Saturday has two NRL matches with the second game for Round 16 being between Penrith Panthers and St George Illawarra Dragons with the opening kick to commence at 7.30pm local time. The game is to be played at Centrebet Stadium with the favourite for the match being Penrith Panthers. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Penrith Panthers and St George Illawarra Dragons.

WHERE AND WHEN: Centrebet Stadium, 7.30pm (EST) Saturday

Opening odds comparison:

Penrith Panthers	1.65	1.70	1.57	1.70	1.65	1.68
St George Illawarra Dragons	2.25	2.15	2.45	2.15	2.25	2.25

Preview:

The Penrith Panthers play the St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday, 7.30pm at Centrebet Stadium. Both of these teams have had ordinary seasons so far in 2013, and both will be keen to show their fans something to cheer about this weekend. The Panthers have lost their last two matches and seem to be lacking in the confidence department. The Dragons had a bye last round, losing to the Cowboys in the round before. With 10th playing 14th on the ladder, there is still a chance for both of these teams to make the finals, although recent form suggests otherwise.

Teams:

Penrith Panthers:
Matt Moylan, James Roberts, Brad Tighe, Dean Whare, David Simmons, Isaac John, Luke Walsh, Nigel Plum, Kevin Kingston, Tim Grant, Matt Robinson, Lewis Brown, Adam Docker.
Interchange: James Segeyaro, Mose Masoe, Cameron Ciraldo, Clint Newton

St George Illawarra Dragons:
Josh Dugan, Brett Morris, Nathan Green, Matt Prior, Jason Nightingale, Chase Stanley, Nathan Fien, Dan Hunt, Mitch Rein, Jack Stockwell, Tyson Frizell, Ben Creagh, Trent Merrin.
Interchange: Cameron King, Leeson Ah Mau, Jack de Belin, Michael Weyman

Dragon Merrin cops one-week suspension

Trent Merrin will miss St George Illawarra’s NRL match against Penrith on Saturday after taking the early guilty plea on a striking charge from State of Origin II.

Merrin’s tussle with Queensland winger Brent Tate sparked a second-half melee after which both players were sent to the sin bin alongside Blues backrower Greg Bird and Maroons centre Justin Hodges.

Merrin was hit with a grade-one striking charge by the match review committee for punching Tate in the 54th minute of Queensland’s series-squaring 26-6 win in Brisbane.

Even with the early plea on Thursday Merrin earned enough penalty points to incur a one-game suspension.

Hodges received a grade-one contrary conduct charge over the same incident.

The Brisbane star also took the early guilty plea but will be free to play in the Broncos’ match against the Warriors in Auckland on Sunday.

Merrin has been one of the struggling Dragons best players this year and his loss is a big blow for the joint venture club who sit 14th on the NRL ladder ahead of their round-16 trip to Penrith.