Sunday’s only NRL Round 17 match is between Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers with the opening kick to commence at 15:05 local time. The game is to be played at Leichhardt Oval which see’s away team Penrith Panthers hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers.
Where and when: 15:05 | Sunday 06/07/2014 @ Leichhardt Oval
Preview:
With their Origin stars, Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods, back in the staring line up for last week’s clash against Canberra, the Tigers started warm favourites for the game at Campbelltown Stadium.
However it was only a Braith Anasta field goal with eight minutes left to play that saw the Tigers home 19 – 18 and record only their third win from their past seven matches.
Farrah and Woods will be missing from this game and in another blow for the home-side, so too will fullback James Tedesco and centre Tim Simona, omissions you don’t need when facing an in-form and confident Panthers outfit.
It’s the third game the Tigers have taken to Leichhardt this year but there record at the ground in recent times isn’t as strong as it use to be.
They’ve loss two of the last three clashes at the venue and with a several significant changes to their line-up here; they may be hard pressed to improve that record here.
It starts a horror run in term of the draw for the Tigers which see them take on Manly, Canterbury, Dragons, Melbourne and Cowboys (away) in the coming weeks.
A win here is a must for the season to be alive in another month.
PANTHERS
The Panthers suffered their first loss in six weeks when falling ten points short against the Warriors in New Zealand last week, 30 – 20.
The Warriors scored twice inside of the first fifteen minutes of the match but three tries to the Panthers in the final twelve minutes of the first half, had them right back in the game and leading 16 – 12 at the break.
Unfortunately for the Panthers though, the half-time break only stopped their momentum and they returned for the second half not the same side.
A string of unforced errors, penalties and a poor completion rate, provided the Warriors with opportunities they duly capitalised on.
It was a game that got away from the Panthers and one they’ll be looking for redemption on.
For the last 15 minutes of the first half, they dominated a strong Warriors outfit and looked every bit of a team that will venture well into the finals.
If they can maintain that effort here, they’ll jump straight back into the winner’s stall with victory over an undermanned Tigers.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Tigers have dominated the Panthers in recent years, having won the past seven matches played since 2010.
The Panthers will no get a better opportunity to break the drought here though and the Panthers have won their last two matches when visiting Leichhardt (2009 and 2002).
Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace have formed a formidable halves combination and are enjoying playing behind a workman-like forward pack that should be able to get the better of the opposite numbers this week.
Tips : PANTHERS 13 +
Teams:
WEST TIGERS: Blake Austin, David Nofoaluma, Keith Lulia, Chris Lawrence, Pat Richards, Braith Anasta (c), Luke Brooks, Martin Taupau, Joel Luani, Keith Galloway, Curtis Sironen, Bodene Thompson, Adam Blair. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Ava Seumanufagai, Sitaleki Akauola, Jack Buchanan.
PANTHERS: Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Dean Whare, Jamal Idris, Kevin Naiqama, Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace, Sam McKendry, James Segeyaro, Brent Kite, Sika Manu, Elijah Taylor, Adam Docker. Interchange: Tyrone Peachey, Jeremy Latimore, Lewis Brown, Nigel Plum, Bryce Cartwright.
News:
Ryan Hoffman claims it comes as no surprise to anyone associated with the Melbourne Storm that Cooper Cronk has made a miraculous recovery from a broken arm to play in State of Origin III.
The Maroons’ hopes of an unprecedented ninth series win against NSW went up in smoke when Cronk was helped off the field in Game I at Suncorp Stadium after 10 minutes with his side leading 4-0.
Daly Cherry-Evans, who’d never trained in the halfback role for Queensland, came off the bench and was thrust into the fray and struggled to make an impression as NSW shocked the Brisbane crowd by winning a thrilling game 12-8.
Cronk was forced to miss Game II in Sydney and the Blues went on to win 6-4 and finally wrap a series for the first time since 2005.
The 30-year-old was rated as ‘no chance’ of being fit for Game III by Storm coach Craig Bellamy last week, with the former NSW mentor saying he was willing to wager his house on the playmaker not taking his place in the team.
However, Blues back-rower Hoffman said having seen the lengths Cronk was going to in hid bid to recover, he had no doubts he’d play.
“It comes as a surprise to anyone who doesn’t play with him,” Hoffman told AAP.
“He is so diligent with his rehab, recovery and keeping his body right, week in, week out. I didn’t see him missing Origin.”
Hoffman acknowledged Cronk would almost certainly face the prospect of NSW players running at him to test out his arm but said he would be ready for it.
“It’s part of the game that you will test someone out if they are carrying an injury,” he said.
“It happens in the NRL and probably at all levels and I am sure it will happen in Origin.
“But Cooper is someone who is so diligent with how he prepares, he wouldn’t put himself in the position if he wasn’t right.
“I’ve seen him do a lot of passing and fair bit of contact work and I fully expect to see him running out next Wednesday.”
