Spotty Herbert

Payne Haas has also had to have a cortisone injection in his back in order to play in Origin 3. If its this bad now, will he want to tour at the end of the season or just do whatever is necessary to be right for 2026? Assuming he doesn't declare he wants to represent Samoa anyway.

Reports down under that Liam Martin will make himself unavailable to tour, due to the impending birth of his first child. He will be a big miss for Australia.

Winners : Dogs, Raiders, Storm, Roosters, Sea Eagles Points : 218 Aways : 1 Poll : Sea Eagles by 1 to 12 Graham's question : Emirates Stadium

I am in full POD mode now, desperately hoping to make up positions on the overall ladder. Anyone for Connor Tracey, A J Brimson and Latu Fainu?

I would agree with you to some extent, but many of the best NRL forwards have (theoretically) committed to Samoa or Tonga. I genuinely feel that the Australians may struggle for depth in the front row, particularly if Haas or Timo are unavailable.

Being born in England makes you de facto English. As far as I know, that is a world wide recognition of nationality (unless you were born in the USA and are part of an ethnic group that Donald doesn't like).

That surprised me. Looks are deceptive. I'm not convinced Cotter gets picked though, unless they lose the likes of Haas and Tino

Radley may be forced to retire due to concussion issues. I would love to see Farnworth and Iro playing together in the centres, but the latter may not choose England and is currently injured. I think Max King will be in the Australian squad, specially if either Haas (dodgy back) or Tino (sternum) decide not to play post season - or even decide to play for Samoa, as has been rumoured.

A bit surprised by the inclusion of James McDonnell. He isn't big enough to play internationally in the second row. I, too, would have liked to have seen Broadbent included and thought Pryce might have made a 32 man squad as extra full back cover. The two (arguably) players whose form is strongest but haven't been included are Connor and Kallum Watkins.

Winning teams : Dogs, Sea Eagles, Raiders, Broncos, Dragons, Bunnies, Storm, Cowboys Points : 322 Home wins: 5 Poll : No idea. Maybe Broncos

It will be excellent to have you back. Bostock to Karapani sounds like a wise move.

Winning teams : Raiders, Warriors, Dolphins, Storm, Sharks, Roosters, Eels Points : 296 Away wins : 3 Poll : Broncos vs Sharks

Blues to win comfortably. Maroons haven't addressed their core problem of a well beaten pack.

Winners : Sharks, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Cowboys, Dogs Points : 212 Home wins : 2 Poll : Cowboys vs Dolphins, although that might be the closest rather than lowest scoring.

Unfortunately he will be in camp with the Maroons on Tuesday. Also, Campbell scored feebly, so keeping Munster was the correct decision.

That didn't really work, did it? 57 doesn't count as big where Munster is concerned.

Winning teams : Sea Eagles, Storm, Dolphins, Sharks, Titans, Raiders, Tigers, Dogs Points: 366 Aways : 2 Poll : 3 or 4 (although I would have preferred the option of 4 or 5). Hoping this is more like Round 13 than 11 and 12!

Then I would go to Campbell. Thinking of dumping Munster myself - ironically, probably for Metcalf.

Can't you have both? Munster will score less during Origin, so if you don't want both, do it.

I agree that Wigan and KR are well ahead of the rest. Any team that can put three or four consecutive wins together (as Leeds have done recently) is going to climb the table as there are so many teams of a similar standard, most of whom are struggling for consistency. With three teams badly struggling in Cas, Huddersfield and Salford, any team who still have four or five games against them to play are going to flourish. Wigan, KR, Leeds, Hull, Wire, and either Trinity or Leigh will make the play offs. Saints to miss, Wellens to go and Catalans to finish the season as basket cases if they don't get a quality coach soon.

This follows weeks where I got 2 out of 8 and 0 from 5. Just shows how unpredictable the NRL is this year!

I've only got 2 right out of the last 14 games, so God knows these are likely to be very dodgy picks. Winning teams : Dragons, Storm, Cowboys, Sea Eagles, Warriors, Panthers and Raiders Points : 288 Home wins : 4 Poll : Titans vs Storm

Winners : Dogs, Sea Eagles, Panthers, Sharks, Warriors Points : 208 Aways : 2 Poll : Wahs vs Raiders

Excellent game. Roosters middles just didn't make enough dominant tackles. Leniu doesn't have enough effective minutes in him for me.

That was one of the most incredible tries I've seen.