Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 22 clash between the Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Penrith Panthers Vs Newcastle Knights
Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Sydney.
Date: Sunday October 2, 7:30pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Panthers: 1. Isaiah Iongi, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Moses Leota, 9. Mitch Kenny, 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Scott Sorensen, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Trent Toelau, 15. Matt Eisenhuth, 16. Liam Henry, 17. Mavrik Geyer, 18. Luron Patea, 19. Jack Cole, 20. Brad Schneider, 21. Asu Kepaoa, 22. Luke Sommerton
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Fletcher Sharpe, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Dylan Lucas, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Tyson Gamble, 7. Phoenix Crossland, 8. Daniel Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Adam Elliott, 14. Jack Cogger, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Jack Hetherington, 17. Mathew Croker, 18. Thomas Cant, 19. Brodie Jones, 20. Jackson Hastings, 21. Will Pryce, 22. Krystian Mapapalangi
Referee: Adam Gee
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
A newly revitalised Penrith – despite off field rumours about player movements – host a faltering Newcastle Knights side who failed to put away a struggling Broncos side last time out. That said, the visitors have the benefit of a much-needed extended layoff in their bye week.
Penrith will be ‘backs against the wall’ following all the debate around star winger Brian To’o staying or leaving and are in no better position to deliver a massive performance off the back of a thrashing of the Dragons.
They welcome Isaiah Iongi into fullback in place of Daine Laurie, while James Fisher-Harris is also sidelined. That means Lindsay Smith has a big step up to the starting job and Matthew Eisenhuth comes onto the bench.
Fisher-Harris for Eisenhuth is a massive negative for the home side, and Newcastle will no doubt look to expose that deficiency. They, however, also have a big loss in Bradman Best who is replaced by an apt competitor in Dylan Lucas – though lacking the explosivity of Best.
The Knights will no doubt be revitalised off a break and the shake up, including the cut of Hastings, is yet to be seen as a coaching masterstroke, but Phoenix Crossland in his place is undoubtedly a downgrade in playmaking terms. As a result we should likely see a somewhat rudderless Knights team with flair across the board in attack take on the rock solid Panthers pack; off which the back of the exceptional back line of Penrith should be able to make up for the loss of a top level fullback and allow Iongi to flourish.
The battle up front will no doubt be key and Penrith should have their way outside of Kai Pearce-Paul piercing their edge. The Panthers should have too much up front, and even if the Knights can manufacture a quick play of the ball through their pack, they will likely be thwarted by the lack of big playmakers in their backline outside of Kalyn Ponga.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Number Crunch Stats.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Panthers by 16 points.
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