In Round 10 we saw a mix of big blowouts and matches that come down to the final moments.

Round 11 has some tantalising match-ups in the first half of the week, including the renewal of a historic rivalry between the Rabbitohs and Dragons, and the all-Queensland grand final rematch in Townsville.

The NRL will also venture into uncharted territory, with Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth hosting its first ever game, between the Warriors and the Raiders.

Meanwhile the Knights and Wests Tigers will do battle, with both teams desperate to get away from the bottom of the ladder.

South Sydney Rabbitohs versus St George Illawarra Dragons
Thursday, May 19, 7:50pm (AEST) at ANZ Stadium

South Sydney are coming off a 22-20 victory over the Parramatta Eels, after Luke Keary scored a try moments before the siren for Adam Reynolds to kick the match-winning goal.

Greg Inglis stood out for the Bunnies, handling the switch from fullback to five-eighth well, while Sam Burgess rediscovered the form that helped Souths storm to their 21st premiership in 2014.

Michael Maguire has made just one change to his team from last week, with Cody Walker named on the wing in place of Michael Oldfield.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor meanwhile has made a host of changes, with Joel Thompson and Benji Marshall omitted through suspension and hamstring injuries respectively. The pair are replaced by Jacob Host and Josh McCrone.

St George Illawarra stood up against the Raiders in round 10 with the lights out at Jubilee Oval. They were, however, aided by Canberra fullback Jack Wighton, who made one of the biggest gaffes so far in 2016 by throwing a pass at the end of the first half of golden point. The pass ultimately ended up in the hands of Euan Aitken, resulting in the Dragons coming away with a 16-12 win.

There wasn’t anything particularly exciting against the Red V’s brand of football last Thursday night, and they enter this meeting as outsiders.

The key to the game will be in the middle, with Nathan Brown and Paul Carter having put in some strong performances for the cardinal and myrtle in 2016. The Dragons’ forwards, such as Tyson Frizell and Mike Cooper, need a big effort if they are to record their second win in as many weeks.

Since 1998, the Rabbitohs and Dragons have clashed 26 times, with Souths taking ten victories to St George Illawarra’s 16.

The two clubs have already met once in 2016, a Round 3 meeting at the SCG seeing the Red V come out on top 8-6 in the wet.

Prediction
After a brilliant performance last week against the Eels, Souths will secure their second straight win.

Rabbitohs by 8.

What you need to know
Kickoff: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: ANZ Stadium
TV: Live, Nine Network and Fox Sports
Last meeting: Dragons defeated Rabbitohs 8-6 (Round 3, 2016)
Head-to-head: 26 played – Rabbitohs 10, Dragons 16
Rabbitohs last three games: 22-20 versus Eels, 22-30 versus Wests Tigers, 8-30 versus Broncos
Dragons last three games: 16-12 versus Raiders, 10-26 versus Warriors, 20-18 versus Roosters

South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Alex Johnston, 2. Dane Nielsen, 3. Kirisome Auva’a, 4. Bryson Goodwin, 5. Cody Walker, 6. Greg Inglis (c), 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Thomas Burgess, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Nathan Brown, 11. Paul Carter, 12. Kyle Turner, 13. Sam Burgess
Interchange: 14. Luke Keary, 15. Jason Clark, 16. Jack Gosiewski, 17. George Burgess

St George Illawarra Dragons
1. Josh Dugan, 2. Kalifa Faifai Loa, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Timoteo Lafai, 5. Jason Nightingale, 6. Gareth Widdop (c), 7. Josh McCrone, 8. Leeson Ah Mau, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Russell Packer, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Jake Marketo, 13. Mike Cooper
Interchange: 14. Will Matthews, 15. Dunamis Lui, 16. Siliva Havili, 17. Jacob Host

North Queensland Cowboys versus Brisbane Broncos
Friday, May 20, 7:50pm (AEST) at 1300Smiles Stadium

North Queensland are coming off a heartbreaking 15-14 loss to the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium, after Cameron Smith buried the reigning premiers with a 71st-minute field goal.

The Cowboys will be desperate for a win before the State of Origin period, which is likely to see Michael Morgan, Johnathan Thurston, Matthew Scott and James Tamou all play in the three-game interstate series. This, in turn, will force coach Paul Green to promote a host of inexperienced players first grade.

Green has made no changes to the side that lost to the Storm, and in fact Patrick Kaufusi is the only player who didn’t participate in last year’s grand final, having taken John Asiata’s spot.

Meanwhile, despite a convincing 30-6 win over the Sea Eagles last week, the Broncos have made a host of changes, with Adam Blair, Alex Glenn and Andrew McCullough replacing Herman Ese’ese, Jai Arrow and Travis Waddell.

Like North Queensland, Wayne Bennett has named a similar side to the one that ran out on the first Sunday of October last year, with James Roberts and Josh McGuire taking the places of Justin Hodges and Mitchell Dodds.

Anthony Milford put in a brilliant display last week against Manly, having been one of the Broncos’ best since arriving from the Raiders last year.

The Queensland derby has been played 40 times since 1998, Brisbane dominating with 27 wins compared to the Cowboys’ 12 and one draw.

When the two clubs met in Round 4 this year, rugby league fans witnessed the best game so far of 2016 as the Broncos came out on top 21-20 at Suncorp Stadium in front of over 45,000 fans.

Prediction
We are in for yet another close encounter between these two clubs, with the home-ground advantage to get North Queensland over the line.

Cowboys by 1.

What you need to know
Kickoff: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: 1300Smiles Stadium
TV: Live, Nine Network and Fox Sports
Last meeting: Broncos defeated Cowboys 21-20 (Round 4, 2016)
Head-to-head: 40 played – Cowboys 12, Broncos 27 (1 Drawn)
Cowboys last three games: 14-15 versus Storm, 34-18 versus Sea Eagles, 32-16 versus Eels
Broncos last three games: 6-30 versus Sea Eagles, 28-30 versus Sharks, 30-8 versus Rabbitohs

North Queensland Cowboys
1. Lachlan Coote, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Justin O’Neill, 4. Kane Linnett, 5. Antonio Winterstein, 6. Michael Morgan, 7. Johnathan Thurston (c), 8. Matthew Scott (c), 9. Jake Granville, 10. James Tamou, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Ethan Lowe, 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn, 15. Patrick Kaufusi, 16. Scott Bolton, 17. Ben Hannant

Brisbane Broncos
1. Darius Boyd, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Jack Reed, 4. James Roberts, 5. Jordan Kahu, 6. Anthony Milford, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Josh McGuire, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Adam Blair, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Corey Parker (c)
Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace, 15. Sam Thaiday, 16. Joe Ofahengaue, 17. Kodi Nikorima

Wests Tigers versus Newcastle Knights
Saturday, May 21, 3pm (AEST) at Campbelltown Stadium

After Jason Taylor’s side shocked the Rabbitohs in Round 9, the Tigers came crashing back down to Earth last week with a 36-4 loss to the fifth-placed Bulldogs.

Following an injury scare to Robbie Farah, which saw the hooker go to hospital halfway through last Sunday’s match, Dene Halatau has been elevated to the starting side, with Matt Ballin taking his spot on the bench after a man of the match performance in the Tigers’ NSW Cup win over the Wyong Roos.

It will be Ballin’s debut for the joint venture, and he will be joined by Tim Grant on the bench, who swaps spots with skipper Aaron Woods. Josh Aloiai replaces Curtis Sironen in the starting back row and JJ Felise comes onto the bench, with Michael Chee-Kam 18th man.

In Newcastle last week, the Novocastrians experienced a horrific 62-0 loss to the Sharks, meaning the inexperienced outfit have accrued a 0-100 aggregate over their past two matches.

Their embarrassing defeat was the club’s second biggest after 29 seasons in Australian rugby league’s top flight.

Coach Nathan Brown has made a number of changes, with experienced quartet Trent Hodkinson, Pauli Pauli, Sam Mataora and Nathan Ross returning. Cory Denniss and David Bhana have dropped out of the team, and Jack Cogger is pushed to an extended six-man bench.

Hodkinson will be forced to shoulder much of the responsibility, with the State of Origin representative required to guide a young side and mentor rookie Brock Lamb in the halves.

The two sides have clashed on 22 occasions since 1998, with Wests Tigers winning ten matches to the Knights’ 12.

When these two met in Round 6, the Knights recorded their only win so far in 2016, an 18-16 victory at Hunter Stadium.

Prediction
The Knights will be rebound but the Tigers will come away with their fourth win of the season.

Wests Tigers by 14.

What you need to know
Kickoff: 3pm (AEST)
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Last meeting: Knights defeated Wests Tigers 18-16 (Round 6, 2016)
Head-to-head: 22 played – Wests Tigers 10, Knights 12
Wests Tigers last three games: 4-36 versus Bulldogs, 30-22 versus Rabbitohs, 6-60 versus Raiders
Knights last three games: 0-62 versus Sharks, 0-38 versus Roosters, 10-26 versus Sea Eagles

Wests Tigers
1. Justin Hunt, 2. David Nofoaluma, 3. Tim Simona, 4. Kevin Naiqama, 5. Jordan Rankin, 6. Mitchell Moses, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. Aaron Woods (c), 9. Dene Halatau, 10. Ava Seumanufagai, 11. Josh Aloiai, 12. Chris Lawrence, 13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 14. Tim Grant, 15. Matt Ballin, 16. JJ Felise, 17. Kyle Lovett, 18. Michael Chee-Kam

Newcastle Knights
1. Dane Gagai, 2. Nathan Ross, 3. Sione Mata’utia, 4. Pat Mata’utia, 5. Akuila Uate, 6. Brock Lamb, 7. Trent Hodkinson (c), 8. Sam Mataora, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Tariq Sims (c), 12. Jacob Saifiti, 13. Jeremy Smith (c)
Interchange: 14. Tyler Randell, 15. Korbin Sims, 16. Jack Stockwell, 17. Mickey Paea, 18. Pauli Pauli, 19. Jack Cogger

New Zealand Warriors versus Canberra Raiders
Saturday, May 21, 5:3pm (AEST) at Yarrow Stadium

The Taranaki town of New Plymouth hosted a pre-season trial back in 2005, which attracted just under 10,000 fans. This time around, the Warriors are expected to play in front of a crowd more than twice that size, depsite their loss to the Panthers last week in Christchurch.

Andrew McFadden welcomes back key forwards Sam Lisone and Simon Mannering, while Toafofoa Sipley is 18th man. However the New Zealand outfit will be without two of their best performers in prop Charlie Gubb and centre Solomone Kata.

Canberra will provide creative opposition in the halves, with Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer to lead the way. The Raiders are without workhorse Shaun Fensom, with Luke Bateman starting at lock in his place. Jeff Lima returns from a hand injury on the bench, while Sam Williams and Frank-Paul Nuuausala have been named on an extended bench.

The Warriors and Raiders have played 30 times, with New Zealand winning 16 to Canberra’s 14.

Last time they met, during Round 16 last year, the Warriors prevailed 30-8 in Auckland.

Prediction
New Plymouth will witness a close encounter with the crowd to play a big part and get the Warriors a narrow victory.

Warriors by 4.

What you need to know
Kickoff: 5:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Yarrow Stadium
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Last meeting: Warriors defeated Raiders 30-8 (Round 16, 2015)
Head-to-head: 30 played – Warriors 16, Raiders 14
Warriors last three games: 18-30 versus Panthers, 26-10 versus Dragons, 0-42 versus Storm
Raiders last three games: 12-16 versus Dragons, 18-19 versus Panthers, 60-6 versus Wests Tigers

New Zealand Warriors
1. Tuimoala Lolohea, 2. Jonathan Wright, 3. Blake Ayshford, 4. Matthew Allwood, 5. David Fusitua, 6. Thomas Leuluai, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Jacob Lillyman, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Ben Matulino, 11. Bodene Thompson, 12. Ryan Hoffman (c), 13. Simon Mannering
Interchange: 14. Jazz Tevaga, 15. Sam Lisone, 16. John Palavi, 17. James Gavet, 18. Toafofoa Sipley

Canberra Raiders
1. Jack Wighton, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joseph Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Shannon Boyd, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Luke Bateman
Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste, 15. Jeff Lima, 16. Clay Priest, 17. Joseph Tapine, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Frank-Paul Nuuausala

Roarers, who are you tipping in Round 11?

Be sure to tune in tomorrow as I preview the remaining four fixtures of Round 11.