clune 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Ben Hunt 10. Josh Kerr 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron McInnes
Reserves: 14. Billy Brittain 15. Jackson Ford 16. Tyrell Fuimaono 17. Kaide Ellis 18. Eddie Blacker 19. Tristan Sailor 20. Jayden Sullivan 21. Max Feagai
Verdict: The Cowboys were overpowered by the Sharks last week, while the Dragons had the Titans beaten before falling away at the end of the game. This game means very little to anyone, but with Todd Payton announced as the new Cowboys coach, North Queensland players will be out to impress at home.
Tip: Cowboys by 12
TAB odds: Cowboys $2.40 (+3.5 $1.90) Dragons $1.60 (-3.5 $1.90)