An intriguing rematch of last year’s preliminary final awaits as the Penrith Panthers seek to take revenge for their 2014 exit at the hands of the Canterbury Bulldogs at Pepper Stadium. Join The Roar from 3.50pm (AEDT) for live scores and coverage.
How will Peter Wallace fare after rupturing his ACL? How will the Morris’s perform after being reunited once again?
After last season’s 18-12 loss ended a highly unexpected year of success, the Panthers return with an almost identical lineup in 2015.
21 year-old George Jennings (brother of Michael) will make his debut from the wing, linking up with Matt Moylan (23) and Dallin Watene Zelezniak (19) to form the youngest back three in the competition.
Captain Peter Wallace returns from a ruptured ACL to form a highly experienced halves combination with fellow former Origin player, Jamie Soward.
A well-balanced forward pack returns to be lead by veterans Brent Kite and Sika Manu, whilst youngsters Tyron Peachey and Bryce Cartwright return to the bench following season ending injuries. New reserve hooker Apisai Koroisau has been named as 19th man, indicating Segeyaro will play the full 80 minutes.
Winger Josh Mansour and big-hitter Nigel Plum are both still recovering from off-season surgeries.
For the Bulldogs, an almost empty casualty ward leaves them in great stead to open their season on a high. It took a South Sydney freight train to stop them in 2014, after a stunning late season surge which was almost as surprising as Penrith’s campaign.
Brett Morris will not only link up with his brother Josh for the umpteenth time, but be given plenty of space and opportunities from fullback. A new-look back three with Sam Perrett switching back to the wing, and Cowboys recruit Curtis Rona coming in, looks a major upgrade to the 2014 edition.
After struggling through injury in last year’s Grand Final, Trent Hodkinson will look to continue to develop a formidable combination with Origin partner Josh Reynolds.
At hooker, 21 year-old recruit from the Sharks Michael Lichaa has big boots to fill in replacing skipper Michael Ennis. However, his job will be made a lot easier with a full strength forward pack around him.
Big boppers Sam Kasiano, David Klemmer, Frank Pritchard and Tim Browne form the most intimidating bench in the competition. And that’s just the bench! With the mongrel of James Graham leading the charge as Captain in 2015, the Bulldogs will be every bit as tough as last season.
Prediction:
After reaching a preliminary final for the first time since 2004, expectations at the foot of the mountains haven’t been this high since Craig Gower said ‘arrivederci’. However, the loss of Nigel Plum could see them too light to handle the Bulldogs juggernaut.
Also the addition of Brett Morris, and the subtraction of Josh Mansour, limits any advantage the Panthers back line may have had. Coupled with both teams having mixed trial form in preparation (Penrith 0/2, Bulldogs 1/2), I will lean on the Bulldogs taking out a nail-biter.
Bulldogs by 2.
Either way it looms as pick of the matches of the opening round, so join The Roar from 3:50 (AEDT) to follow our live coverage, and remember to leave your comments as the game progresses.
Clark
Guest
Most over rated player in the game.
The eye
Guest
There's something wrong with him,if he had any true friends they would have organised an intervention by now,surely..
Russell Johnson
Guest
Perhaps they should have worn pink then the tirade could have been justified! ;-)
Russell Johnson
Guest
Message to Refs despite being in girlie pink the Panthers looked pretty authoritative to me! Now I not only have access to the NRL and SL but also managed to catch a TO live streaming game - so every weekend is Magic Weekend! And to our friends in the North WOF'TP!
Muzz
Guest
I know a young lad that has tonnes of ability.He was either the best on ground or brain explosion/mistake freak/liability etc and then one day, he was diagnosed with ADD.The Dr explained to him that this is why your having trouble focusing amongst other things.He's now taking the appropriate medication and is on his way to being the best he can at his chosen sport.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
The way Reynolds played today I'd consider hooking him for Barba. Only for a minute... But I'd still consider it.
John Ryan
Roar Pro
Sorry I watched it on TV in Perth and to say the Refs gave The Bulldogs a hard time is going overboard,when they start to lose in goes the fist, boot, elbow they are renowned for it,what they did to Penrith in the first half and got away with they got penalty's for in the second, not to mention a couple of blatant forward passes. Better team won refs apart from a 2nd half lapse where ok
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The way Reynolds played today, I'd rather have Mbye at 5/8th anyway.
Muzz
Guest
Des was doing so well to contain himself and then boom. I'd say that's as bad as bringing the game into disrepute Arizona style so 20k should suffice.
The eye
Guest
Des just bought Reynolds a 4 weeks 'holiday' trip...
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I enjoy watching the press conferences and when I saw that the Bulldogs' one was only 4 minutes or so, I thought something was up. Sure enough, the tirade against the refs through gritted teeth was the reason...
JayBob
Guest
Well said mate. Was really looking forward to that game and once again the men in the middle ruined it. The main thing that got me was the difference in how the play the ball was policed. I always think I'm seeing things because the commentating is so biased. Penrith will soon go from everyone's second favourite team to one of the most hated if the commentators carry on like that. I know they're all good mates with Gould but there needs to be some professionalism. Dessie due to cop a fine under new rules, but gotta love him. This was the end of the presser: "You know what you should do? Get Tony Archer in here, Ben Cummins, and his sidekick, and ask them what they thought about the game. Because they had a pretty big input into today. Maybe that will be a better press conference, that's for sure. Thankyou"
Muzz
Guest
Cummins is the worst referee in the game but for some reason he's untouchable.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I was out there today. Ridiculous conditions to play rugby league. Heard Phil Gould on the radio on the way out saying that he's campaigned the NRL to not play day games in March. I'm at home now and feel like I've played a game after spending the afternoon in those conditions.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Bulldogs today were let down by their forwards and their three-quarter line, which displayed a total lack of enthusiasm and tackling prowess. Their forwards were a pack of bludgers struggling to get back on site and their three-quarters were standing still and passing to each other without making any ground or even losing ground through their attack, you could have thrown a blanket over the Bulldogs and 75% of the their players would have been covered by it for most of the game. The refereeing decisions didn’t help the Dogs at all when just before half time they were penalised consecutively until the whistle blew and they were lucky not to concede any more points. All in all the Dogs were lucky to have gotten within 18 points and nearly going to golden points, but that was only due to the Panthers taking their foot off the pedal and also which I’m sure was a bit of help from the referees who tried to make up to the Bulldogs, some of their bad decisions that they made throughout the game. A disappointing game which should have been a good, hard entertaining game, but was ruined by the men in the middle and some of their extraordinary decisions which disheartened the Dogs that were tired, cramping up and disinterested until the last quarter of the game. That is how I saw it.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Bulldogs defence suffered what I recall being the 2013 problem; wingers rushing in and failing to have an impact in the process.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
The play the ball is probably the messiest area of our game. Whenever a ball goes rolling out you can pretty much flip a coin as to whether it's going to be a penalty or a scrum.
James Silver
Roar Guru
Definitely a lot of errors, the Morris forward pass I don't think should have been given, Reynolds accidental offside, and Tony Williams twice getting a penalty for sloppy play-the-balls spring to mind.
James Silver
Roar Guru
Penrith 24-0 up after 69 Minutes, yet 24-18 at full time. The cliche of 'a game of two halves' doesn't apply for this game, it was more 'a game of seven eighths, one eighth'. Penrith controlled the vast majority of the game before switching off defensively in the last 15 minutes. James Segeyaro (the KFC Man of the Match) was at his best, full of running and outperformed youngster Lichaa by some distance. Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace were good, without overplaying their hand, while Watene-Zelezniak warrants a mention for his double down the right wing. Jamal Idris, Bryce Cartwight and Tyrone Peachey were impressive in winning the battle of the middle of the middle of the park. For the Bulldogs, their kicking game in Penrith's half on last tackle was terrible with Reynolds constantly under pressure, and Hodkinson barely sighted. Their forwards were also getting out enthused in the middle of the park, whilst the Morris's weren't getting a lot of ball. However, it all changed in the final 10-15 minutes, as they piled on 18 points. James Graham was as good as ever, with his passing skills and grunt. They played their best when showing desperation late in the game, after recording just 2 first-half offloads. Perhaps they should look to show more enterprise earlier in the game, as their attack was far too predictable for the Panther's energetic defence. The last 15 minutes clearly showed they had the ability to be successful throwing the ball around. A little bit more off the cuff play in the first half would've helped their attack. That wraps up a great first Sunday afternoon game of the season, as Penrith do get a little degree of revenge for their Preliminary final loss. Thanks you for joining me on the Roar!
steveng
Roar Rookie
That was the worst referring effort I've seen from so called top referees for a long time. A good game spoiled by as usual the men in the middle.