The Panthers will be burning after their phenomenal match against a spirited Knights team last week saw the Penrith club concede a 14-point lead to draw the match. They will face a Warriors outfit who produced an impressive victory over the Dragons last week with the New Zealand club holding their opposition scoreless and displaying an uncharacteristic discipline that will be sure to excite fans. 

 Injuries and suspension continue to cruel the Warriors’ squad with Peta Hiku and Agnatius Paasi set to be replaced by Poasa Faamausili and Josh Curran on the bench. Meanwhile, Penrith have named only one change with Liam Martin displacing Billy Burns on the interchange.  

Penrith will enter this match as favourites given their recent record against the Warriors, but should be wary of a New Zealand outfit who competed well in the fundamentals of rugby league, completing 46 of 48 sets with the football. While disappointed with last week’s result, Panthers faithful should be happy with the performance of rookie half Matt Burton. This match could go either way but expect Penrith’s forward fire-power to prove the difference. 

Melbourne produced an uncharacteristically poor performance against the Raiders last week in a result that has left the Victorian club scrambling to redesign their game-plan to fit the recent rule changes. They will face a Souths squad who were outclassed by the Roosters last week with Wayne Bennett’s troops eager to avoid three consecutive losses.  

Nelson Asofa-Solomona will be absent with suspension as Christian Welch shift to the front-row with Ryley Jacks joining the bench. For the Rabbitohs, star rookie Cameron Murray will revert to lock despite being named in the second-row, with Keaon Koloamatangi set to make his NRL debut. While James Roberts was included in the reserves, the NSW centre won’t take his place in the squad.  

Expect a massive response from Melbourne given the Victorians are unaccustomed to the embarrassment of a poor performance. The competition’s elite teams still look to be adjusting to the rule changes but this match should bring a mouth-watering contest between two of the best hookers in the competition. While Souths are certainly a chance to win this game, expect a big turnaround from Melbourne to get them over the line. 

Saturday evening brings a mouth-watering clash between the Eels and Manly in what shapes as a sneak-preview of finals football given the quality in these two teams. Paramatta sent a massive warning shot to the competition after they dismantled the Broncos in a powerful performance, while Manly were also impressive against the Bulldogs as both clubs look well placed to capitalise on the rule changes.  

In an ominous sign for their rivals, both clubs have the luxury of naming an unchanged squad. With healthy rosters this is a good sign for their finals prospects.  

Both Manly and the Eels boast monster forward rotations, strike in their back-line and the football nous and composure in their spine to dominate their opposition. Expect a highly physical contest which may come down to which team manages fatigue more effectively. The Eels will enter this match as favourites but Manly will be confident testing themselves against the competition’s best after over-performing without a number of key players last year. This one could go either way but expect Paramatta to continue their run of victories to start the season 4-0.  

North Queensland produced a dominant victory over the Titans in their last match in an impressive performance without captain Michael Morgan. They will face a depleted Sharks outfit who were left disappointed after their loss to the Tigers last week was compounded by a number of injury concerns.  

Chad Townsend and Andrew Fifita will both be missing for Cronulla with Matt Moylan re-joining the squad at five-eighth as Connor Tracey and Siosifa Talakai come onto the bench. For the Cowboys, Jason Taumalolo is a big out as veteran Josh McGuire shifts to lock with Tom Gilbert and Gavin Cooper set to join the interchange.  

Cowboys’ faithful will be happy with the performance of their new look spine as star signing Valentine Holmes looks to be returning to his devastating best. The talented fullback will face his old club for the first time since his NRL return in another layer of intrigue to this game, though the Sharks’ focus will be on avoiding their fourth consecutive loss in a difficult start to their season. Cronulla certainly have the experience and talent to win this match but expect the Queenslanders to outclass them.  

Newcastle produced one of the most courageous performances in the club’s history in their stunning draw with the Panthers last week as new coach Adam O’Brien looks to have brought a defensive grit that has been missing for some time. His team will face an enormous test against a red-hot Raiders outfit who are fresh of a dominant performance over the Melbourne Storm as the Canberra club looks to notch their fourth consecutive win.  

After being ravaged with injury, Newcastle has sounded for reinforcements as Kalyn Ponga returns from suspension and veteran rake Andrew McCullough has been named to start in his club debut in an otherwise unchanged squad. The Raiders will replace Jordan Rapana with Bailey Simonsson on the wing in their only change.  

Canberra will enter this match as clear favourites but the improvement the Knights have shown under their new coach will have last year’s grand-finalists on high-alert. With both teams boasting superb defensive structures, expect a physical, high intensity contest. While the Knights will have every confidence of winning this game, expect the cohesion and class of the Raiders to prove the difference.  

Wests have continued to improve under Michael Maguire after the club’s impressive victory over the Sharks last week. They will face a winless Titans squad who last produced a woeful loss to the Cowboys in what shapes as a difficult year for new coach Justin Holbrook.  

Holbrook has put a broom through his squad with Nathan Peats, Shannon Boyd, Jarrod Wallace, Jai Whitbread and Jonus Pearson all dropped. The Gold Coast club will run a new-look bench with Tanah Boyd, Jaimin Jolliffe, Bryce Cartwright and Young Tonumaipea on the pine. Tyrone Roberts will also return at fullback as Erin Clark starts at hooker. Meanwhile, the Tigers have named an unchanged squad.  

Wests will enter this match as firm favourites as the Titans look to be embarking on an overdue rebuilding period. Coach Justin Holbrook has made a clear statement to his squad with significant changes to the team, but the impact this will have on their performance remains to be seen. Tigers to get the points. 

Both Canterbury and the Dragons will enter Monday afternoon’s match winless and under enormous pressure to turn their season around. The Dragons were very poor against the Warriors last week as persistent rumours circle indicating coach Paul McGregor may be on borrowed time, while Dean Pay is facing similar scrutiny with his struggling Bulldogs squad.  

Paul McGregor has made significant changes to his spine with Adam Clune set to make his NRL debut at halfback as Corey Norman shifts to the custodian role and Ben Hunt named at five-eighth. Trent Merrin and Issac Luke will also join the bench. Meanwhile, Canterbury have named only one change as Kieran Foran joins the squad at five-eighth in a massive boost for his club.  

With the Dragons making significant changes to their squad, fans will be hoping for an improved performance from their club’s spine – particularly Ben Hunt as the incumbent Maroons hooker continues to under-perform. Kieran Foran will be a massive inclusion for a Bulldogs outfit lacking experience and direction. This match could go either way but expect Canterbury to get over the line.