Penrith halves in Knights NRL litmus test

Penrith’s makeshift halves combination face a double pressure test due to the absence of in-form hooker James Segeyaro and some expected heavy treatment from Newcastle enforcer Beau Scott.

Penrith’s woes worsened on Friday when Segeyaro (concussion) was ruled out of the NRL side’s clash with the unbeaten Knights on Saturday at Hunter Stadium.

Segeyaro’s creativity and speed out of dummy half has been a fillip for the Panthers this year and taken pressure off the side’s playmakers.

The Panthers will again be without Jamie Soward (back) for their trip to the Hunter with stand-in five-eighth Isaac John to again partner halfback Peter Wallace.

“Sowie’s out for six weeks. It’s not something we’re dwelling on; it’s reasonably long term,” Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said.

“We’re going to have a few games where he won’t be here. We’re comfortable with that and have a plan around that.”

Segeyaro was ruled out after suffering a concussion and badly-cut mouth during Penrith’s loss to the Sydney Roosters on Monday night with former South Sydney No.9 Api Koroisau to make his Penrith debut.

While Koroisau is a grand final winner and John acquitted himself well against the Roosters, the absence of Segeyaro and Soward will put more pressure on the rest of the Penrith spine of Wallace and fullback Matt Moylan.

They are expected to come in for some extra attention from the Newcastle pack led by Scott who two weeks ago was criticised for his targeting of North Queensland’s Johnathan Thurston.

“You never want your playmakers or kicker under too much pressure but the reality is that’s a part of everyone’s game plan,” Cleary said.

“That’s just life. If we can control the ball and wear them down a bit, it’s going to make life a bit easier.”

KEY STATS:

* Newcastle have won 11 of their past 14 matches, with six of those wins coming by six points or less

* The Knights are aiming for their fourth straight win to start 2015, something they have not done since 2002

* The Panthers have a terrible record the week after playing on Monday night. Since 2007, they have won just five of 19 matches backing up, the worst record of any team

* Matt Moylan heads into this round with five try assists, the equal most in the competition, while he also leads the league with five linebreak assists.

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