Last week was a tipping nightmare with upsets in the opening five matches of the round and the upcoming five games are no walk in the park either with Origin causing selection reshuffles all over the place.

It was a good round for underdogs on the road with the Dolphins triumphant at Shark Park, the Cowboys caning Canberra, the Storm returning victorious from Auckland and the Roosters snatching victory from the Eels at Parramatta to put a major dent in their flickering finals chances.

This week kicks off on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium with the Dolphins and Storm both affected by Queensland representation before a triple header on Saturday with the Titans at home to the Warriors, the Roosters rumbling with the Bulldogs in Gosford and the rejuvenated Rabbitohs favoured to knock over a decimated Manly line-up at Homebush.

The round ends with the Wests Tigers, riding high after ending their nine-game losing streak, at their Campbelltown home against Canberra in a match that has no players involved in Origin so there’s no excuses for either side on Sunday.

The Roar’s expert panel need to bounce back after nobody picked more than four right last week so tossing a coin would have perhaps been a better option than following their prognostications.

Here’s how the experts see Round 16 unfolding.

Stuart Thomas

Storm, Titans, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Raiders

Another Origin affected round and another fiasco when it comes to competition credibility and subsequent tipping. For what it is worth, Melbourne should account for the Dolphins despite being on the road and without two key men. The Dolphins are in the same boat and that swings it the way of the Storm.

Good luck tipping between the Titans and the Warriors. I’d argue the Titans have less interruption and are on the improve. In bizarre news, the Roosters and Bulldogs is a blockbuster again. Chooks at near full strength and the captain a big loss for the Dogs.

In a game hammered by the absence of Origin talent, the rejuvenated Bunnies will be tested without Latrell and Cam Murray. Can the Sea Eagles win without the best half in the game right now and Jake Trbojevic? I’ve no idea. Let’s go with Manly to create some jeopardy on the panel.

The final match of the round features the more often than not useless Tigers and the questionable Raiders. Ricky Stuart simply cannot let his team drop this one and should be able to find the answers to the weak questions asked by Benji Marshall’s team.

Nick Wasiliev

Storm, Warriors, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Raiders

I mean, winning in Cronulla is tough at the moment, but considering last week was such a dour game I’m pretty sure that the Storm should be able to neutralise the weapons the Dolphins have to win.

The Titans will be happy to be back at home, but consider the Wahs have been the more consistent of the two teams, and with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck likely back, they should have more than enough to win this weekend. 

Chooks, by a decent amount. The Bulldogs are not helped by a few players being out, and also with the likes of Brandon Smith coming back. Should be easy win.

The Bunnies seem to be rediscovering their form during this period, and honestly, I reckon it’ll continue this weekend. While Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray are out with Origin duties, Jai Arrow return should be a much-needed help for them to maintain their form. Plus, the Sea Eagles’ unavailable players is the stuff of nightmares. 

Nice to have a win, especially after such a topsy-turvy week as a Tigers fans. They might be at home, but Campbelltown has not been a happy hunting ground as much as Leichhardt. Add to that, while the Raiders have been so inconsistent, they have the better squad on paper and folks returning from injury. 

Mary Konstantopoulos

Storm, Warriors, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Raiders

The Storm may be without several of their key Origin players, but there is still enough there to beat a Dolphins team also missing their Origin players. Ryan Papenhuyzen returns and Jahrome Hughes is having an exceptional season. Melbourne to win but not without Tevita Pangai jnr creating some havoc off the bench. 

I really don’t know what to make of the Warriors or the Titans. The Warriors have a couple more key outs, but that doesn’t seem to have phased them over the last couple of weeks with a couple of stirring victories. The Titans welcome back David Fifita (why on Earth hasn’t Billy Slater selected him) and I’m looking at him to have a big game. I’m still tipping the Warriors though. 

I’m tipping an upset with the Bulldogs to beat an Origin impacted Roosters team. Viliame Kikau returns for the Bulldogs which is a huge in. I’m curious to see how they perform without their inspirational leader Stephen Crichton. 

The Bunnies to beat a Manly team who struggled to name a 17 this week and the Raiders to beat the Tigers at Campbelltown.

Paul Suttor

Storm, Warriors, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Tigers

The Storm have reached must pick status after their win over the Warriors in Auckland last weekend no matter who is in or out. Unless they’re playing Penrith. Sorry, Dolphins.

Gold Coast have reached must never pick status after their loss to the Tigers. The Warriors should win by 30.

The Roosters vs Bulldogs clash shapes as the best of a bad bunch this round. Canterbury in a close one with Matt Burton proving yet again he should be in the NSW team.

Souths don’t have a full team sidelined, Manly do. Rabbitohs by 20.

Wests are actually playing in Wests heartland. Canberra need to bounce back but they are unreliable. Tigers by two.

AJ Mithen

Dolphins, Warriors, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Raiders

More Origin busted play! In 2024 it’s really messing with things much more. Let’s begin. 

Wayne’s boys are doing better than everyone thought. I’m all in on the Dolphins for the upset.

Warriors should belt up the Titans. Roosters too much quality for Bulldogs but it’ll be close.

The Bunnies will smudge the shorthanded Sea Eagles and your presumptive champions, the people’s team, the Canberra Raiders will head to Campbelltown and lay a casual 56 on the hapless Tigers. 

Mike Meehall Wood

Storm, Wahs, Roosters, Souths, Tigers

Origin bleh footy time, and it’s even bleh-ier for those of us still riding high/hungover from Manly’s win on the weekend. What’s the point of grafting hard one week if you lose the next with all your players taken off you?

The Phins will miss their Origin players more than Melbourne, so the Storm win.

The Titans have Origin players, the Warriors don’t so the Wahs win. (They’d win anyway, what with the Gold Coast being rubbish and the Warriors essentially having a home fixture there, but let me continue the bit.)

The Roosters and Bulldogs both have Origin worries, but Easts can cope with theirs so will win.

Manly are playing half of a not-that-great-to-start-with NSW Cup side and no amount of Souths underperformance will allow me not to tip them. Reverse psychology, too. Bunnies take it.

Neither the Tigers nor Raiders have Origin issues, but one is quite good and the other isn’t. In the interests of making it interesting, however, I’m pushing the boat out and saying that the Tigers break their horrendous Campbelltown record and get the win.

Round 16Stuart ThomasNick WasilievMary KonstantopoulosPaul SuttorAJ MithenMike Meehall WoodThe CrowdDOL v MELStorm Storm Storm Storm DolphinsStorm ?GCT v NZWTitansWarriors Warriors Warriors Warriors Warriors ?ROO v CBYRoosters Roosters BulldogsBulldogsRoosters Roosters ?SSR v MAN ManlyRabbitohs Rabbitohs RabbitohsRabbitohsRabbitohs ?WST v CBRRaiders Raiders Raiders Tigers Raiders Tigers?Last Round4 4 334342024 tally707261 716773 71