It’s an intriguing clash at the foot of the mountains on Saturday afternoon rugby league as the Penrith Panthers take on the Canberra Raiders.
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The Raiders shocked one of the pre-season heavyweights by taking down the Rabbitohs 30-18 at ANZ Stadium last weekend. The Panthers, on the other hand, are coming off a disappointing loss to the improved Eels in Round 4.
There are a lot of changes for the Panthers for this clash, with Tim Grant, Josh Mansour and Peter Wallace all set for a return.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak looks set to make his NRL debut on the wing, while Sika Manu has pushed into the run-on squad.
This all leads to Tyrone Peachey being the likely 18th man for this game.
The Raiders have named an unchanged squad from last weekend, but Shaun Fensom is in some doubt with an elbow injury. Jake Foster has been added to the bench as 18th man.
Possibly two of the hardest teams to get a grip on early on this season, both sides have had numerous players step up and play a big role this season.
The Raiders halves pairing of Wighton and Campese were brilliant in their win last weekend, while the Panthers will be looking for a better performance from theirs, and should get it with Peter Wallace returning.
The Panthers have the slight edge in this match-up in recent years, going 3-2 in the last 5 clashes, including last year’s 32-10 win in Round 1. The Raiders did get up by a scoreline of 24-12 in the reverse clash in Season 2013
Prediction
Penrith start as warm favourties for this match, and rightly so seeing as they are the home team.
Expect a close game, but the Panthers have enough class returning to see them over the line
Panthers by 4.
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Cadfael
Roar Guru
A good game but the referees are very lenient now with the play the ball. One Penrith player stretched out getting up to nearly 10 meters. The ref stopped play and made him get back to the original mark. Why no penalty? Later a Canberra player from about ten metres out from the try line in attack plays the ball facing the corner post. Again why no penalty? If they don't to play by the rules, take those rules out.
Jono
Guest
Raiders wingers must have thought they were centres with the amount of space they were leaving outside them. Wasn't a particularly high quality game, but you can thank the rain for that. Panthers should have won by much but let themselves down with too much drop ball (again blame can be put on the weather). Much like the game against the Titans the Raiders just didn't look really threatening in attack. A lot of poor kicking until the last minute where they finally got good kicks through the line into the in goal. Still not convince by Wighton in the halves. Idris had a decent game, but boy where has his speed gone? He got chased down pretty easily after a very good headstart at the end.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Panthers escape with a close win over the Raiders in Penrith tonight. It was exciting towards the end, but you got the feeling that the Raiders just didn't have enough firepower to get themselves over the line for the winner. Thanks for tuning in for this game from Penrith. Make sure to join me for Saturday Afternoon and Saturday Night football next weekend
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
79' Campese tries the short ball to Dane Tilse. One more play for the Raiders, as they go the right, but Jamal Idris intercepts and he's away!! He's run down about 30 from the line, so he tries the offload to Mansour but he's put it down. The Raiders will get one last chance here. They try the long kick to the flying winger, but the Panthers cover up, and that will do it from Penrith Panthers 12 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
78' This could be the last chance for the Raiders. Now a penalty to the Raiders for a second crack in the tackle. They go with the tap Panthers 12 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
77' Raiders on the attack again as they just centre the ball through Dane Tilse. Now a loose pass to the left wastes a tackle. Wighton now tries Croker down the left side, but he's tackled. Terry Campese now uses the grubber which is cleaned up by Jamie Soward for another goal-line drop out Panthers 12 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
76' Jamal Idris hits Reece Robinson very hard in the tackle here. Now Shaun Fensom almost goes straight through. Now Milford almost scores. They're getting close. Buttriss puts a grubber in that is cleaned up by Sika Manu, but the Raiders will receive the drop-kick Panthers 12 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Under 5 to go here, as the Raiders feed the scrum. Buttriss has a go himself from dummy-half and draws a penalty. They'll go the tap and have another go Panthers 12 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
74' Allwood finds himself with a bit of space down the right flank, but he's taken easily by Soward. Now Terry Campese goes high, where Matt Moylan has put it down. Big opportunity here for the Raiders to tie things up. Panthers 12 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
73' Panthers with a good set off the back of the try. They go to the right now, where Whare has a bit of room, but he is chopped down in the tackle. Now Jamie Soward goes for a field goal, but it misses by a mile. Raiders will get the 20 tap. Panthers 12 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL Jamie Soward taking this kick for the Panthers, but it has the same result as the two previous. Panthers 12 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
TRY PANTHERS Now Shillington loses the ball on his own 20, but Idris has blown a potential try by holding onto the ball. Mansour was unmarked on his outside. Now Wallace goes the chip to the corner, where Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is unmarked. He got the first, and he may have just gotten the last!! Panthers 12 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
69' Penrith taking full advantage of their elongated set, as they get all the way to the Raiders 20. They try going through the hands to the right, where Dean Whare is taken into touch. Good defence from the Raiders. Panthers 8 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
68' Bad kick from the Raiders goes dead in-goal. Panthers get the 7-tackle set. Panthers 8 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
67' Soward kicking from inside his own 40 again, but this one's down the middle. Now Croker works the ball outside his own 40 line. Paul Vaughan now looks to have done something to his shoulder. Panthers 8 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
66' Anthony Milford has stayed down here after running into his own man. Campese now puts a little grubber in which is cleaned up by Jamie Soward. He uses Josh Mansour to get back into the field of play Panthers 8 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
65' Panthers come up with a knock-on so the Raiders will pack another scrum 30 out from their line Panthers 8 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
63' Wallace with an interesting kick here that almost goes out on the full. Raiders will pack the scrum 20 out from their own line Panthers 8 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
63' Matt Moylan cleans up a poor grubber, and now beats a man and starts streaking up the field before he's tackled by Josh McCrone on his own 30. Panthers 8 Raiders 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
62' We've got a good ending in store here in Penrith tonight. Jamie Soward is forced to kick from his own side of halfway, and Sami Sauiluma runs the ball back with some vigor. Good signs from the Raiders at the present. Panthers 8 Raiders 6