The Penrith Panthers look to bounce back after an awful performance against the Melbourne Storm last week against the Wests Tigers who are coming off a shock loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Penrith Panthers
The Panthers were downright dreadful in their loss to the Storm last week. They produced a whopping 17 errors on their way to a 58% completion rate. In fact, after the first three weeks, their overall completion rate is tied for last at 63%. In another concern for the team, their attack has rarely looked dangerous, scoring only 30 total points across their first three games. Cleary and Maloney need to take control and lead this team when the Panthers have good scoring opportunities. There will be some extra heat in this one as coach Ivan Cleary goes up against the side which he controversially left at the end of 2018.
Wests Tigers
The Tigers crashed back down to earth last week after a brilliant opening two rounds. After strong wins over the Sea Eagles and Warriors to start the season, the Tigers were embarrassed last week in a loss to the Bulldogs. It just proves you can’t take any game lightly in this competition so look for the Tigers to be fired up against a struggling Panthers side on Friday night.
SQUAD NEWS
Penrith Panthers
In a massive boost for the Panthers, Fijian monster Viliame Kikau returns to the side after missing the opening three games. Isaah Yeo is also back after missing last week with a concussion. James Fisher-Harris moves to lock and Frank Winterstein and Hame Sele push back to the bench. Reagan Campbell-Gillard has once again been name to start with Moses Leota on the bench, but for three weeks in a row the two players have swapped just before kick off.
Penrith Panthers squad: 1 Dylan Edwards, 2 Josh Mansour, 3 Dean Whare, 4 Waqa Blake, 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 6 James Maloney, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 James Tamou, 9 Sione Katoa, 10 Reagan Campbell-Gilalrd, 11 Viliame Kikau, 12 Isaah Yeo, 13 James Fisher-Harris Interchange: 14 Wayde Egan, 15 Frank Winterstein, 16 Moses Leota, 17 Hame Sele Reserves: 18 Liam Martin, 21 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
Wests Tigers
Josh Reynolds makes his long-awaited return to the first grade side, coming in to replace Benji Marshall who is out with a hamstring injury. Chris McQueen comes onto the bench in place of Thomas Mikaele in the only other change to the side.
Wests Tigers squad: 1 Moses Mbye, 2 Mahe Fonua, 3 Robert Jennings, 4 Esan Marsters, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Josh Reynolds, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Ben Matulino, 9 Robbie Farah, 10 Alex Twal, 11 Ryan Matterson, 12 Luke Garner, 13 Elijah Taylor Interchange: 14 Russell Packer, 16 Josh Aloiai, 17 Michael Chee-Kam, 21 Chris McQueen Reserves: 18 Paul Momirovski, 19 Matthew Eisenhuth
HEAD TO HEAD
These two sides only played each other once in 2018, the Panthers producing a dominant defensive display to come away 16-2 victors. They’ll need to be at their best once again as no doubt Josh Reynolds will be fired up in his return to first grade and won’t want to let this chance go begging.
KEY BATTLE
Nathan Cleary vs Luke Brooks. The current New South Wales halfback up against the reigning Dally M Halfback of the Year. Cleary has not looked his usual self to start the year. He seems down on confidence and is struggling to take complete control of this team. He’s still young and he’s still learning but the Panthers need him to get himself out of this rut if they’re to start winning games, because the Panthers barely fired a shot in last week’s loss to the Storm.
Luke Brooks has been strong if not spectacular to start the 2019 season, but he was particularly disappointing in last week’s loss against the Bulldogs. He needs to put that performance behind him and bounce back in a big way this week. How he works with Josh Reynolds could be key in deciding the outcome of this game.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday, April 5
Venue: Panthers Stadium
Kick-off: 8:05pm
Referee: Gerard Sutton, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
WHO WILL WIN?
This really could go either way. Both sides will be incredibly disappointed in how they performed last week, and a lot of eyes will be on Ivan Cleary against his old side. The Panthers’ troubles in attack is a worrying sign, and despite last week’s loss the Tigers have just showed more potential to start the season.
Tigers by 4
