Panthers
20
Match Complete
Rabbitohs
12
| 79 |  | A. Reynolds | ||
| 78 |  | A. Johnston | ||
| N. Cleary | | 78 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 76 | ||
| N. Cleary |  | 69 | ||
| D. Edwards | | 59 | ||
| 51 | | A. Reynolds | ||
| 49 | | B. Sironen | ||
| S. Crichton | | 27 | ||
| B. Naden | | 6 |
| 4 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
An enticing Thursday-night matchup is on the cards when the Penrith Panthers take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Join The Roar for live scores from 7:50pm (AEST).
The Panthers have been one of the real surprise packets of the 2020 season. They’re one of only three teams with just a single loss to their name after six rounds, and last week’s win over the Storm has shown they can be genuine contenders this year.
Unsurprisingly they’ve picked the same team which got the better of Melbourne tonight, although Tyrone May could be a late addition to the side, named in the reserves after serving a suspension.
The Rabbitohs haven’t been half as consistent as their opponents tonight, but after a wobbly few weeks after the competition restart they’ve found their feet with a couple of wins on the bounce. Latrell Mitchell is looking more and more like a top-class fullback and the side has snuck into the top eight.
James Roberts is set to finally make an appearance after missing the last month, coming in for the injured Tom Amone, while Patrick Mago has dropped out of the 17 for Hame Sele. Otherwise, Wayne Bennett has named the same side which toppled the Warriors last week.
Game information
Kick-off: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
TV: Fox Sports, Channek Nine
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel, NRL Live Pass, 9Now
Teams
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Dean Whare, 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou (c), 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Villame Kikau, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo
Bench/Reserves: 14. Matt Burton, 15. Zane Tetevano, 16. Moses Leota, 17. Billy Burns, 19. Brent Naden, 21. Tyrone May
Rabbitohs
1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Dane Gagai, 3. Campbell Graham, 4. Braidon Burns, 5. Alex Johnston, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Adam Reynolds (c), 8. Tevita Tavola, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Tom Burgess, 11. Jaydn Su’A, 12. Ethan Lowe, 13. Cameron Murray
Bench/Reserves: 14. Liam Knight, 15. Bayley Sironen, 17. James Roberts, 19. Hame Sele, 18. Mark Nicholls, 20. Troy Dargan
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
LOL... You know what I want to see?? So many times - as you note - they let the ball bounce. I just want to see, as the bomb falls and the attackers surround the fullback, I want to see the fullback have the kahoonies to just boot the ball back upfield just before it lands, and break the chasers hearts as he races up to follow it. His team will then have all their players onside and near the ball and they don't have to run back, but the entire attacking team has to retreat fast.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! Cleary off the field , and they all revert to pumpkin heads !
steveng
Roar Rookie
lol yep HY its just really frustrating to watch a side that has so much potential bomb so much and have such lack of discipline and brain matter! This won’t end well, the Bunnies look like a bottom tier side and very ordinary in 2020.
Kobi
Guest
Latrell Mitchell isn't worth a cent on that performance v Penrith Should be the first player dropped prior to next weeks game. We know that won't happen bc he is Latrell Mitchell right ?
Soda
Roar Rookie
I agree. Don't you think though, at the moment, the way most backs are under the highball, cleary's monster kicks are going to be a weapon come the finals? If he is smart he won't uleash it fully until the finals. Just like how you shake you head at "flat" passes from dummy half, I can't believe how much more of a lottery catching a bomb seems these days, so much so the ball is let to bounce more often than not.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
And true. They can improve and may have to. When teams nullify Api and Kikau (which isn't easy, but doable) they'll need more than Cleary's boot. In response to my criticism, they may just have played as well as they needed to (which makes them better than I credited) as Souths were so ordinary.
Stalinski
Roar Rookie
It wasn't a critique of his past coaching record, merely an observation on his present performance.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Your a hard man DP. But you may be proven right. I think there is still lots of areas of improvement with them too and South's really didn't challenge them at all.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Souths just don’t have the pack to handle the top teams.
thomas c
Guest
A lot of dropped ball from the rabbitohs undercutting their ability to put together any attack. The one point where they might have gotten in distance to apply a little pressure and they passed the ball forward. On another night the ref would have seen that as floating forward and we would have gotten more of a real game. 4 tries to 2 without ever really being in the contest suggests they just needed something to feel in the contest. A penalty. Not dropping the ball once or twice. The ball to roll slightly differently at some point. Panthers played well, but an 8 point victory against a team with sputtering attack doesn't bode well for when you are up against the roosters.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Fair points, but Souths played like a park team. If they could catch they'd have 3/4 tries themselves and would be facing 1/2 tries less.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Given he has such a poor record winning premierships, right? He's won what - 7 premierships in 8 GFs, in 30 years? Such a poor record.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Api adds a lot, no doubt. But cut down their time and they'll come back to the field. I'm still not sold, see answers above. :thumbup:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
True - Souths are short a hard forward or two. Penrith have played well, but tonight they played a park team and didn't put them away. They'll make the 8 because the comp is poor, but I don't think they'll be there for long.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Clever, John.
Stormy
Roar Rookie
I feel a bit sorry for Latrell, that leg pull, after tackle completed, happens in most matches. The penalty sure was there, but, unfortunate where & when it happened.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Souths were on a roll (Titans & Warriors). I think they are "on the wane" or "on the Wayne"?
Herewegoagain
Guest
Latrell Latrell Latrell . No premiership for you this year . Because? Teams win premierships , not players .
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I thought he was due for a big night. I'm a dope. He did a few good things, and I mean good ,but the concept of 80 minutes just seems to elude him. Plus I don't think even he believes he's a fullback.
Soda
Roar Rookie
The Barry said it earlier but the souths forward pack is just not up to it. If the forwards don't get over the advantage line and can't get quick play the balls it really diminishes the attacking threat of cook. Cook looked to be playing a bit injured tonight?