Graham

That’s 5:30pm and 7:35pm AEST

Saturday’s matches

Ryan Papenhuyzen missing R18 Papenhuyzen was on Friday night ruled out of the Townsville match with calf tightness, making him the seventh Melbourne back unavailable for the game. His absence means Tyran Wishart will move to fullback, with Jonah Pezet now starting in the halves. The Storm are already without Will Warbrick (concussion), Moses Leo (shoulder), Sua Fa'alogo (hamstring), Jack Howarth (appendicitis), Xavier Coates (Origin) and Dean Ieremia (achilles) in their backline alone.

No more entries this week, the first game of the round has kicked off. Join us next week for R19.

Blues should win this one, at least on paper. On the pitch it’ll be Blues 1 to 12 pts.

When there’s a general consensus amongst tipsters there’s usually one game that trips us up. Maybe this round will buck the trend.

Is it Dolphins or Titans?

Featherstone Rovers?

It is in Sydney though…

Current list of injuries after Round 17 2025 Brisbane Broncos Ben Hunt (hamstring, Round 19) Ben Te Kura (ankle, TBC) Jock Madden (pectoral, TBC) Hayze Perham (ACL, 2026) Canberra Raiders Matty Nicholson (ankle, Round 22) Savelio Tamale (knee, Round 26-27) Corey Harawira-Naera (seizure/medical, indefinite) Albert Hopoate (ACL, 2026) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Daniel Suluka-Fifita (concussion, Round 19) Jaeman Salmon (ankle, Round 20) Sitili Tupouniua (hamstring, Round 20) Cronulla Sharks Sam Stonestreet (ankle, Round 18) Mawene Hiroti (calf, Round 20-21) Tom Hazelton (collarbone, Round 25) KL Iro (pectoral, Round 26-27) Liam Ison (ACL, 2026) Kade Dykes (knee, 2026) Dolphins Felise Kaufusi (knee, Round 22) Kodi Nikorima (hamstring, Round 23-24) Tom Flegler (shoulder, TBC) Max Plath (knee, 2026) Daniel Saifiti (shoulder, 2026) Tom Gilbert (shoulder, 2026) Jack Bostock (knee, 2026) Gold Coast Titans Jayden Campbell (concussion, Round 19) David Fifita (ankle, Round 19) Keano Kini (neck, Round 21) Carter Gordon (neck/spine, TBC) Harley Smith-Shields (hamstring, TBC) Brock Gray (ACL, 2026) Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Tommy Talau (hamstring, Round 18) Lachlan Croker (concussion, Round 20) Haumole Olakau'atu (shoulder, Round 20-21) Josh Aloiai (shoulder, TBC) Taniela Paseka (Achilles, Round 26) Nathan Brown (biceps, finals) Melbourne Storm Moses Leo (shoulder, Round 19) Jack Howarth (appendicitis, Round 21) Will Warbrick (concussion, Round 22-23) Sua Faalogo (hamstring, Round 27-finals) Dean Ieremia (Achilles, TBC) Marion Seve (eye, TBC) Newcastle Knights Kalyn Ponga (foot, TBC) Fletcher Sharpe (spleen / kidney, TBC) Greg Marzhew (arm, Round 19) Leo Thompson (suspended, Round 19) Adam Elliott (biceps, Round 25-26) Paul Bryan (shoulder, 2026) North Queensland Cowboys Jordan McLean (calf, Round 18) John Bateman (groin, Round 18) Karl Lawton (suspended, Round 19) Jason Taumalolo (calf, TBC) Semi Valemei (jaw, TBC) Viliami Vailea (foot, TBC) Heilum Luki (ACL, 2026) Tom Chester (ACL, 2026) Parramatta Eels Sam Tuivaiti (syndesmosis, Round 19) Bailey Simonsson (foot, Round 19) Mitch Moses (calf, Round 20) Ryley Smith (suspended, Round 20) Luca Moretti (syndesmosis, Round 20-21) Will Penisini (suspended, Round 21) Arthur Miller-Stephen (ACL, 2026) Penrith Panthers Brian To'o (knee, Origin 3) Scott Sorensen (suspended, Round 20) Soni Luke (biceps, Round 22-23) South Sydney Rabbitohs Cody Walker (hamstring, TBC) Brandon Smith (knee, Round 20-21) Bayleigh Bentley-Hape (groin, Round 22) Jye Gray (broken thumb, Round 23) Mikaele Ravalawa (pectoral, Round 26) Cameron Murray (Achilles, TBC) St George Illawarra Dragons Hamish Stewart (concussion, Round 19) Luciano Leilua (quad, Round 19) Mat Feagai (ankle, Round 20) Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring, Round 21) Nathan Lawson (shoulder, Round 22) Cody Ramsey (syndesmosis, TBC) Toby Couchman (shoulder, 2026) Ryan Couchman (ACL, 2026) Dylan Egan (ACL, 2026) Sydney Roosters Sandon Smith (knee, Round 18) Egan Butcher (concussion, Round 18) Victor Radley (concussion, Round 19) Xavier Va'a (concussion, Round 19) Sam Walker (thumb, Round 20) Nat Butcher (knee, Round 22) Siua Wong (knee, Round 23) Jake Elliott (ankle, Round 25) Junior Pauga (lumbar, TBC) Warriors Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee, Round 21) Ali Leiataua (ankle, Round 20-21) Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (ankle, Round 21-22) Mitch Barnett (knee, 2026) Luke Metcalf (ACL, 2026) Wests Tigers Jarome Luai (illness, Origin 3) Api Koroisau (concussion, Round 19) Jahream Bula (hamstring, Round 21-22)

Good luck everyone. Extra question, which stadium is this? No prizes for the answer, just for fun. It’s in the UK and not a RL venue, although a RL World Cup semi final was held there in 2022 I believe. There are clues in the picture if you look very closely.

One of my hookers is a forced change with Luke Metcalf having copped a season ending injury after he’d served me well. I thought it best to change hi this week although it wasn’t an absolute necessity as it’s a 13 to score bye week.

After Round 17 Total Points

After Round 17 Head2Head

Round 17 Results