MANLY v BRISBANE (Suncorp Stadium, Friday, 7:00pm)

Manly are the quiet achievers of the NRL this year, building a 7-3 record amid little fanfare. It has been young five-eighth Kieran Foran who has led them to the top echelons of the ladder. Foran has been magnificent, creating many opportunities down the left while his defence has been rock solid as big forwards are constantly sent his way. Manly have won their last three against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium and Brisbane are set to rest star players Darren Lockyer, Sam Thaiday and Ben Hannant. This should be a hard-fought, low-scoring, dour affair that Manly, if they play as they have been, should get home in with Brisbane missing their best players.

BPL Tip: Manly by 2
TAB Sportsbet odds: Manly $1.50, Brisbane $2.60

CANTERBURY v GOLD COAST (Suncorp Stadium, Friday, 8:45pm)

If Canterbury are the real deal, they will bounce back from last Friday's shock loss to Canberra and put a score on the hapless Gold Coast. The Titans three-quarter line defence is abhorrent; always out of position and constantly missing tackles. This is the perfect situation for livewire Canterbury fullback Ben Barba. Barba has been wonderful for Canterbury this year and should shine against such a poor tackling team. The Titans are not a good team and the neutral ground should favour the Bulldogs. Expect a comfortable Canterbury win.

BPL Tip: Canterbury by 14
TAB Sportsbet odds: Canterbury $1.50, Gold Coast $2.60

NEWCASTLE v PARRAMATTA (Ausgrid Stadium, Saturday, 5:30pm)

Both Newcastle and Parramatta are desperate, having started the season at 4-6 but staring down the barrel of another season sans finals football. The Knights started the year well but have lost three on the trot including a disappointing loss to the Sydney Roosters last week. Parramatta, meanwhile, haven't won consecutive games since round 20, 2010. They were impressive against the Sharks but all that essentially says is that they hammered a reserve grade quality team, as they should. Newcastle are a pretty consistent mob and with Beau Henry getting 80 minutes under his belt last week, Newcastle should be better. The Knights to win a close one.

BPL Tip: Newcastle by 4
TAB Sportsbet odds: Newcastle $1.65, Parramatta $2.25

NORTH QUEENSLAND v SYDNEY ROOSTERS (Dairy Farmers Stadium, Saturday, 7:30pm)

Johnathan Thurston and Mitchell Pearce are set to do battle for the second time in four days at Dairy Farmers on Saturday night and it is hard to see Thurston not dominating again. These two have squared off six times with Thurston coming out on top every time. With the shadow of Sam Faust hanging over this match, the former Cowboy who tragically died of cancer at the age of 26 this week, North Queensland will be primed and with the Roosters not breaking 13 points in the last six weeks, the Cowboys should win well.

BPL Tip: North Queensland by 14
TAB Sportsbet odds: North Queensland $1.50, Sydney Roosters $2.60

MELBOURNE v CRONULLA (AAMI Park, Sunday, 2:00pm)

Shame after two losses in their last three home fixtures, it would seem highly unlikely that Craig Bellamy will have the Storm underprepared for the Sharks, even after the embarrassment of a 40-point defeat to Parramatta on Monday evening. The Storm will be ready and with a significant class edge, exacerbated by the injuries to key Sharks personnel Nathan Gardner and Jeremy Smith, it could get messy. Melbourne have won their last four day matches at home by an average of 30 points and have won six of their last seven against the Sharks. Melbourne by plenty.

BPL Tip: Melbourne by 32
TAB Sportsbet odds: Melbourne $1.25, Cronulla $4.00

ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA v WESTS TIGERS (WIN Jubilee Oval, Sunday, 3:00pm)

When these two last met, in the second preliminary final last year, it was arguably the game of the season, with the Dragons prevailing by a solitary point, 13-12. The Tigers faithful will tell you they were robbed that night and the club remains bitter about the defeat. It is unlikely that loss will be avenged this Sunday, however, with the Wests Tigers in dreadful form as the Dragons just keep on rolling, leading the competition with a 9-1 record. If the majority of the Dragons' eight Origin players backup, this should be a comfortable St George-Illawarra win. The highlight, no doubt, will be the clash between star five-eighths Jamie Soward and Benji Marshall, a matchup won all three times by Soward since Wayne Bennett arrived at the Dragons.

BPL Tip: St George-Illawarra by 12
TAB Sportsbet odds: St George-Illawarra $1.50, Wests Tigers $2.60

PENRITH v SOUTH SYDNEY (Centrebet Stadium, Monday, 7:00pm)

Home ground advantage is certainly well in play when these two come to blows with Penrith winning their last seven against the Bunnies at Penrith Park while Souths have taken the chocolates in five of their last six against the Panthers at home. The Panthers towelled Souths last year 54-18 but the man who scored 30 points that night, Michael Gordon, had his season ended by a ruptured ACL a fortnight back. The Bunnies have been playing well lately, touching up the Wests Tigers before taking the Warriors to the final siren in Auckland. With Penrith missing their strike weapon and Chris Sandow playing so well, Souths can upset the Panthers in the final game of round 12.

BPL Tip: South Sydney by 7
TAB Sportsbet odds: Penrith $1.55, South Sydney $2.45