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There’s just five games to go for both the Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys, and both teams will be equally hungry to get the two points tonight when they lace up at Centrebet Stadium.
Both teams are currently on the outside looking in for the finals, with Panthers in 11th spot (only three points behind 8th, coming into the round) and Cowboys in 13th (five points away).
The momentum of these two sides could not be more different. Penrith have slumped with three straight losses, and have been knocked about with some key players ruled out – Nigel Plum, Sika Manu and Adam Docker to name a few.
Last week’s game against the Roosters pushed Penrith further down the ladder. Leading tryscorer David Simmons helped the Panthers to an early lead, but the Roosters scored twice quickly to lead at halftime. The Roosters exploded after halftime for four tries in the first 20 minutes of the second half, with a final score a humbling 42-6.
The Cowboys provide a stark contrast with their clean bill of health, naming an unchanged starting lineup to the one that performed admirably last week. Against the Rabbitohs, Brent Tate scored the first try of the game, and Johnathan Thurston was heavily involved in the second to give the Cowboys a 12-0 lead at half. The Cowboys produced three more tries in the second half before giving up a couple consolation tries, and the fulltime score was 30-12.
Last time the Panthers and Cowboys was back in Round 5 of this season, and it did not go well for Penrith. The Cowboys scored within the first three minutes, and then twice more in the next ten minutes as this game was wrapped up early. Both Simmons and James Segeyaro came close for the Panthers but ball control was an issue and the Panthers couldn’t get on the board, losing 30-0.
Prediction
Both sides are desperate for the win, but the Cowboys even more so, and they’re a good deal more likely to score early and often. Cowboys by 12.
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