Panthers
20
Match Complete
Eels
2
| N. Cleary |  | 79 | ||
| J. Luai |  | 79 | ||
| N. Cleary |  | 77 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 57 | ||
| L. Martin | | 55 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 40 | ||
| J. Mansour | | 39 | ||
| 29 | | M. Moses |
| 3 | Tries | 0 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 18 of the NRL season continues as the Penrith Panthers host the Parramatta Eels at Panthers Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:55pm (AEST).
We are lucky enough to get a clash of two top four sides in Friday night football this week. For Penrith, it’s a chance to avenge their only loss of the season, way back in Round 5. For the Eels, it’s a chance to virtually cement their spot in the upper half of the eight.
The Panthers notched their 15th win of the season last round, but they were made to work hard against the Broncos, eventually flying back to Sydney with a 25-12 victory.
While the Panthers were below their best, we again got to see a pair of halves in Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai who are potentially the best in the competition. Dylan Edwards also had a massive game, running almost 300 metres.
Isaah Yeo returns from a head knock at lock, with James Fisher-Harris returning to prop and Moses Leota going back to the bench. Kurt Capewell is out of the 17.
There are serious questions being raised about the Parramatta Eels, as they are struggling to regather the form they had earlier in the season.
They survived against the Warriors 24-18 last round after being pounded by the Rabbits the previous week. The attack against the Warriors was pedestrian, relying on kicks to get the job done. That is unlikely to be enough this weekend.
Reed Mahoney has been named to start but he is in some doubt with a shoulder injury. Andrew Davey comes onto the bench in place of Marata Niukore.
Prediction
These local derbies are normally tight clashes so we shouldn’t expect a lot of points tonight.
The Panthers are the form team however and have class across the park – they will keep their winning streak alive.
Panthers by 6
Game information
Kick-off: 7:55pm (AEST)
Venue: Panthers Stadium, Penrith
TV: Channel Nine, Fox Sports
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, NRL Live Pass
Odds: Panthers $1.36, Eels $3.20
Teams
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Brent Naden, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Villame Kikau, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo
Bench/Reserves: 14. Tyrone May, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Moses Leota, 17. Zane Tetevano, 18. Mitch Kenny, 19. Kurt Capewell, 20. Matt Burton, 21. Charlie Staines
Eels
1. Clint Gutherson, 2. Maika Sivo, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Blake Ferguson, 6. Jai Field, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9. Reed Mahoney, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Shaun Lane, 12. Ryan Matterson, 13. Nathan Brown
Bench/Reserves: 14. Ray Stone, 15. Andrew Davey, 16. Kane Evans, 17. Oregon Kaufusi, 18. Haze Dunster, 19. Stefano Utoikamanu, 20. Will Smith, 21. Samuel Hughes
Tony
Roar Guru
Actually, JT sounds like he may have had some brain surgery
Bonza
Roar Rookie
Hard to disagree. Keeps reminding me of 2001 season when Eels cruised through to minor premiers without really being tested. Then in the GF Newcastle blitzed them. Panthers very impressive but interesting to see how they go with blowtorch applied to them via Roosters/Storm etc.
StuO
Roar Rookie
Yeah, i think they will benefit from their strong start to the season and hold on to fourth spot. They have the Broncos and Tigers remaining. Neither game is a lock, but i expect them to win both.
Nelson Sing
Roar Guru
Man Panthers were relentless tonight. Credit to Parra they dug in as much as they could
Joey
Guest
Wow. You suddenly fancy Parra back at Panthers Stadium in week 1 ?
StuO
Roar Rookie
Right you are Ben! But i think we can all agree the Bulldogs were never going to win that GF. I hate to double down on the Eels, but they are playing like individuals. That Moses kick in the 2nd half was a classic example. I hope they can prove me wrong and turn it around. They should still finish in the top 4 which gives them a title shot.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Nobody was calling the Bulldogs contenders in 2014, yet they made a run all the way to the grand final. Finals is a whole different series... but yes, they are very much a level below the Storm, Roosters, Panthers, etc.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I like the look of the Raiders and Panthers this year. Both look like genuine finals competitors
Andy J
Roar Rookie
2.10, they made me wait for it!
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Great post Ben.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Heart says Rabbits but brain says Raiders
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
At least somebody had a good result :silly: what was Penrith 13+ paying?
Andy J
Roar Rookie
Love it had the panthers at 13+
Carlos Marrickvillian
Roar Rookie
Parra were brave and at least that defence was impressive, It's been a great season but I can't see us winning this year. If we are to be any chance Moses will need to snap out of the lull he's in. But this game we never had a chance with all the repeated 6 agains that went to Penrith in the first half and then all the ones that weren't awarded in the 2nd when we were getting back into it.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Storm, Roosters... who's the third? Raiders or Rabbits?
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I've given Brad Arthur heaps of praise over the years but I'm starting to think it's because we've become so accustomed to failure it was just nice to have a decent coach. Over the last eleven years, we've had a coach that took us to the grand final in his first year before being sacked the year after (?!), then we had Stephen Kearney (who was and is complete and utter rubbish) who led us to a 15th and then 16th placed finish, then we had Tricky Ricky who turned up and fired 13 of our players before buggering off and leaving us with the spoon. Then along comes Arthur and all of a sudden things turn around. Missed the finals in 2014, 2015, and 2016, before finally making it back to the finals with a forth placed finish in 2017. Oh, and then we went out in straight sets. 2018, the spoon. 2019, a fifth spot finish and a smacking of the Broncos before being thoroughly brought back down to Earth against the Storm the following week. This team is a group of talented individuals, but it doesn't seem as though they are being coached properly at all. We should be pushing for higher places, we should be challenging for the title every year with the squad we have. I have to think that Moses, Fergo, Blake, all of them would be able to excel so much more with a better coach. Brad Arthur has been in charge for seven years (as of this season concluding). Under his watch, we've had two finals berths and one spoon. I'm starting to feel as though we need to be achieving a lot more. It's too late to let him go now; there are no decent coaches left to poach, but I'd be looking around in the off-season to see who we might be able to snag for 2022 onwards. His reaction to our form slump over the last two months has been striking, to say the very least.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Good luck to you Ben…if you think that they’re a threat. If you like they are a top four myth then. Penrith smashed them
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the call mate
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Yeah. I know, big differential but I’m not convinced. Parra have been confidence tricksters for a good six weeks now, maybe more, and Penrith should have put on 50 if they were alphas. I think three teams watched tonight’s game and figured out who were the real competitors for the Prize.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks for following the blog tonight. I'm one happy camper with 3 out of 3 in tipping and a win on the TAB after picking the unders in points scored on that game