The Warriors conceded a disappointing last-start loss to Brisbane, albeit with some key players going down in the contest. The New Zealand club will play their inaugural match against the Dolphins, who were impressive in victory over St George last week without their representative stars.

With no players participating in the Origin series, the Warriors will receive a huge boost with the return of Wayde Egan at hooker with Dylan Walker and Mitch Barnett also joining the bench in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have rested Maroons stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tom Gilbert with Kodi Nikorima set to retain the fullback jersey after an admirable performance last week.

After a frustrating loss to Brisbane on their home-soil, expect a big response from the Kiwis at their home-ground and with the returning quality of Walker, Barnett and Egan they will enter this match as firm favourites. The Kiwis will be looking to climb the competition ladder during the Origin period and while the Dolphins have performed admirably, they face a much sterner test against the Kiwis in the absence of their Origin stars compared to a struggling Dragons outfit missing talismanic skipper Ben Hunt. Warriors to get the win.

Betting Tip: Dolphins + 7.5 @ $1.95 (Colossalbet)

Souths conceded a frustrating loss to the Raiders last week for the club’s second consecutive defeat as coach Jason Demitriou navigates a difficult representative period. Their opposition in the Titans enjoyed a bye last week but will be fired-up after disappointing consecutive losses to Newcastle and Canterbury.

Jai Arrow and Cameron Murray’s limited minutes in Origin I will leave them well-placed to back-up after being named at lock and interchange respectively for the Rabbitohs. Latrell Mitchell will be missing in a huge blow after he was a late-scratching for the Blues, but Campbell Graham will make a timely return from a sternum injury to boost Souths’ backline. For the Titans, David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui have been named to back-up. Kieran Foran will be missing with Jayden Campbell coming into the halves with Sam Verrills also making his long-awaited return from a collar-bone injury off the bench in a big boost for the Gold Coast.

Consecutive losses have seen the Rabbitohs drop out of the top-four so expect a big response from the club with their representative stars back on deck. The Titans should benefit from the return of Verrills enormously but they will struggle to match their opposition’s composure with absence of AJ Brimson and Kieran Foran as well rookie fullback Keoano Kiki pitched into the starting side. Rabbitohs to get the win.

Betting Tip: Rabbitohs -7.5 @ $1.90 (Boombet)

The Broncos produced an impressive victory over the Warriors last week without their Origin stars, keeping the Brisbane club in the top-four and equal-first on the competition ladder. They will face a Sharks outfit who enjoyed a bye last week and with impressive consecutive victories over Manly and Newcastle pitching them into the top-four and equal first in the competition, this match will be a big test for both teams’ premiership credentials.

Brisbane have named their full Origin contingent to back up with Thomas Flegler, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan starting in the middle and Reece Walsh at fullback after his scintillating Maroons debut. Selwyn Cobbo was also named but came off with a hip injury after Origin I with Corey Oates his return from a knee injury as cover in an otherwise unchanged squad. Meanwhile, Nicho Hynes limited minutes for the Blues will see him named at halfback for Cronulla with Siosifa Talakai also returning from a neck injury at centre.

Given the heavy workload of the Broncos’ middle forwards and the three-day turnaround from Origin I, Cronulla will enter this match as firm favourites but should be wary of a Brisbane side who showcased their fantastic depth against the Warriors last week. This match could go either way but expect their opposition’s fatigue to give Cronulla an edge at the back-end of each half. Sharks to get the win.

Betting Tip: Sharks -4.5 @ $1.94 (Unibet)

The Roosters enjoyed a desperately needed bye last week and with the club mired in a three-game losing streak, coach Trent Robinson will have his troops working overtime at training to re-discover their winning mojo. They will face a Bulldogs outfit struggling for consistency but keeping themselves in touch of the top-eight with some encouraging performances. Canterbury also had a bye last week and will come into this match fresh.

Given the four-day turnaround from Origin I, Lindsay Collins and James Tedesco have been named to back-up at fullback and prop respectively. Victor Radley’s injury absence will be somewhat offset by the return of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Joey Manu prop and five-eighth respectively in a huge boost, with Daniel Tupou also looking likely to return on the wing after he was included in the reserves. Meanwhile, Canterbury have similarly named Blues duo Tevita Pangai Jr and Josh Addo-Carr to play at prop and wing respectively with Ryan Sutton’s return the only other change to the 17.

The Tri-Colours will enter this match as firm favourites but missing key middle-forwards in Brandon Smith and Victor Radley – they should be highly cautious of a Bulldogs outfit who have built their season on toughness and tenacity. This game could go either way but expect the class in the Roosters’ spine to prove the difference.

Betting Tip: Canterbury +10.5 @ $1.91 (bet365)

A struggling North Queensland outfit produced a courageous performance in defeat without their Origin stars against Parramatta last week with the Cowboys languishing at second-last on the competition ladder. They will face a massive test against a Storm outfit fresh from a bye last round. Melbourne were impressive in a gritty eight-point win over the Dolphins in round 12 and will be looking to consolidate their top-four berth after an inconsistent start to their season.

Given Rebuen Cotter’s 80-minute workload and a head-knock to Murray Taulangi, Valentine Holmes is the only player likely to back-up from Origin I for the Cowboys. Jason Taumalolo is a big chance of returning from a long-term injury in what would be a massive boost for his club. Jeremiah Nanai will also return from suspension on the bench, with Tom Dearden returning from Origin camp at five-eighth and Semi Valemei set to make his club debut on the wing. Meanwhile, the Storm have named Cameron Munster and Harry Grant to back-up from Origin I in an unchanged 17.

Particularly with such a heavy representative toll, the Cowboys will need to produce a Herculean performance to cause an upset against an in-form Melbourne outfit. The return of Jason Taumalolo and Jeremiah Nanai could see the Cowboys start to re-discover the grit of their 2022 season but expect Melbourne to get the win.

Betting Tip: Storm -6.5 @ $1.90 (Playup)

The Panthers enjoyed a bye last week, but impressive consecutive wins over the Warriors, Roosters and Broncos elevated the reigning premiers back to first on the competition ladder, albeit only on points-differential. They will face a struggling Dragons outfit who were outclassed by the Dolphins last week with the club navigating a chaotic period before they settle on their new coach following the departure of Anthony Griffin.

With a four-day turnaround, all six Blues representatives in Nathan Cleary, Jahrome Luai, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o have been named to back-up from Origin I with Spencer Leniu and Izack Tago also a chance to return from injury at centre and the bench respectively after they were included in the reserves. For St George, Ben Hunt’s relatively limited minutes will see him return from Origin I at halfback. Jack Bird will be rested with Jaydn Su’A making a timely return from injury in the second-row as cover in an otherwise unchanged squad.

Penrith will enter this match as firm favourites but with such a heavy representative toll, they should still be wary of a Dragons squad capable of enormous physicality. St George should put up a strong fight but expect Penrith to run away with the win.

Betting Tip: Panthers -14.5 @ $1.90 (Unibet)