A new-look Penrith Panthers host last year’s fast-finishing Newcastle Knights in what should shape up as one of the games of the round. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:30pm (AEDT).
We’re three years into Gus Gould’s five-year plan and things are travelling nicely for the Panthers.
After an improved showing last year, this year’s line-up looks even stronger and many are tipping them to sneak into the top eight.
An experienced new halves combination of Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace is the perhaps the most important change, but they’ll also debut some quality new faces in the form of Elijah Taylor, Brent Kite and Tyrone Peachey.
Jamal Idris is not expected to pass a fitness test despite being named.
With a full pre-season under their belts – most of the Panthers had no World Cup commitments to worry about – Panthers fans will be hoping the new-look line-up gels from the get go.
They’ll need to if they want to defeat the Knights, who defied expectations last season with a superb late-season run into the semi-finals.
Their backline is up there with the best in the competition, each player averaging well over 100m per match and up over 150m on many occasions.
Much is said about the Knights ageing forward pack, but with a workrate like that in the three-quarter line the engine room has plenty of support.
The big question mark for the Knights will be in their halves, with Jarrod Mullen suffering an unfortunate pre-season injury and Kurt Gidley shifting to hooker this season.
Michael Dobson and Tyrone Roberts will line up at six and seven – very much an untried combination, though the same can be said of Soward and Wallace.
For mine, however, it’s on the bench where the Panthers have the advantage, with two heavy hitters in Nigel Plum and Sam McKendry combining with the explosive impact of James Segeyaro and Peachey.
I think that’ll be enough to get the Panthers home in a tight one – Panthers by 4.
Will the new-look Panthers live up to their growing expectations, or will the always-dangerous Knights spoil the party?
Join us this afternoon at 4:30pm AEDT for live score updates, and be sure to give us your opinion in the space below if you’re watching.
Muzz
Guest
I would have him in my club team but don't think he has the right temperament for origin.An origin number 9 has to be composed at all times.I think Robbie is half of Pearce's problem.
Adam
Roar Guru
A dominant second-half display by the Panthers as they scored 24 unanswered points to win this one 30-8. A bit tough to gauge either side's progress considering that Newcastle lost two key players at half-time in Boyd and Gidley and then another in Roberts around the 60th minute. Those are three playmakers with injury clouds over their heads, a real worry for Knights fans. Add Mullen's injury to the mix and that's their entire spine gone. That said, the Panthers can only play what's in front of them and they performed that task well. I thought Soward and Wallace controlled the game perfectly in that second half, showing their experience, while players like Mansour, Peachey, Taylor and Docker all had good games. Matt Moylan was safe at the back too and showed himself to be a clever and composed player, taking a quick tap that led to a try and coolly saving a 40/20 later in the contest.
Adam
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME: Panthers 30 – Knights 8
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 30 – Knights 8 78' Knights just going through the motions here, well and truly beaten today. Can Panthers get another try before full-time?
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 30 – Knights 8 77' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL from Wallace.
Adam
Roar Guru
Depends who you ask I guess – Panthers were actually favourites going into this one, I think a lot of that is down to Mullen being out injured though. But yeah I'm struggling in my tips...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 28 – Knights 8 76' TRY PANTHERS! REPLAY: It was a chip into the in-goal area from Wallace – it found the ground and took a devil of a bounce for the Knights, and the big front rower Latimore couldn't believe his luck as it fell into his hands to plant down just inside the dead-ball line.
John
Guest
So this will be 3 upsets in a row to start the season? hahaha awesome
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 76' VIDEO REF! Latimore looks to have scored off a Wallace kick!
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 76' Crowd off 11,369 for those interested...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 74' Field goal attempt from Wallace but he doesn't make good contact and it's taken on the full by Gagai at fullback.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 73' Jeremy Smith makes a break and takes the Knights up-field – they try a cross-field kick off the next play but David Simmons does well to take it above his head. He's tackled in mid-air and wins a penalty in the process. Gotta say, Smith's legs looked old in a bit of space...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 72' Now a little fumble from Docker in the play-the-ball and the Knights have the ball. This one is fizzing out quickly...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 71' And now McManus has lost the ball working it off his own line – thanks to attention from Adam Docker, who is back on the field after passing his concussion test. Everything's coming up Milhouse for the Panthers in this one...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 70' Soward finds touch 20m out from Newcastle's line, Penrith's halves happy just to wind down the clock here with the game well in hand.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 68' Plum cleans up McKinnon with a HUGE hit! Living up to his "Bash Brother" name... And now the Knights' set comes to an end with a forward pass as they try to shift left. Tough day at the office for the Novocastrians...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 65' Knights are down to a one-man bench as the Panthers work it out from the kick-off; Wallace finds touch 15m out from Newcastle's line and with the Knights in disarray the Panthers have this game well in hand.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 24 – Knights 8 64' CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL from Wallace.
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 22 – Knights 8 64' Tyrone Roberts is down and in some trouble after that collision with Docker – it was one hell of a head class. Both Docker and Roberts are leaving the field for a concussion test. Newcastle may have no playmakers left by the end of this one...
Adam
Roar Guru
Live score: Panthers 22 – Knights 8 REPLAY: Quick hands out left saw Peachey put Whare in some space. He chipped ahead and got the kindest bounce you'll ever see as the ball side-stepped the Newcastle fullback straight into Whare's hands. He handed it off to Docker who bumped off Roberts to score.