Check out the match preview and prediction for the Round 7 clash between the Panthers and Tigers at Bathurst.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Penrith Panthers Vs Wests Tigers
Venue: Carrington Park
Date: Saturday April 20, 15:00
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Daine Laurie 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner 18. Jack Cole 19. Maverick Geyer 20. Matt Eisenhuth 21. Paul Alamoti 22. Tyrone Peachey
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Justin Olam 5. Junior Tupou 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Latu Fainu 15. Alex Twal 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Samuela Fainu 18. Justin Matamua 19. Asu Kepaoa 20. Solomon Alaimalo 21. Jake Simpkin 22. Sione Fainu
Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
The Panthers and Tigers will face off at Bathurst once again, where Wests pulled off arguably the upset of the year last season.
The Tigers were very disappointing in a 24-12 loss to the Dragons last week, where poor discipline let them down. They get a big boost this week, though, with the return of young gun Lachlan Galvin in the halves. Brent Naden has also been named in the centres, which pushes Solomona Faataape out of the team. John Bateman returns from concussion, with Alex Seyfarth shifting to the bench, while Samuela Fainu and Latu Fainu have also been named on the bench, with Justin Matamua and Jake Simpkin making way.
Nathan Cleary will be out at least one more week with his hamstring injury taking longer than expected to heal, so Brad Schneider remains at halfback. Scott Sorensen is back from a knee injury in the only change from their round 5 loss to the Sea Eagles, with Luke Garner named on the bench and Matt Eisenhuth dropping out of the 17.
After back-to-back wins in round 3 and 4, the Tigers have now dropped two straight and face a tough test against a fresh Panthers side coming off the bye. Galvin returning will provide a much-needed spark in attack, taking some of the weight off the shoulders of Api Koroisau and Aidan Sezer.
For the Panthers, Dylan Edwards has stepped up in a big way in the absence of Cleary and he will need to once again to help his side over the line this week. Despite their opponents’ recent struggles, the Tigers will not go down easy, so expect this match to turn into a grind.
Stefano Utoikamanu has gone to another level in 2024, and if he can get his side off to a strong start in the middle, the Tigers are in with a chance. Up against a dominant forward pack with the likes of Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris leading the way, that will be a tough ask.
Head-to-head stats can be found at Round 7 Number Crunch.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Panthers by 12 points.
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