Souths and New Zealand are fighting to avoid the wooden spoon this weekend.s

Parramatta seems safe. The likelihood of Souths, Manly and New Zealand all having a winning run are 100000 to one. Add to that the Eels losing the lot and Brian Smith sighs with relief. Jamie Lyon’s at St Helen’s next year too. I can see the similarities between that part of England and Wee Waa. Manly too are sure things to keep their spoonless run intact. Three points clear of the base of the table, it’s hard to imagine that those below them will suddenly perk up, especially considering their runs to the end of the competition. Brisbane and Canberra meet Souths while the Roosters and Canterbury oppose the Warriors.

So Souths want to beat the Sea Eagles this weekend and leapfrog the Warriors. The Warriors want to toss the Eels and keep clear. It won’t go down to for and against unless on side has a draw after golden point. New Zealand seem the most likely of the two to be able to snaffle a win. Historically, the Warriors have been the bogey team for both Sydney and Canterbury … but in current form and at this stage of the season? And for all his weight problems, Owen Craigie and Joe Williams need to be together to get Souths sparked. Personally, I can’t see either of these teams winning again, so for mine it’s Souths for the spoon. And I’m sure you realise you should probably back them both to win this weekend now.

Friday night’s game would normally be an absorbing event as two of the league’s most well supported teams do battle. But Newcastle and St George-Illawarra have their fair share of demons this season shaping this game to be exciting if erratic. The Knights form has been ordinary in the recent times with only three wins since mid-May. The Dragons won two games in a row for the first time since July. While Newcastle’s line up looks better than it has for some time, the fitness of captain Danny Buderus remains less than 100%. The Novocastrians need a victory to keep their slim chance of a finals berth alive. For the Dragons, a win this weekend assures them a finals place. But the red and whites continue to produce unexpected results at every turn. If Lance Thompson makes it back for this one then the Dragons are home. Prediction: Dragons by 18.

Could this be the beginning of the end for Brisbane? A long season saw the Broncos employ the wrong game plan as the Bulldogs blasted them off the park in the second stanza of last weekend’s blockbuster. Now with Gorden Tallis outed for a week and Darren Lockyer sidelined for two, Wayne Bennett’s men meet a Tigers outfit holding down the final finals spot. Both sides have a similar defensive record but without the attack of Lockyer, the Broncos are in danger of a second defeat in as many weeks. And while the Broncos have a 7-1 winning advantage in meetings against Wests, the joint venture’s one success came in Brisbane. This has all the trappings of the upset of the round. Prediction: Tigers by 4.

Another two sides fighting for their finals lives are North Queensland and Penrith. The Panthers are sailing close to the wind and a couple of heavy defeat over the next few weeks could see them become an unlikely casualty of the close table. The premiers will want to rethink their defence following the 36-point half time deficit they incurred against the Roosters. North Queensland has no such frailties in defence with a healthy points differential building. This game has the hallmarks of a classic encounter. Exciting fullbacks, origin quality centres, dynamic halves and international forwards. And although Penrith have only lost twice at home this year, the Cowboys are coming good at just the right time. Prediction: Cowboys by 7.

In one of the toughest games to pick, the Eels meet the Warriors at Parramatta Stadium. The Eels have gotten the job done against the Sharks and Roosters in recent weeks, but have had trouble finding the try line most weeks. The Warriors have turned in some reasonable performances although losing to the Dragons, Raiders and Broncos. The biggest motivating factor could simply be the desire to avoid the wooden spoon and gather some momentum before the start of the new season. Both teams have names an additional five-eighth on a five man bench meaning there may be some mind games to be played yet. Golden point is a realistic chance here and a draw is not out of the question. At home, the Eels get the nod. Prediction: Eels by 2.

The Roosters have had the measure of the Raiders, last losing to the men from the nation’s capital in 2001. The usual titanic struggle between these sides is likely to the way of the ship of the same name. The Raiders inconsistency has seen them drop to 10th spot on the ladder and their poor defensive standing will most likely leave them no better off after Sunday has passed. No Luke Davico or Ruben Wiki means a drain on the green machine’s forward resources and with an all international pack opposing them, yards are going to be hard to come by. Marshall Chalk makes his first grade debut for the Raiders after scoring three tries in last week’s premier league game against the Bulldogs. Prediction: Roosters by 22.

Of the sides still remaining to play the Bulldogs, the Storm are the most dangerous when it comes to robbing them of the minor premiership. And in Melbourne, the sniff of an upset is possible. The Storm have only lost two games south of the border this year, one coming off the bye in round two and the other against the Roosters a month ago. Last time these two met it was a seven point difference after Melbourne controlled much of the early running only to capitulate in the second half. With only Jamaal Lolesi missing from the ‘Dogs roster, fire power is not a problem. For the Storm, Kirk Reynoldson and Alex Chan will return one week too late. The Bulldogs have nine out of the last 10 wins between the pair and should continue on to the minor premiership. Watch for Andrew Ryan’s impact, the only forward in the competition to have double figure tries next to his name in ’04. Prediction: Bulldogs by 7.

Before last weekend, everyone thought this would be the game to decide the wooden spoon. Now it is Souths’ best chance to avoid it. Manly’s shock win over Newcastle after being thrashed by Penrith lifted them out of trouble. These are the two worst defensive sides in the league. Manly however seems to be able to put points being the only club outside the top six to have scored 500 points this season. If the Sea Eagles can defend like they did last weekend, Souths can resign themselves to having to beat the Broncos or the Raiders to escape the wooden spoon. But if Joe Williams can weave a healthy dose of magic, it could be the workings of woe for the Warriors. Prediction: Sea Eagles by 8.

The third last piece of the puzzle slots into place. Good luck with another tough round of tipping.

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source: MasterTips