The second match today is the game between Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers. The opening kick is set to commence at 3pm local time with the match being played at Campbelltown Stadium. We take a look at the preview for the match as well as the odds and teams for each team.
Round: Round 2, Sunday, 3pm
Stadium: Campbelltown Stadium
Odds:
Wests Tigers $1.70 vs Penrith Panthers $2.18 at Sportsbet Australia
Wests Tigers $1.61 vs Penrith Panthers $2.35 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
Watch Out Wests Tigers: Penrith’s back three of fullback Dean Whare and wingers Josh Mansour and David Simmons isn’t the most fashionable around, but they made 412 metres between them in 43 runs in the win over Canberra. That is going to give them the confidence to go looking for the chance to run the ball against a Tigers outfit that is under pressure to lift its game defensively.
Watch Out Panthers: It would be unusual if Benji Marshall had two ineffective games in a row. It wasn’t a situation made for him against Newcastle, considering the Tigers had so little ball, but he was still quiet. Expect him to bounce back against the Panthers, get his hands on the ball a lot and put the opposition in two minds.
Plays To Watch: The Tigers need a bit of that ‘wild man’ stuff from Adam Blair to spur them on. He is at his best when he charges, full-on, into the defence, attracting multiple defenders and backing it up with a quick play-the-ball for his teammates to try to take advantage of a hole in the defence. Penrith won’t go away from the plan that worked in Round 1, when Kingston and Segeyaro worked the opposition over from dummy-half. The Panthers will look to consolidate, rather than suddenly bank on razzle-dazzle.
Key Match-Up: Jacob Miller v Luke Walsh. The oldie (Walsh) versus the newie at halfback. Walsh’s kicking game – his greatest strength – was spot on against the Raiders, including a faultless display of goal-kicking. The game against the Knights wasn’t a great opportunity for the inexperienced Miller, considering the Tigers didn’t get their hands on the ball much, but he still needs to start doing more (just 20 receives last week).
Where It Will Be Won: It won’t matter that Marshall and Robbie Farah are two attacking geniuses if the Tigers can’t do a lot better in the forward battle than they did against the Knights. The Panthers will sense an opportunity to get on top through the forwards in this game, and if they do that then Walsh will put the cream on the cake with his kicking game.
The History: Played 23; Panthers 14, Tigers 9. Penrith boast a tremendous record against the Tigers and have won four of their past seven games at Campbelltown. However, they have struggled in recent times with the Tigers winning their past five clashes and scoring a total of 151 points in those games.
Match Officials: Referees – Matt Cecchin & Luke Phillips; Sideline Officials – Steve Carrall & Ricky MacFarlane; Video Referees – Jason Robinson & Sean Hampstead.
Televised: Channel Nine – Delayed, 4pm. Fox Sports – Delayed, 6pm.
Teams:
TIGERS:
Tim Moltzen, Matt Utai, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, Marika Koroibete, Benji Marshall, Jacob Miller, Jack Buchanan, Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Braith Anasta, Liam Fulton, Adam Blair
Interchange: Matt Bell, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Aaron Woods, Eddy Pettybourne, Joel Reddy, (one to be omitted)
PANTHERS:
Dean Whare, Josh Mansour, Wes Naiqama, Geoff Daniela, David Simmons, Lachlan Coote, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston, Tim Grant, Sika Manu, Lewis Brown, Nathan Smith
Interchange: James Segeyaro, Nigel Plum, Clint Newton, Jeremy Latimore, Adam Docker (one to be omitted)
