The Panthers and Eels will meet at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night to write another chapter in rugby league's longstanding rivalry of the west.
Having now lost two games in a row after going down to Wigan in the World Club Challenge and kept scoreless by Melbourne in Round 1, Ivan Cleary's Panthers will be desperate to get back to their winning ways when they meet with their Western Sydney rivals.
Conceding nine penalties and coughing up 12 errors, the Panthers will welcome back hooker Mitch Kenny into the starting side and ensure the three-time premiership winning spine is back to the well-oiled machine we know come Friday.
The Eels, meanwhile, head into Round 2 bristling with confidence after a classy 26-8 victory over the Bulldogs on Saturday night and will be eager to return to the Penrith fortress after downing the premiers 32-18 there in Round 26 last year.
Despite Mitch Moses carrying a groin injury in Saturday's season opener, passing on kicking duties to his teammates, the Eels confirmed on Monday the star halfback will be fit for the Round 2 blockbuster.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Panthers v Eels
Team News
Panthers: A late switch an hour before kick-off with Daine Laurie joining the bench in jersey No.18 and Soni Luke dropping to 18th man. Scott Sorensen and Mitch Kenny make their return in the forwards so Luke Garner goes to the bench and Luke Sommerton drops out. Matt Eisenhuth, Paul Alamoti and Brad Schneider were the players to drop out of the squad when it was trimmed to 19 on Thursday.
Eels: Joe Ofahengaue will start and Junior Paulo goes to the bench in a late switch as they did in Round 1. Luca Moretti is 18th man. Wiremu Greig played NSW Cup in the curtain-raiser as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. Star winger Maika Sivo is due back from suspension in Round 4.
Match: Panthers v Eels
Round 2 -
home Team
Panthers
away Team
Eels
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan EdwardsFullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
-
Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia TuruvaWinger for Eels is number 2 Bailey Simonsson
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Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack TagoCentre for Eels is number 3 Will Penisini
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Centre for Panthers is number 4 Taylan MayCentre for Eels is number 4 Morgan Harper
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Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'oWinger for Eels is number 5 Sean Russell
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Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome LuaiFive-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Dylan Brown
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Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan ClearyHalfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses
Forwards
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Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses LeotaProp for Eels is number 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
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Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch KennyHooker for Eels is number 9 Joey Lussick
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Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Eels is number 16 Joe Ofahengaue
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2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane
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2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Bryce Cartwright
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Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah YeoLock for Eels is number 13 J'maine Hopgood
Interchange
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Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay SmithInterchange for Eels is number 10 Junior Paulo
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Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam HenryInterchange for Eels is number 14 Brendan Hands
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Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Luke GarnerInterchange for Eels is number 15 Ryan Matterson
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Interchange for Panthers is number 18 Daine LaurieInterchange for Eels is number 17 Kelma Tuilagi
Reserves
-
Replacement for Panthers is number 14 Soni LukeReplacement for Eels is number 20 Luca Moretti
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Panthers have won 10 of their past 11 games at BlueBet Stadium.
- The Eels have won four of their past six games against the Panthers.
- Panthers winger Sunia Turuva has scored try doubles in his past two games at BlueBet Stadium.
- Eels fullback Clint Gutherson has scored five tries in his past six games against the Panthers.
- The Panthers have not lost consecutive games to start a season since 2016.
Match: Panthers v Eels
Round 2 -
home Team
Panthers
10th Position
away Team
Eels
7th Position
Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .
