
Durko's Dissections: NRL previews for Round 23
EELS v BULLDOGS
Bankwest Stadium, Thursday, 7.50pm
History: Played 145, Bulldogs 76, Eels 64, drawn 5. Last met: Eels 36-16, round 2, 2019. Ladbrokes odds: Eels $1.35, Bulldogs $3.15
The Bulldogs may have stunned many with three wins on the trot, but far too much is at stake for the Eels to drop their guard in this. Still with a chance of finishing in the top four, the reigning wooden spooners will relish the challenge of meeting their much-improved neighbours at their new home ground, where they have established an impressive seven-from-eight winning record. Halfback Mitchell Moses is on fire, and his game management will prove the difference. TIP - Eels
COWBOYS V PANTHERS
1300Smiles Stadium, Friday, 6.00pm
History: Played 38, Panthers 20, Cowboys 18. Last met: Cowboys 26-20, round 9, 2018. Ladbrokes odds: Cowboys $2.14, Panthers $1.70
An unfathomable fall from grace by the Cowboys, who are conceding an average 22 points per game, plays into the hands of the Panthers who must win in Townsville to keep their finals hopes alive. The Panthers were untidy in attack against the Broncos last weekend and will need a huge attitude adjustment to win in Townsville, where they have a 10-8 success rate. Conversely, the Cowboys - rocked by the news of Matt Scott's health scare - have won just three times at home this season. TIP - Panthers

BRONCOS V RABBITOHS
Suncorp Stadium, Friday, 7.55pm
History: Played 39, Broncos 28, Rabbitohs 10, drawn 1. Last met: Rabbitohs 38-6, round 8, 2019. Ladbrokes odds: Broncos $1.95, Rabbitohs $1.85
While they have been nowhere near the team most expected they would be in 2019, the Broncos head into this absolute blockbuster with far more impressive recent form than their opposition, having lost only twice in their past eight starts. The Rabbitohs, conversely, are facing their fourth straight loss. Both teams are well below strength but reputations and critical finals spots are on the line. If the Broncos' stop-gap halves can provide some direction, their powerful forward pack may just get them home, although Damien Cook spells trouble for the Broncos. Grudge matches don't come any more serious than this. TIP - Rabbitohs
SHARKS V WARRIORS
PointsBet Stadium, Saturday, 3.00pm
History: Played 39, Sharks 22, Warriors 17. Last met: Warriors 19-18, round 18, 2019. Ladbrokes odds: Sharks $1.42, Warriors $2.90
Handed a lifeline by the video referee last weekend, the Sharks must take full advantage of their stroke of luck against a Warriors outfit now out of finals contention and probably out of spirit. The Sharks have one goal - keep winning and a finals berth is theirs. The return of Andrew Fifita is a boost, but losing Matt Moylan - yet again - takes away some key potency in attack. TIP - Sharks

TIGERS v KNIGHTS
Campbelltown Stadium, Saturday, 5.30pm
History: Played 27, Tigers 14, Knights 13. Last met: Tigers 28-26, round 19, 2019. Ladbrokes odds: Tigers $2.00, Knights $1.80
Sitting on 20 points and needing a miracle to make the play-offs, both sides will be ruing some close calls from earlier in the season. Now just pride is on the line, as are contacts for next season and beyond. On last weekend's form, the Knights should be odds-on to win this, but with these clubs in 2019, nothing is a certainty. No doubt the Knights will rally for dethroned coach Nathan Brown. TIP - Knights
DRAGONS V ROOSTERS
Jubilee Stadium, Saturday, 7.35pm
History: Played 40, Dragons 20, Roosters 19, drawn 1. Last met: Roosters 20-10, round 7, 2019. Ladbrokes odds: Dragons $4.50, Roosters $1.20
By scoring 190 points in their past five successive wins, the Roosters have done what most good judges thought they would - flexed their considerable muscle when finals time approached. The Storm and Raiders may be in the picture, but with joint skippers Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend still to return, the premiers are looking downright scary. And the Dragons, on their recent form, are potential cannon fodder. TIP - Roosters

STORM v TITANS
AAMI Park, Sunday, 2.00pm
History: Played 20, Storm 14, Titans 6. Last met: Storm 38-18, round 18, 2019. Ladbrokes odds: Storm $1.06, Titans $9.00
Could the poor, forlorn Titans possibly have imagined a worse weekend to travel to Melbourne, with the Storm coming off just their fourth loss of the season? Being run down, at home, after leading 18-nil, is exactly the motive Craig Bellamy needs to fire a rocket into his usually disciplined camp. The Titans have beaten the Storm just once in the past eight encounters and a landslide result is on the cards. TIP - Storm
RAIDERS V SEA EAGLES
GIO Stadium, Sunday, 4.05pm
History: Played 56, Sea Eagles 34, Raiders 21, drawn 1. Last met: Sea Eagles 24-20, round 7, 2019. Ladbrokes odds: Raiders $1.55, Sea Eagles $2.40
A crucial top-four berth is at stake in the national capital on Sunday with virtually nothing splitting these two premiership candidates. The Raiders were pretty special last weekend, coming from behind to beat the Storm, but the Sea Eagles have good current form too and have no fears playing in Canberra where they have won on six of their past eight visits. Still without Curtis Sironen, he visitors must match the Raiders up front to be a genuine chance of causing an upset. But, playing their best football in years and with the competition's second-best defence, the Green Machine should win. TIP - Raiders