Check out the match preview and prediction for the Round 20 clash between the Dolphins and Panthers.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Dolphins Vs Penrith Panthers
Venue: Kayo Stadium
Date: Sunday July 16, 4:05pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Dolphins: 1.ย Kodi Nikorimaย 2.ย Jamayne Isaakoย 3.ย Euan Aitkenย 4.ย Hamiso Tabuai-Fidowย 5.ย Tesi Niuย 6.ย Isaiya Katoaย 7.ย Sean OโSullivanย 8.ย Jesse Bromwichย 9.ย Harrison Grahamย 10.ย Kenny Bromwichย 11.ย Felise Kaufusiย 12.ย Connelly Lemueluย 13.ย Ray Stoneย 14.ย Herman Eseโeseย 15.ย Mark Nichollsย 16.ย Anthony Milfordย 17.ย Jarrod Wallaceย 18.ย Josh Kerrย 19.ย Valynce Te Whareย 20.ย Poasa Faamausiliย 21.ย Brenko Leeย 22.ย Kurt Donoghoe
Panthers: 1.ย Dylan Edwardsย 2.ย Sunia Turuvaย 3.ย Izack Tagoย 4.ย Stephen Crichtonย 5.ย Brian Toโoย 6.ย Jarome Luaiย 7.ย Jack Coggerย 8.ย Moses Leotaย 9.ย Mitch Kennyย 10.ย James Fisher-Harrisย 11.ย Scott Sorensenย 12.ย Liam Martinย 13.ย Isaah Yeoย 14.ย Soni Lukeย 15.ย Lindsay Smithย 16.ย Spencer Leniuย 17.ย Jaeman Salmonย 18.ย Zac Hoskingย 19.ย Matt Eisenhuthย 20.ย Luke Garnerย 21.ย Tyrone Peacheyย 22.ย Thomas Jenkinsย 23.ย Jesse McLeanย 24.ย Nathan Cleary
Referee: Todd Smith
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Felise Kaufusi returns from concussion in a big boost for the Dolphins, with Kenny Bromwich switching to prop and Mark Nicholls dropping back to the bench. Josh Kerr has been pushed back to the 18th man while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been named to back up from Origin on Wednesday night.
Nathan Cleary is an outside chance of returning from a hamstring injury after being named on the extended bench. The Origin quintet of Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, and Spencer Leniu are all set to back up from Wednesday night. Jaeman Salmon and Soni Luke return to first grade on the bench in place of Tyrone Peachey and Zac Hosking.
It’s been a tough few weeks for Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins, but they finally broke a four-game losing streak, overcoming the Titans in a golden point thriller last week. Despite the recent skid, they sit just two points outside of the top eight, however the finals hopes would take a big blow if they were unable to defeat the Panthers on Sunday.
The Dolphins have collected a couple of big scalps this season but none tougher than the back-to-back premiers. Time will tell whether the Panthers’ Origin representatives play in this one, but should they be rested, Penrith has shown they have the depth to handle it.
In what is the first-ever meeting between the two sides, if the Dolphins can pull off the upset, it will set them up for a favourable run home to the finals, where five of their six opponents currently sit outside the top eight.
It’s a big if, however, up against a side that is allowing just 12.75 points per game, compared to the Dolphins who are conceding more than 26 points per game.
LAST TEN MATCHES
First meeting
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Panthers by 14 points.
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