Tonight we see the NRL Round 7 match between Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels. The opening kick is set to commence at 7pm local time with the game to be played at Centrebet Stadium. The market has the away team the Eels as the slight favourites for the match. View our live scores and results for the game between Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels.

WHERE AND WHEN: Centrebet Stadium, Monday @ 19:00

Penrith Panthers $1.91 vs Parramatta Eels $1.91 at Sportsbet Australia

Penrith Panthers $1.97 vs Parramatta Eels $1.83 at Luxbet Australia

Preview:

The last match of the round is between the Panthers and the Eels, with this encounter kicking off on Monday night at 7.00pm at Centrebet Stadium.  The Eels will go into this western derby clash as slight favourites, despite their failure against the Titans in the last match.  The Panthers are struggling with injuries at the moment, with halfback Luke Walsh reinstated at halfback and not much point scoring power out-wide for Penrith due to injuries.

Teams:

Penrith Panthers:
Matt Moylan, Travis Robinson, Lewis Brown, Dean Whare, David Simmons, Tom Humble, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston (c), Tim Grant, Sika Manu, Matthew Robinson, Nigel Plum.
Interchange: Adam Docker, Nathan Smith, James Segeyaro, Clint Newton.

Parramatta Eels:
Jarryd Hayne (c), Ken Sio, Ryan Morgan, Jacob Loko, Vai Toutai, Luke Kelly, Chris Sandow, Mitch Allgood, Matt Keating, Tim Mannah, Reni Maitua (c), Kelepi Tanginoa, Ben Smith.
Interchange: Ben Roberts, Darcy Lussick, Joseph Paulo, Matthew Ryan.

Panthers missing Austin for six weeks

Penrith’s halves crisis deepened on Friday with young five-eighth Blake Austin ruled out for six weeks with a foot injury.

Austin suffered a foot sprain while playing for NSW Cup side Windsor Wolves and now joins first-choice No.6 Lachlan Coote on the sidelines.

It continues a miserable run for the Panthers halves combinations, which have been shaken up all year.

Coote is expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn pectoral muscle suffered in round two, while poor form led to halfback Luke Walsh dropped to reserve grade.

Prop Sika Manu also failed to finish training on Friday, leaving early with a cork to his shin but Cleary said he is in no doubt for Monday’s clash with Parramatta.

The same cannot be said for outside backs Wes Naiqama (knee) and Josh Mansour (ankle) who aren’t expected to return until the Panthers’ round 13 fixture against Wests Tigers.

“Mansour, Wes and Blake are all looking at six weeks … it certainly makes life difficult,” coach Ivan Cleary told AAP after training on Friday.

“But these things happen. You’ve just got to be able to move on.

“One door closes and another one opens.

“When Lachlan went down that was a blow. It opened the door up for backups and new possibilities.

“When you’re in that phase as a developing team you’re constantly searching for what is going to give you the best option.

“And it’s not necessarily going to be the same one for the rest of the season or weeks on end.

“That’s where we are.”

Walsh and utility Tom Humble will be given the reins against the Eels, and are likely to be given time to form a combination at least until Austin recovers.

“Every week is an opportunity. That’s the way you should look at it,” Cleary said.

“Every time you get an opportunity in first grade, whether you’ve been there for two weeks or five years, you’ve got to see that as an opportunity to get better and make that spot yours.”