Canterbury were courageous in defeat to the Raiders last week, with the club continuing to show promising improvement under former Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo. The Warriors are in a similar position, with a massive improvement in their form despite recording only a 50% win rate so far this season. The Kiwis were impressive in a 12-point loss to the reigning premiers and with both clubs looking likely to be in direct competition for a finals berth – this result could be hugely important.

Canterbury will receive a massive boost with star representative winger Josh Addo-Carr named to return from a lengthy injury with Harrison Edwards also joining the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. For the Warriors, Jackson Ford and Edward Kosi are out injured, with Rocco Berry coming in at centre and Josh Curran shifting to the second-row. Ronald Volkman will also displace Dylan Walker at five-eighth, who goes back to the bench.

Both teams have shown huge improvement under their former Penrith assistant coaches Andrew Webster and Cameron Ciraldo, particularly regarding their composure and discipline. Both teams boast enormous physicality across the park and while this could go either way – expect the Warriors to get the points.

Betting Tip: Warriors -1.5 @ $2 (Playup)

The Roosters produced a woeful performance against North Queensland last week with the ‘Chooks’ struggling hugely with their play-making combinations. They will face a huge test against the reigning premiers, who were defending at their dominant best against the Warriors last week with Penrith still holding the best defensive record in the competition despite their patchy start to the season.

Egan Butcher will be missing for the Roosters due to concussion, with Angus Crichton shifting to the second-row and Fletcher Baker coming onto the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Penrith have named the same 17 that took down the Warriors, though representative star Liam Martin could be a late inclusion as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.

Despite having so many superstars on paper, the Roosters are struggling to play as a team – particularly with their attack. The disruption to their spine this season with Brandon Smith at hooker and Joey Manu promoted to the halves over rookie Sam Walker has had a huge impact and coach Trent Robinson will be desperately searching for a solution before finals. Expect Penrith to maintain their wonderful defensive record and come away with the points.

Betting Tip: Panthers -5.5 @ $1.90 (BlueBet)

A dominant last-start victory over Melbourne has propelled South Sydney to second on the competition ladder and with recent victories over Penrith, Brisbane and the Dolphins – the Rabbitohs have fast become the NRL’s form team. They will face a fast-improving Tigers outfit who produced a narrow victory over the struggling Dragons last week for the club’s second win of the year.

Souths have unsurprisingly named an unchanged squad given their form last week in encouraging signs given the club’s devastating injury toll earlier this season. For Wests, John Bateman will return after he was a last minute omission with a hamstring injury last week.

While the Tigers have shown some encouraging improvement, they will need to come up with a Herculean performance to upset the second-place Rabbitohs. Souths’ form on both sides of the ball has been deadly, and with a significant representative toll looking likely – coach Jason Demitriou will be pushing his squad to bank premiership points to consolidate a top-four berth. Souths to get the win.

Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -15.5 @ $1.91 (bet365)

North Queensland produced an emphatic victory over the Roosters last week in a wonderful performance that could prove the turning point of their season. Disrupted by injuries and suspension as well as their huge contribution to several of the World Cup squads earlier this year, coach Todd Payten will be pushing his troops to maintain the return to the fast and physical style of play that brought them so much success last year. They will face an under pressure Dragons outfit who were handed their fifth consecutive defeat in a narrow loss to Wests last week.

St George have named an unchanged squad from last week, with veteran Ben Hunt again set to shift to hooker mid-game in his 300th NRL match. Meanwhile, North Queensland are unchanged in wonderful signs for the club.

The Dragons will need to summon a massive performance to produce an upset against a Cowboys outfit desperate to lift themselves from 14th spot on the competition ladder. This will be an intense physical contest between two under-pressure teams but expect the playmaking potency within this North Queensland squad to get them over the line.

Betting Tip: Cowboys -6.5 @ $2.00 (bet365)

The Raiders staved-off a fast-finishing Bulldogs outfit for their fourth consecutive win as Ricky Stuart’s troops continue their form resurgence after an indifferent start to their season. They will face a big test against an out-of-form Parramatta outfit backing-up from a disappointing loss against the Titans.

Star Eels halfback Mitchell Moses will be missing due to concussion protocols in a huge blow to Parramatta, with Jake Arthur set to join the halves. Meanwhile, the Raiders have similarly named only one change with Albert Hopoate displacing Xavier Savage on the wing.

Parramatta have been hugely inconsistent, only managing to notch consecutive wins once so far this season. There should be no shortage of motivation for the Raiders, who were at the receiving end of a 40-4 hammering by the Eels to end Canberra’s finals campaign last year. With both teams close to full-strength and boasting devastating forward rotations, this should be an intense physical contest but Parramatta may struggle in the absence of their chief playmaker. This match could go either way but expect Canberra to get the points for their fifth consecutive win.

Betting Tip: Raiders -2.5 @ $1.91 (bet365)

The Titans have produced impressive consecutive wins over Manly and the Eels and after a poor start to the season, the Gold Coast club are showing some of the promise the off-season recruitment of the likes of Kieran Foran and Sam Verills brought to the club. They will face an under-pressure Knights squad who finally looked to have turned a corner before a diabolical 43-12 loss to Parramatta in round nine. The Newcastle club enjoyed a bye last week and fans will be hoping their squad is fresh and ready to rip in.

The Titans’ only change comes with Kruise Leeming’s inclusion on the bench in some welcome squad-continuity for the Gold Coast club. For the Knights, Kurt Mann will be absent with Phoenix Crossland shifting to hooker and Adam Elliot set to return from injury on the bench in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien and fans alike will be looking for a massive response from his squad after a poor showing in their last match. While Newcastle certainly have the personnel to win this game, expect the Titans to maintain their momentum from last week for the Gold Coast club’s third consecutive win.

Betting Tip: Titans H2H @ $2.10 (Boombet)

Cronulla were on the receiving end of a devastating upset last week, losing 36-16 to the Dolphins in a woeful first-half performance that saw their opposition run in five tries in less than half an hour. Despite showing huge promise, the Sharks have been very poor at times this season and coach Craig Fitzgibbon will be desperate to achieve some consistency heading into the Origin period. They will face a struggling Manly outfit who were dominated in a woeful 32-6 loss to the Broncos in concerning signs for Anthony Seibold’s troops.

Surprisingly, both teams have elected to name unchanged squads heading into this match, with Dale Finucane’s promotion from the bench to the starting side for Cronulla the only alteration.

Given their huge potential, the Sharks will enter this match as clear favourites but should also be wary of a Manly outfit who have produced some wonderful performances this season. If Anthony Seibold can get his troops up for their best football, this match could go either way but expect a big response from Cronulla after a humbling loss last week to get them over the line.

Betting Tip: Sharks -3.5 @ $1.70 (Dabble)