NRL preview for punters round 24 | Thebigtip

The race for the Minor Premiership is literally over with the Dragons opening up a four point lead on nearest rivals, the Titans. The remaining seven spots in the top eight however are far from guaranteed, so expect a finals like intensity in a round where its do or die for most teams.

PENRITH PANTHERS V SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

You feel a loss here for the Rabbitohs will signal an end to a season where injury has unfortunately taken its toll on a club which had high hopes of challenging for the premiership. The Panthers on the other hand are still in the running for a top two birth despite a form slump which has seen them lose four of their past five matches, including last week’s thrashing at the hands of the Tigers. The Panthers however have won their last six matches against South Sydney at CUA stadium and such a record should continue against a Rabbitohs team missing a host of top line players.

Tip - Panthers

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS V BRISBANE BRONCOS

The Knights late finals charge came to a screeching halt against the Warriors last week, and they can almost assure themselves of an early mad Monday if they don’t beat an equally desperate Broncos outfit on Friday night. Newcastle don’t have a great record against Brisbane, winning only 11 of 34 matches played between the sides. However, the Knights welcome back inform halfback Jarrod Mullen while the Broncos are still without champion captain Darren Lockyer. Without the Australian Test captain in their ranks, the Broncos look disorganised in attack and one feels they will struggle yet again to find the points necessary to contain a Knights team who are an attacking force at home.

Tip - Knights

MANLY SEA EAGLES V NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

A tricky game to tip, with both teams in desperate need of a victory to assure a finals birth. The Warriors were at their menacing best against the Knights, with winger Manu Vatuvei enhancing his claim as the most influential winger in the NRL by snaring a hat-trick last week. Travelling to Brookvale Oval holds no fears for New Zealand, winning five of the past seven matches there. The Sea Eagles were blown off the park by the Dragons on Monday night and really need to start stringing some consistent performances together if they are to be taken seriously in this competition. The short turnaround will not do the Sea Eagles any favours as well. This should be a tight contest but the Warriors at the moment seem to have more belief in their football.

Tip - Warriors

MELBOURNE STORM V CRONULLA SHARKS

The Sharks produced one of the season’s big upsets by beating a lacklustre Roosters outfit 18-12 last week, and will go to Melbourne quietly confident of putting on back to back victories for the first time this season. The Storm are now simply winding the clock down on a season they would rather forget, but they should still put on a show for home fans eager to see the last few appearances of Greg Inglis in a Storm jersey. Melbourne have won five of their past six matches against Cronulla, but few of those games have been one sided contests. Expect a tight tussle and a Melbourne victory.

Tip - Storm

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