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Match Preview

Panthers v Wests Tigers: Penrith lose key duo; Grant returns

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pan66.com
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Competition leaders Penrith will be aiming to extend their club record winning streak and put paid to Wests Tigers' 2020 finals hopes in Saturday's prime-time clash at Panthers Stadium.

The Panthers, who have dropped just three points all season, are on a 10-win roll while Wests Tigers' hopes of playing finals football are becoming increasingly mathematical.

They sit in the ninth place, four points adrift of eighth-placed Cronulla, but with just one win in their past four they don't appear to be up to the challenge posed by the competition leaders.

Penrith boast weapons all over the park and with red-hot playmaker Nathan Cleary in charge have scored more points (388) than any other side except the Roosters (392).

The Rundown

Team news

Panthers: Second-rower Viliame Kikau is suspended and hooker Api Koroisau has a calf injury. Billy Burns is called up on the bench and Mitch Kenny at dummy half. Brian To'o makes his comeback from an ankle injury on the wing with Brent Naden shifting to centre.

In a late shuffle Tyrone May starts in the second row with Isaah Yeo shifting to lock, James Fisher-Harris to prop and Moses Leota to the bench. Daine Laurie and Matt Burton dropped off the reserves list an hour before kick-off.

The Panthers have won six of their past seven games against the Tigers.

Wests Tigers: Harry Grant returns from a knee injury at hooker with Jacob Liddle dropping to the bench and Josh Reynolds to the reserves. Alex Twal starts at lock, while Matt Eisenhuth has come into the starting side in place of Josh Aloiai. Tom Mikaele is the other prop with Russell Packer dropped and Shawn Blore recalled on the bench.

Reynolds was cut from the reserves on Friday while Chris Lawrence and Asu Kepaoa dropped off the extended bench an hour before kick-off.

Wests Tigers have not won at Panthers Stadium since 2013.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
    Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Adam Doueihi
  • Winger for Panthers is number 2 Josh Mansour
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
  • Centre for Panthers is number 3 Brent Naden
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Joseph Leilua
  • Centre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
    Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Moses Mbye
  • Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
    Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau
  • Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
    Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Luke Brooks
  • Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
    Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Benji Marshall

Forwards

  • Prop for Panthers is number 8 James Tamou
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Thomas Mikaele
  • Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
    Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Harry Grant
  • Prop for Panthers is number 13 James Fisher-Harris
    Prop for Wests Tigers is number 14 Matthew Eisenhuth
  • 2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
  • 2nd Row for Panthers is number 14 Tyrone May
    2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
  • Lock for Panthers is number 11 Isaah Yeo
    Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Interchange

  • Interchange for Panthers is number 10 Moses Leota
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Elijah Taylor
  • Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Spencer Leniu
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Jacob Liddle
  • Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Billy Burns
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Shawn Blore
  • Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Zane Tetevano
    Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Sam McIntyre

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ben Cummins
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Touch Judge: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Key match-up

Josh Mansour v David Nofoaluma: The Panthers veteran has scored just five tries this season, including a double in last weekend's big win over the Sharks, but has been a major contributor with his huge appetite for work. He matches the Tigers flyer in most stats but Nofoaluma holds a massive edge in two key areas.

He has 13 tries, good for equal second on the try-scoring list, along with a competition-best 99 tackle busts to Mansour's 47 and has consistently shown he can have an impact even when his side is well-beaten.

Stat Attack

Penrith are on a five-game winning streak at home against Wests Tigers and have won eight of their past 10 against the joint-venture club. 

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.