BlueBet Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 27 NRL game between Penrith Panthers and North Queensland Cowboys. The game kicks off at 5:30 pm with North Queensland Cowboys heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Penrith Panthers vs. North Queensland Cowboys game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday September 2, 2023 at 5:30 pm

Where: BlueBet Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Penrith Panthers vs North Queensland Cowboys Odds

Penrith Panthers vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview

While the rest of the top four have given a bunch of stars a pre-finals break, Ivan Cleary has signalled his intentions of snaring another minor premiership by naming the strongest Penrith side he could – though the pursuit of the JJ Giltinan Shield will be moot if Brisbane wins on Thursday.

Nevertheless, it shapes as bad news for North Queensland Cowboys, who are also relying on other results to squeak into the Top 8 but cannot make it without a win at the foot of the mountains.

The Panthers also have a point to prove after being pumped 32-18 by the also-ran Eels at home last Thursday.

The two-time champs had won their last eight games but produced easily their worst defensive display of the season and were behind 28-4 with 15 minutes to go.

Dylan Edwards, Sunia Turuva, Mitch Kenny and Scott Sorensen are back from a rest, with the injured Jarome Luai the only top-liner missing from last week’s line-up. Izack Tago has been named in the reserves.

After three straight losses – culminating in a bitterly disappointing 32-12 home defeat to Cronulla – the Cowboys stayed alive with a 34-10 cruise against the slumping Dolphins in Round 26.

Rookie centre Zac Laybutt grabbed two tries among a sparkling back-five performance.

The Cowboys have won their last two against the Panthers, but those were in the last round in 2022 with a stack of Penrith top-liners rested and a Scott Drinkwater-inspired golden point win in Round 16 with both players missing a host of Origin players.

There’s the possibility the Panthers make some late changes if the minor premiership is out of reach, but the Cowboys seem to have run out of puff against quality teams and their first victory at Penrith since 2016 looks highly unlikely.

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