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It’s the pre-Origin 3 round and our final time with only five games. It’s also your last chance for an easy (cough) perfect round.

Friday Night Football

Panthers v Rabbitohs

Origin Stars Missing

• Panthers – Nathan Cleary (NSW), Liam Martin (NSW), Isaah Yeo (NSW)
• Rabbitohs – Cameron Murray (NSW)

The Panthers are staring down the barrel of what looked impossible this season. Three consecutive loses.

The Bunnies are coming off successive wins (and a bye) and look fresher for it.

Surely the Panthers will win this one. But who is willing to put their Standout on the line here?

Super Saturday

Dragons v Wests Tigers

Origin Stars Missing

• Dragons – None
• Wests Tigers – None

The fact neither team has any Origin reps says something. The Wests Tigers have Api playing fresh from his Origin 2 performance where he was made to stand up and sit down again but will be missing Jarome Luai through injury.

The Dragons are full-strength and at home at Kogarah. They have been close in recent weeks and if there is time to tip them, this is it.

The fact I am tipping the Dragons shows how confident I am of an upset win here.

I have tipped the Dragons only once this year in round 5 where the Cowboys roped them 32-0 at Kogarah.

FYI, six Tipsters have yet to tip the Dragons this season and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Broncos v Sharks

Origin Stars Missing

• Broncos – Payne Haas (NSW), Pat Carrigan (Qld), Reece Walsh (Qld)
• Sharks – Addin Fonua-Blake (NSW), Blayke Brailey (NSW), Briton Nikora (Qld)

Surely, it’s the Broncos time to shine.

I say that every week and continue to be disappointed.

Missing the two best forwards in the competition and Reece to Origin doesn’t help them.

Sharks will continue the Premiers(x1) pain.

Sunday Football

Eels v Sea Eagles

Origin Stars Missing

• Eels – Mitchell Moses (NSW)
• Sea Eagles – Haumole Olakau’atu (NSW), Tolutau Koula (NSW)

Even without Haumole and Tolu the Eels will not win this game.

Standout stamped all over this one.

Knights v Dolphins

Origin Stars Missing

• Knights – Bradman Best (NSW), Kalyn Ponga (Qld)
• Dolphins – Jack Bostock (NSW), Selwyn Cobbo (Qld), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Qld), Thomas Flegler (Qld), Max Plath (Qld)

This is easily the match of the round.

The ‘Phins are minus five players but have shown they have the depth to cover their losses. The Knights are without key strike players but also have a strong team.

This is Sunday afternoon football at a packed McDonald Jones Stadium and everyone in Newcastle will be there.

It’s a toss of the coin.

The Experts Tips