After a shellacking on Monday night the Parramatta Eels will look to win back some credibility as they host neighbours the Penrith Panthers at Parramatta Stadium. Join us for live scores and commentary from 5.30pm AEST.
Whilst the last couple of years have not held a lot to celebrate for Eels fans, Monday night’s loss to Manly was one of their lowest points as a Sea Eagles team who barely seemed to get out of second gear were able to put 50 points on Ricky Stuart’s charges.
To make things worse Parramatta prop forward Mitchell Allgood was also involved in an ugly striking incident close to full time, which has earned him a couple of weeks suspension and has many questioning whether the pressure has started to get to Parra.
Their opponents Penrith on the other hand have continued to defy expectations, and after a big win over the Gold Coast last weekend thanks to a scintillating second half of football, the Panthers are sitting on the cusp of the top eight and daring to dream.
The mountain men will look to continue their streak tonight, but would be well aware that the Eels will be treating this match as their grand final.
Prediction
With no players involved in the Origin series the Panthers have the luxury of being an extremely settled unit, with the only change for this week being New Zealand international Lewis Brown returning to take Clint Newton’s spot in the starting side.
For Parramatta though there has been a glut of changes, the most well publicised being the demotion of out of form halfback Chris Sandow to NSW Cup, replaced by Ben Roberts.
In some good news for the blue and golds however Willie Tonga is back from injury and will take his place in the team, and his experience will be pivotal to halting a Panthers backline that ran riot last weekend.
Whilst coach Stuart has described his team as a work in progress and believes there is light at the end of the tunnel for Parramatta, it’s hard to see them getting the two points this evening.
With Walsh and John pulling the strings and some pace out wide, the Panthers should be too good for the Eels and pull away after a close opening.
Still, I guess you never know in a local derby.
Panthers by 12.
Chris Chard
Expert
Poor old Parra eh, another loss but a much improved effort this week for their home fans. As for Penrith, well, onward and upwards! That's it from me footy fans, catch you next time on THE ROAR!
Chris Chard
Expert
80m Full time! A good effort from the Eels but Penrith have run out winners by seven in a close game! For the Panthers Luke Walsh was again the man, whilst Moylan and Simmons also played great games For the Eels Luke Kelly looked sharp, whilst Tim Mannah gave a lion hearted performance.
Chris Chard
Expert
79m Eels spread the ball but it's dropped by Radrandra... Eels 10 Penrith 17
Chris Chard
Expert
78m Eels will get the ball back after a short kick off is fumbled by the Panthers Eels 10 Penrith 17
Chris Chard
Expert
77m Field Goal! Luke Walsh pops the one pointer and that should be the ball game! Eels 10 Penrith 17
Chris Chard
Expert
76m A Luke Kelly chip n chase, grubbers again...but it's a PENALTY to Penrith as Kelly is ruled to have held back a Panthers player. Controversy! Eels 10 Panthers 16
Chris Chard
Expert
76m But a good set sees Parra having to do the same.. Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
75m A big Eels kick and Penrith will have to work it out from their own goal line Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
74m Walsh looks to kick a field goal on the last, runs out of space and is forced to pass before a Brown grubber is taken by the Eels on their own 1m line. Whew! Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
72m Eels chance their arm with a cross field kick in their own half..and the ball bounces out. Could be game over here Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
71m But now the Eels have the ball after Mullaney recovers an Eels grubber Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
71m Simmons is over and..held up! That was close! Penrith looking dangerous here Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
70m Brad Tighe is smashed by Pritchard! Is ruled to have crept up high, PENALTY! Eels look pumped up here! Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
69min Walsh bomb taken by Williame. Game on a knife edge here! Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
68m Some nice work by Pritchardgets the Eels close, but Roberts is caught with it on the last Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
65min Penrith made to scramble but the Eels put it down on the Panthers 20m line after some nice lead up work Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
65m Walsh bombs...taken by Moylan. Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
64m Kelly grubbers on the last...but it dribbles dead. Twenty metre restart Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
62m PENALTY to the Eels in great field position, the blue and golds getting the upper hand here! Eels 10 Penrith 16
Chris Chard
Expert
60m Kelly chips...but Williame knocks on in the air Eels 10 Penrith 16