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Wests Tigers
16
Match Complete
Penrith Panthers
18
| 75 |  | S. O'Sullivan | ||
| 73 |  | J. Fisher-Harris | ||
| A. Doueihi | | 69 | ||
| K. Maumalo | | 68 | ||
| A. Doueihi | | 38 | ||
| A. Doueihi | | 36 | ||
| 25 | | K. Falls | ||
| 23 | | V. Kikau | ||
| 18 | | K. Falls | ||
| 17 | | I. Tago | ||
| J. Tupou | | 10 |
| 3 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Show Preview
It’s last against first as Wests Tigers host the Penrith Panthers at CommBank Stadium in round 18 of the NRL. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2pm AEST.
After 16 games each, there’s a chasm between the first-placed Panthers and 16th placed Tigers. Penrith are 24 competition points clear of Wests entering tonight and their points differential is 88 more than the total number of points Wests have scored this season.
Since round 18 last year, Penrith have won 24 and lost three, won a premiership, successfully graduated more local juniors into first grade and appear to be pulling further away from the field.
Over the same period, Wests have won five and lost 18, missed the finals, sacked another coach and drifted further from the fringes of contention.
But that chasm might not be as wide or deep this evening. Penrith has taken the opportunity to rest all seven of their Origin players, while Wests are at full strength.
The Panthers have replaced their Origin stars with Robert Jennings and Charlie Staines in the back line, Kurt Falls and Sean O’Sullivan in the halves, Mitch Kenny at hooker and Chris Smith and Matt Eisenhuth in the back row.
For Wests, James Roberts returns in the centres with Adam Doueihi moving to five-eighth and Jackson Hastings to lock. Despite another disappointing performance against Parramatta, Luke Brooks retains his place in the halves.
Youngster Justin Matamua will make his first NRL start in the second row with Luke Garner dropping to the bench. Skipper James Tamou has been named on the bench after missing the past two games, with Stefano Utoikamanu dropped.
Prediction
On paper, Wests should at least be competitive tonight and, remember, they beat an understrength Penrith team during last year’s Origin period.
But since then, Penrith have demonstrated that the machine rolls on even with makeshift parts in key positions. Wests have shown so little in the past two months and there’s no reason to think they have the discipline or resilience to beat the Panthers.
Penrith by 8.
Kick-off: 2:00pm AEST
Venue: CommBank Stadium
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Tigers $3.20, Panters $1.36 – odds via PlayUp
Wests Tigers
1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. James Roberts 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Fa’amanu Brown 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Justin Matamua 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jackson Hastings 14. Fonua Pole 15. James Tamou 16. Luke Garner 17. Jake Simpkin 18. Austin Dias 19. Jock Madden 20. Junior Tupou 21. Asu Kepaoa 22. Alex Seyfarth
Penrith
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Robert Jennings 5. Charlie Staines 6. Kurt Falls 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Chris Smith 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Soni Luke 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Sunia Turuva 19. J’maine Hopgood 20. Lindsay Smith 21. Thomas Jenkins 22. Christian Crichton
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