The inconsistent Penrith Panthers will be under pressure when they host the trainwreck that is the Parramatta Eels at Pepper Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4pm (AEST).
The Panthers sit 10th place on the ladder, and on paper are a much better team than what they have been able to display on the field this season with seven wins from their 16 games.
More worrying for the Panthers is their form through their last couple of matches, which saw them in a high scoring loss to the Wests Tigers and then a shocking performance against the Cronulla Sharks where they looked directionless.
After moving Jamie Soward on from the club, which saw him sign a contract with the London Broncos in the English Super League, their halves combination has been Bryce Cartwright and Nathan Cleary. Cartwright is a second rower, and Cleary on debut, and unsurprisingly they have struggled at best.
In fact, their kicking game has been ordinary, and Cartwright, particularly against the Sharks with a stack of possession during the first half overplayed his hand and Penrith struggled to score.
Their defence hasn’t been holding up either, and if they can’t get their attack right they could be destined for another loss.
Parramatta on the other hand have been undertaking the season from hell, and nothing has changed. They have been docked 12 points for their salary cap indiscretions over the past few years, and had a long list of off-field issues involving stars.
Those off-the-field issues have seen them dump Corey Norman from this game, despite being named on Tuesday and the side now sit 14th on the ladder needing to win all eight of their remaining games for a chance at the finals.
They come into this game having recorded a narrow win over the Sydney Roosters, after also losing to the Cronulla Sharks simply failing to shut out the game after leading early.
In other team news for the Eels, Brad Takairangi and Michael Jennings are back for the Eels with Kenny Edwards back to the bench and Rory O’Brien to 18th man while the Panthers welcome back Josh Mansour, Matt Moylan and Tyrone Peachey naming a six-man bench.
Both teams are under the pump and need a win, but it could be a scrappy game with no direction in the halves – that means it will all come down to which side can dominate through the middle.
Prediction
The Panthers haven’t been looking great, but the Eels are a shambles at the moment and with no Norman there is no overcoming the odds for a win away from home.
Penrith by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 19 fixture from 4pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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Leon Dimitrescu
Guest
Inconsistent Panthers? Eat your words!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
When I saw it, I thought good lord, what is he trying to do? I was under the impression that Moylan was trying to save the play that Mansour had started but either way, it was just dumb. I'm a fan of Mansour but I wasn't really impressed all that much by his promotion into Origin and certainly not by that last play of his. Just weird...
Albo
Guest
Sums up their year really ! Lots of dumb stuff that has cost them wins. In this case Moylan was charging up in support and probably called for it, making them both pretty dumb and from these more senior players !
Parrafan
Guest
Jennings going off injured certainly didn't hurt their chances either
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
What was Mansour doing trying to offload with 20 seconds remaining and a couple more tackles up the Panthers' sleeve? I know he played well and all that but really, that was a dumb play.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Results The Penrith Panthers have recorded a come from behind four point victory over the Parramatta Eels in Round 19 at Pepper Stadium in what could have been one of the games of the year. It was a real game of two halves with the Panthers looking completely out of it during the first 40 and when they went to the sheds, however the second half was a whole different issue as Penrith dominated. Backing up from State of Origin though, Josh Mansour was one of the reasons they could stay within reaching distance during the first half, and then played a blinder of a second half finishing up with 238 running metres. The Eels though, up against it with a patchwork team on the park got off to a flier with Clint Gutherson doing a brilliant fill-in job playing halves, assisted strongly by Jeff Robson. Their forward controlled the game early on, and didn't look to be under any pressure as they ran on four tries to one in the first half. It only took two minutes for the try scoring to commence with Bureta Faraimo going over in the corner after a beautiful spread to the left through Jeff Robson, Clint Gutherson and Michael Gordon for an untouched try in the corner. The next try was for Bevan French off a Clint Gutherson grubber kick that appeared as if it was going to be too big, but was wonderfully trapped just inside the dead ball line by French. Clint Gutherson would then score a try of his own just a couple of minutes later after Michael Jennings bust the line open on halfway and linked with Gutherson for another easy try. The Panthers would hit back with their first try of the afternoon to Regan Campbell-Gillard who would score off a flat ball next to the uprights. Parramatta would score one more right on the stroke of halftime through Bevan French who bagged his second off a wonderful Jeff Robson kick. French would jump over the top of Mansour and complete a wonderful try. The Panthers didn't take long to get the second half underway though. Josh Mansour and Nathan Cleay, as previously mentioned played a near faultless half of football, while Bryce Cartwright almost looked like a different player after what was a terrible first half performance where he cost his side with numerous errors and poor attacking options. Penrith also improved their defence out of sight, holding off the Eels' numerous raids, which only seemed to intensify at the back end of the game. Tyrone Peachey would go over for the first try of the second half in the 43rd minute. Nathan Cleary threw a ball out the back for Peter Wallace who held it up at the line, drawing Beau Scott and opening a hole for Peachey to run through and score. It only took four minutes for the Panthers to go over again through Bryce Cartwright with Cleary once again involved, showing to go out the back but passing flat with an overlap for Cartwright to score. Penrith would then hit the front with what turned out to be the final try of the match to Josh Mansour with a wonderful shift to the left through Wallace, Cleary and Peachey before Mansour scored. The Eels were brought undone by injuries throughout the match and fought hard but In the end though, the Panthers too good for the Eels in a cracker of a match. Final Score Penrith Panthers 22 Parramatta Eels 18
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Well, that half time speech from Hook must've been pretty good. Mansour and Peachey did a lot to relieve the forwards, good games from both really.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full report to come. Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2016 NRL season as the Penrith Panthers overcame a spirited Parramatta Eels by four points. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Round 19 will continue tomorrow evening with the Sydney Roosters hosting the Cronulla Sharks. Join us from 7pm (AEST) for coverage of that match. I'll be back during the week for the Tour de France, and next weekend for more NRL. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Roar's NRL MVP 3 - Josh Mansour 2 - Clint Gutherson 1 - Nathan Cleary
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Stats Tries: Panthers (4), Eels (4) Conversions: Panthers (3/4), Eels (1/4) Possession: Panthers (48%), Eels (52%) Completions: Panthers (24/37), Eels (25/34) All runs: Panthers (146), Eels (174) All run metres: Panthers (1383), Eels (1581) Line breaks: Panthers (6), Eels (6) Offloads: Panthers (9), Eels (12) Tackles: Panthers (331), Eels (281) Missed tackles: Panthers (31), Eels (37) Penalties: Panthers (7), Eels (2) Errors: Panthers (11), Eels (10)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stats, MVP and report to come.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that was an absolute cracker of a game this afternoon. Hard earned from the Panthers, but that is one of the games of the season.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Panthers have 40 seconds to hang onto the ball and a few forwards runs before Mansour has dropped it on halfway! French is tackled 60 metres away from the line and they look to go left, but there is a knock on! What a game that was as Penrith hang on. The Eels season is done and dusted. Penrith Panthers 22 Parramatta Eels 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - The Eels with maybe their last chance and their forwards look incredibly tired, taking a long time to get back and then very bunched up. Gutherson with a run from a Robson ball before O'brien goes to within 30. Last play and Terepo has it, unloading to Gutherson and that is appalling as he is taken down. Panthers 22 Eels 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - Mansour has a run to get this set of six moving before Cartwright comes up the middle, tucking it under the arm and making Penrith's goal very clear. Merrin with a run and then Moylan over halfway Cleary with it on halfway and he kicks, but doesn't find the sideline or that many metres. Panthers 22 Eels 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Guterhson gets to halfway and then they work up the middle. Mannah and O'Brien with runs up the middle before Gower gets a flat ball and goes inside 30. Robson with a kick to the left, a challenge and the ball has come lose for Robson to kick, then there looks to be a knock on but a try maybe? No, going to be a knock on ruled against Faraimo I think that was. Panthers 22 Eels 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Yeo has a run and then they go up the middle before a big shift right and Blake ends up over the sideline. Could have scored there, but instead he went dead in goal and it is a seven tackle set. Panthers 22 Eels 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Panthers pick up a penalty coming out of their own end. Panthers 22 Eels 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - The Eels work it up the middle here but they need more than set stock hit ups at this point. A shift left from Gutherson to Edwards and then Scott who is taken over the sideline. Panthers 22 Eels 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - Mansour with a big run through the centre before Peachey and Merrin bring the Panthers over halfway. Left to Moylan who steps and shimmies but can't get past the line. Clear bombs and Yeo makes a play with a big contest for the ball, 6 again and Cleary with a massive dummy but is pulled down. They come right through Cartwright to Fisher-Harris and an error! Panthers 22 Eels 18