In what shapes as one preliminary finals you would not have expected this year, the Penrith Panthers will take on the Canterbury Bulldogs in what should be a high octane, fun game of football.
These are two football teams with an edge. Canterbury, under Hasler, are famed for playing a style oriented around big but skilful forwards, and it has set them apart from much of the competition in that way.
Their halves and hooker are tasked with directing them around the park moreso than creating sparking plays. But towards the end of the season, the ‘Dogs looked weary and slow, and with no Sam Kasiano and Frank Pritchard, distinctly vulnerable
But in the last couple of weeks, James Graham has led his Bulldogs to two wins, leading Kris Swales to call him the most influential player left in the finals series.
While Aidan Tolman has been offering up huge numbers, topping the hitup count in each of the last two games, Graham has been more influential, offloading and bullocking into defences. He will be just as scary this weekend for Penrith.
And while Kris might just be right about Graham, Jamie Soward might have something to offer in that equation too.
It has been a year of redemption for the much-maligned playmaker, who has been instrumental in setting the Penrith backline loose.
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Although the genuine ‘big names’ might not be there outside Jamal Idris, Josh Mansour, Matt Moylan and Dean Whare are all proving themselves to be match-winners for the Panthers. It’s been quite a year for such a young team.
The playform has been admirably set by their workhorses up front, with Sika Manu, Nigel Plum and Brent Kite all doing the business every week. It helps when Matt Moylan and Nigel Plum have both averaged over 100m gained a game, and Josh Mansour has made over 150m a game.
The key thing with the Panthers is to ignore the lack of big stars, and concentrate on the contributions around the park. James Segeyaro is constantly making darting runs from dummy half, but is also racking up in excess of 40 tackles (like his counterpart in this one Michael Ennis). Nigel Plum and Adam Docker have become the new bash brothers of the competition, laying on huge hits. Docker is a welcome return from suspension.
Last Five Meetings
Winners
Score
Home/Away
Date
Season
Penrith
22 – 16
ANZ Stadium
01 Aug
2014
Penrith
18 – 16
Centrebet Stadium
22 Mar
2014
Canterbury
34-14
ANZ Stadium
31 Aug
2013
Canterbury
22-14
Centrebet Stadium
03 Mar
2012
Penrith
20-6
Centrebet Stadium
02 Jul
2011
Interestingly, the Panthers have won both games between the two clubs in tight ones this year. As they showed against the Roosters they know how to get away in a close contest. They have this quality to thank for their high position on the ladder.
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But the Bulldogs have been great in close ones this year as well. This was again demonstrated against Manly last week, when a Trent Hodkinson field goal was enough to get them home in extra time.
This is a case of ‘too close to call’. It’s easy to forget that the Panthers upset the Roosters just two weeks ago. But the Bulldogs are resurgent, and Des Hasler relishes the pressure.
Penrith Panthers
1 Matt Moylan
2 Josh Mansour
3 Dean Whare
4 Jamal Idris
5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6 Will Smith
7 Jamie Soward
8 Sam McKendry
9 James Segeyaro
10 Brent Kite
11 Sika Manu
12 Matt Robinson
13 Nigel Plum
Interchange
14 Adam Docker
15 Jeremy Latimore
16 Ben Murdoch-Masila
17 Lewis Brown
18 Kevin Naiqama
19 Sam Anderson
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
1 Sam Perrett
2 Corey Thompson
3 Josh Morris
4 Tim Lafai
5 Mitch Brown
6 Josh Reynolds
7 Trent Hodkinson
8 Aiden Tolman
9 Michael Ennis (c)
10 James Graham
11 Josh Jackson
12 Tony Williams
13 Greg Eastwood
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Interchange
14 Reni Maitua
15 Dale Finucane
16 David Klemmer
17 Frank Pritchard
19 Moses Mbye
20 Harlan Alaalatoa