We are down to two weeks remaining, and an argument could be made that all eight games this weekend have something riding on them. This is The Roar’s NRL expert tipping panel for Round 24.

We will start with a quick look back to last week, and a round of applause for Mary, who tipped a perfect round. With David tipping all of the Raiders, Rabbitohs and Tigers, it means they are now tied five tips behind The Barry, who, alongside The Crowd, got seven last week.

I tipped five, which I’m not thrilled about, but that’s one more than AJ, who just continues to fall further and further behind.

Anyway, they say don’t live in the past, and why would you want to with the slate of games we have ahead this weekend?

It all gets going with the Knights and Titans – an absolutely monstrous game. The Knights still need a win owing to their horrific for and against, while the Titans probably need two from two to crack a spot in the top eight.

The Warriors and Raiders are both in must-win positions, and for the loser, it’s left, right, goodnight, season over. The prime time Friday game is big for a whole different reason as the book of feuds gets reopened and for the Roosters, a spot in the top four goes on the line.

That spot in the top four is thanks to Manly’s drastically easy run home – they play the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon. And in fact, Sunday could be a horrendous afternoon with the Panthers playing the Tigers in the day’s other game.

The Tigers can still make the eight, although there is more chance of the Earth being proven flat by the 6pm news tonight than there is of that happening.

Saturday’s feast sees the Dragons enter the final chance saloon against the woeful Cowboys, the Sharks also in a similar position despite currently sitting eighth when they face the Broncos, and the Storm play the Eels who might have beaten the Cowboys last week, but need to prove a little more than that.

Remember to get your tips into the form below by 6pm (AEST) this evening to join The Roar’s NRL tipping competition for 2021 and be featured as part of the Crowd’s tips for Round 24.

Mary will get us rolling this week.

Mary Konstantopoulos

Tips: Titans, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Sharks, Storm, Sea Eagles, Panthers

I thought places in the top eight would come right down to the wire and the first game of the weekend is absolutely critical. I am tipping the Titans because I am thoroughly enjoying the confidence in attack that this team has demonstrated over the last couple of weeks. The Knights won’t be pushovers though and the key for the Titans will be a good start.

They are a team that struggle when play isn’t going their way so I don’t think they will able to come back should the Knights get off to a good start.

The Raiders are another team right in the hunt for the top eight and will solidify their position with a win over the Warriors.

The Warriors have finished the season surprisingly strong, but I don’t think they have enough in them to beat the Raiders, especially with a new halves combination given the omission of Chanel Harris-Tavita.

The Rabbitohs will beat the Roosters. It’s a shame the Roosters are so down on troops because this game would have been an absolute cracker otherwise. The Rabbitohs are in incredible form and despite their ability to keep winning, the injuries and retirements are really beginning to impact the Roosters.

The Dragons will beat the Cowboys, who have been one of my more disappointing teams this year.

The Sharks have been plucky this season and will beat the Broncos. Unfortunately for Broncos fans that means the club will not post back-to-back wins for the first time since the start of 2020.

The Storm will beat the Eels and as an Eels fan the less said about this game the better. Is there an ability to forfeit?

The Sea Eagles will take their chance and jump back into the top four with a win over the Bulldogs. Manly looked a bit out of sorts last week, but still managed with Turbo Tom who returns this week.

The Panthers will also beat the Tigers who have been extremely disappointing this year. Fortunately this time Ivan Cleary won’t have many Tigers fans to blow kisses to from the stadium.

The Barry

Tips: Knights, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Sharks, Storm, Sea Eagles, Panthers

Bloody Warriors! Despite having the tipping comp pretty much wrapped up I’m still trying to get that elusive eight out of eight. I was looking good until the team formerly known as everyone’s second favourite team lost to the Broncos in the last game of the round.

The Knights can go a long way towards wrapping up a top-eight spot and have hit a nice vein of for, at the right end of the season. Not unwinnable for the Titans who have their own top eight aspirations but it’s hard to take them with any confidence.

I can’t tip the Warriors after my intro. Raiders have too much to play form and injuries are catching up with the brave Warriors.

In the corresponding fixture last year, Souths put 60 on Easts. Their attack has been running hot this year too but queries over their temperament against the top teams. I’m tipping Souths but $4.00 for the Roosters seems generous.

The Cowboys haven’t won in ten games but I’m tipping them to get the Dragons here.

The Broncos have been looking a lot more resilient lately but surely the Sharks have more to play for here.

First vs sixth in the shadows of September and we have $1.07 vs $9.00 in the market. Says everything you need to know about this season. Storm.

Two $1.03 favourites going around on Sunday. Point scoring records are the only thing of interest.

AJ Mithen

Tips: Knights, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Broncos, Storm, Sea Eagles, Panthers

Two rounds to go for me to make up a piddling 29-tip deficit and charge home for glorious victory!

Here’s the first set of winners. Knights will scrape past the Titans, who are doing their best to play themselves out of a finals spot. Have they progressed at all in 2021? It’s hard to say.

Raiders over Warriors by at least 56 to get back on the finals track, set to launch an audacious run at the title from eighth spot.

Rabbitohs over Roosters in a humdinger. Roosters will go out on their shield like always though.

Dragons over Cowboys. I only tipped this game because I had to – there’s no way on earth I’ll watch it. Ewww.

Broncos over Sharks because they’re up and about to a degree. Sharks aren’t bad, though. But I have to follow the science and it says Brisbane.

Storm to set the record against the Eels, who might hang around longer into the game than expected because refs are putting the whistle away preparing for finals.

Manly over Bulldogs. Yeesh. It’ll be bug vs windscreen stuff.

Finally, Panthers over Tigers in a run of the mill. Penrith will do all they need to do and not one effort more.

David Holden

Tips: Titans, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Sharks, Storm, Sea Eagles, Panthers

In my quest to catch the Barry and the Crowd, I had to pick some upsets last week. Well, there was plenty of guts but very little glory as the Raiders, Rabbitohs and Tigers all let me down. I haven’t given up on tipping victory, and there will be 50/50’s to come, but it’s all about securing that podium spot now.

First up on Thursday night, we do get a flip of the coin. The Knights look reasonably secure in the 8 but losses in their last 2 games could see them miss out.

It’s a fair bit more desperate for the Titans… lose and they are gone. Fotuaika returns for the Titans while Klemmer is suspended for the Knights. Tino and David Fifita need big games for the Gold Coast and I think they will win, just.

We get another early semi-final on Friday night with the Warriors and Raiders. After their loss against the Broncos, the Warriors season appears over. The Raiders are still firmly in with a shot and that should be enough to see them win, although I’m not 100 percent sure where their points are going to come from.

The Roosters pick up more injuries on a weekly basis and still manage to get wins against poor opposition. The Dragons had them on Sunday afternoon before realising they were in front, a situation they hadn’t experienced in recent weeks.

Souths looked like premiership contenders for the first twenty minutes last Friday night, only to look like pretenders at full time. Fears around the Souths pack were proven true and they weren’t in the same class. Having said that, they will beat the Roosters.

The Dragons and Cowboys get Super Saturday off to a super slow start. Both these sides have forgotten how to win, so someone will break the mould here. Taumalolo returns for the Cowboys as well as a number of other players. I will go with North Queensland, purely so that Tom Dearden can sing the team song before the end of the season.

Broncos fans wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Milf played his best game in years, coinciding with contract talks for next year. Kevin Walters may be best offering him a week to week contract. The Sharks need to win to maintain hope of playing semis, and will beat a team that might be busy planning Mad Monday.

The Eels didn’t look great beating a weakened Cowboys team. The Storm will belt them this weekend. The side finishing 7th this year will have a really good chance of progressing to week 2 of the semi-finals.

In bad news for the Bulldogs, the Turbo is back. This won’t affect the result but will impact the level of embarrassment. With some key forwards suspended and Adam Elliott stood down for being a clown, we have a blowout on the horizon. The Sea Eagles will notch up 60 points in this one.

In a second lopsided game on Sunday, to finish the round, Penrith take on Wests. The Panthers rediscovered their mojo last Friday night and will heap a fair bit of misery on the Tigers.

Scott Pryde

Tips: Titans, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Dragons, Sharks, Storm, Sea Eagles, Panthers

Despite the big games, I reckon this actually looks a fairly straightforward week on paper. Of course, my tips this season indicate you shouldn’t pay attention to that statement.

But for what it’s worth, the Titans have run up 28 or more points in 10 of 13 games against teams outside the top six this season. The Knights? Yeah, they have only scored 28 on two occasions all season. The Titans’ attack will be the difference here.

The Warriors let me down last week, and after so many injuries, it could well have been a case of the doors being blown off. Canberra should win here.

South Sydney over the Roosters. The tri-colours are brave. Very brave. So many injuries and they just keep churning out wins. But there is only so much the miraculous James Tedesco can do.

The Cowboys have won one game away from Townsville all year. I reckon I have been harping on about that for a good half of the season, and the stat refuses to change.

The Dragons have lost six straight so this is a good a chance as any to break it, but when North Queensland couldn’t even beat the Tigers at home a fortnight ago, well, that tells you all you need to know.

Cronulla simply must win. There is no ifs. Not buts. No second chances. It’s sink or swim here. Even then they need other results to go their way unless they can beat Melbourne next week too. Anyway, they will be far too good for the Broncos.

The Eels are a rabble. Don’t let last week’s win conflict your judgement. Melbourne in a canter.

Sunday. Do we need to bother? Call it off now. Make sure Tom Trbojevic and Nathan Cleary don’t pick up injuries ahead of finals. Sea Eagles by something like a hundred and the Panthers by similar.

Remember to get your tips in on the form below by 6pm this evening to be counted as part of The Crowd for this weekend.