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. Kodi Nikorima 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Tesi Niu 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harrison Graham 10. Kenny Bromwich 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone 14. Herman Ese’ese 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Anthony Milford 17. Jarrod Wallace 18. Josh Kerr 19. Valynce Te Whare 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Brenko Lee 22. Kurt Donoghoe
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Jack Cogger 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Zac Hosking 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Luke Garner 21. Tyrone Peachey 22. Thomas Jenkins 23. Jesse McLean 24. 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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