If you’d like a rough guide for this weekend’s conditions across New South Wales, here’s a clip:

Score so far = 5/8 (62.5%)

Picks are underlined

Parramatta Eels vs Melbourne Storm at Bankwest Stadium, Thursday 8:05pm AEDT

Two teams that know a thing or two about generating electricity and massive salary cap mismanagement, but based on last week, the Storm are going to try and fly out of the blocks in the 1st Half like a greyhound chasing the lure, and the Eels are going to start like slugs and start to play better in the 2nd Half.

So by that process, I’d better pick the visitors from our southern capital.

New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights at Central Coast Stadium, Friday 6pm AEDT

Here’s an artist’s impression of the Warriors coming in to Gosford to take out the Knights:

Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium, Friday 7:05pm AEST

Never forget that not even 6 months ago, this sign on a shower curtain was real:

Say, is that Greg Norman in the bottom right corner?

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Penrith Panthers at ANZ Stadium, Saturday 3pm AEDT

The Big Cats to beat up the Doggies.

Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at Brookvale Oval, Saturday 5:30pm AEDT

When the Silvertails and Rabbits played each other in Round 15 last year, Souths downright monstered the Sea Eagles 56-16, and Adam Reynolds, who nailed all 10 kicks at goal, was shelling sideline conversions as if he was Ty sinking putts humming ‘Mananananana’ in Caddyshack.

Imagine that at Brooky this Saturday:

“Mananananana” said Adam as he slotted his 6th conversion of the game in front of the left-hand touchline.

North Queensland Cowboys vs St George-Illawarra Dragons at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Saturday 6:35pm AEST

If Jason Taumalolo doesn’t respond to Todd Payten cutting his minutes, followed by rather rudely shoving a rocket up his backside after the debacle at Penrith, then you have to wonder what would be required to get JT13 to respond.

He must be like a horse that doesn’t respond to the whip, which leads me to believe this game will be a genuine toss of the coin between two completely and utterly below average teams who won’t be featuring in September, so I’ll have to take the home team.

Wests Tigers vs Sydney Roosters at Campbelltown, Sunday 4:05pm AEDT

Easts are going to get challenged by several teams at some point in the year 2021, especially now that they’re without both their starting captains in Jake Friend and Boyd Cordner.

Wests are not one of those teams.

Cronulla Sharks vs Canberra Raiders at Kogarah Oval, Sunday 6:15pm AEDT

With the heavy rain punishing Greater Sydney for hosting the Mardi Gras (At least that’s what Reverend Fred Nile told me), the Sharks will be licking their lips at the thought of playing at a submerged Kogarah, because as the 12th Man once said when describing Greg Norman at Pebble Beach, you should never underestimate a Shark when he is in trouble, especially when he is underwater.

But, you have to remember that 100mm of rain over a weekend is called ‘Summer’ in Northern England, which will probably play into the hands of the 10-Pound Poms in the Raiders’ line-up.