Club captain Matt Moylan returns as the Penrith Panthers face arch rivals Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium this afternoon.
Returning from a back injury, Moylan will give his side a missing element in attack as the Panthers look for their second win of the season.
There’s been some criticism after last week’s narrow loss to the Dragons that the attack was disjointed. In addition, Will Smith hasn’t been able to recapture the form that saw him develop into a viable fullback option at the end of last season.
The back line selected for today’s match is the strongest of the season with Josh Mansour, Peta Hiku and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak all capable of finishing plays.
Not only will the trio need to be good in attack, they will need to be as good in defence with Fijian born Kangaroos hopefully Semi Radradra looking steamroll the Panthers.
Expect a better game from Te Maire Martin after bursting onto the scene against the Broncos, last week he was quiet with limited chances in a dour struggle.
The Panthers will go in underdogs having lost their last three matches against the Eels which includes the trial earlier this year at Pepper Stadium.
Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers, Pirtek Stadium, 4pm (AEST) Sunday
Eels: 1 Michael Gordon 2 Semi Radradra 3 Michael Jennings 4 Brad Takairangi 5 Clinton Gutherson 6 Corey Norman 7 Kieran Foran 8 Junior Paulo 9 Isaac De Gois 10 Tim Mannah 11 Manu Ma’u 12 Beau Scott 13 Tepai Moeroa Interchange: 14 Kaysa Pritchard 15 Peni Terepo 16 Danny Wicks 17 Kenneth Edwards 18 David Gower
Panthers: 1 Matthew Moylan 2 Joshua Mansour 3 Waqa Blake 4 Peta Hiku 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 6 Te Maire Martin 7 Jamie Soward 8 Sam McKendry 9 Peter Wallace 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11 Bryce Cartwright 12 Isaah Yeo 13 Trent Merrin Interchange: 14 Tyrone Peachey 15 Lelani Latu 16 Suaia Matagi 17 James Fisher 21 Jeremy Latimore
