The first of Friday night’s NRL Round 24 matches is between Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos. The opening kick is set to commence at 7:35PM local time with the game to be played at Centrebet Stadium. The away team the Penrith Panthers are the current favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos.

Centrebet Stadium

Friday, 7.35pm

Penrith Panthers $1.95 vs Brisbane Broncos Eagles $1.80 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Penrith Panthers $2.15 vs Brisbane Broncos Eagles $1.73 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Penrith Panthers	1.95	2.00	2.15	2.00	1.95	2.07
Brisbane Broncos	1.80	1.80	1.73	1.80	1.80	1.75

Preview:

Penrith snapped a four game losing streak with a tough win over the Warriors in New Zealand last week (28 – 24).

The Panthers produced the form that saw them win six from eight earlier in the year, including a win over a full-strength Melbourne side.

The victory places the Panthers on 22 competition points and twelfth spot on the ladder, they are one of seven teams that are still vying for a finals berth but with Canterbury and Manly scheduled for their remaining two games, they’re backs are up against the wall.

It is a similar scenario for the opponents in Brisbane who are on 23 points and tenth spot on the ladder. They too can also not afford to lose here if they hold hopes of claiming a finals spot.

The Broncos have kept their season afloat in the past month with three tough wins and draw.

Their chances of making the finals were dealt a severe blow in round 22 however with centre Justin Hodges damaging his Achilles and whilst last week against the struggling Parramatta his absence was not missed, it may be a different case here.

Honours have been split 2-2 since 2010 with two of the last three matches resulting in total match score of less than 30 points. With so much on the line for both sides, we should see a hard fought encounter and with neither side giving an inch.

The market can’t split them and rightly so. Brisbane has been in solid form whilst a repeat of Panther’s win last week would be enough to get them across the line – but can they do it two weeks in a row?

Teams:

Penrith Panthers:
Lachlan Coote, Josh Mansour, Lewis Brown, Dean Whare, Dave Simmons, Isaac John, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston, Tim Grant, Clint Newton, Sika Manu, Ryan Simpkins. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Nathan Smith, Jeremy Latimore, Mose Masoe, Matt Moylan

Brisbane Broncos:
Josh Hoffman, Corey Oates, Jack Reed, David Stagg, Jordan Kahu, Scott Prince, Ben Hunt, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker. Interchange: Peter Wallace, Dunamis Lui, Lama Tasi, Jarrad Wallace, Scott Anderson, Nick Slyney

Prince may still reign at Broncos

Rather than give Scott Prince a tap on the shoulder, Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin has provided the veteran pivot a pat on the back ahead of the 2014 NRL season.

Prince appeared on borrowed time at Brisbane after reports claimed the 33-year-old was told he was not guaranteed NRL action next year and had contemplated retirement.

Once speculation emerged that unsettled star Anthony Milford could be slotted in as Broncos five-eighth next year if released by Canberra, Prince looked like a dead man walking.

But Griffin seemed bemused by the claims on Thursday, saying Prince would decide when his time was up after helping inspire Brisbane to a four-game unbeaten run that has kept their NRL finals hopes alive.

Asked if Prince had turned it around since being told he may not be in the NRL mix next year, Griffin said: “It would be a good motivator if they get told that.

“You guys are writing the stuff that you hear.

“Scott Prince is playing some good football.

“It’s a credit to him over the last month he has been able to lift.”

Asked if Prince could be wearing the No.6 jersey again next year, Griffin said: “He could be, yeah.

“He’s doing a good job. He’s obviously coming toward the end of his career, (but) when that is will be up to him.”

Rather than sweat on Milford’s availability, Griffin said he liked what he saw from Prince in a new-look halves pairing with Ben Hunt.

“It has been a challenge for him but his defensive game is getting better each week,” Griffin said of Prince.

“And when a guy like him gets confidence out of that the rest of his game gets better.

“That’s why we brought him here, in the important games to be at his best.”

And Friday night’s clash at Penrith doesn’t get much more important.

The 10th-placed Broncos have moved to within one point of the top eight with three rounds left but must keep winning to scrape in.

One slip-up would also spell the end for 12th-placed Penrith, who snapped a three-game losing run with a shock 28-24 last round win away to the Warriors.

Griffin said the battle of the halves would be crucial in the crunch clash but hinted the jury was still out on his young halfback Hunt.

“He’s been patchy,” he said.

“Over his four games he has has shown some real brilliance but also faded out of games at times, but he understands that.

“There’s another level he needs to find to really stamp himself as a top No.7.”