Round 10: Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors

[DIEHARD]

Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors

CUA Stadium Sunday 2pm

Penrith Panthers

1. Rhys Wesser
2. Luke Rooney
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Tighe
5. Michael Gordon
6. Maurice Blair
7. Luke Lewis
8. Tony Puletua
9. Luke Priddis (c)
10. Matthew Bell
11. Frank Pritchard
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Nathan Smith

14. Paul Aiton
15. Joseph Paulo
16. Jarrod Sammut
17. Sam McKendry
18. Hutch Maiava.

New Zealand Warriors

1. Lance Hohaia
2. Michael Crockett
3. Jerome Ropati
4. Ryan Shortland
5. Patrick Ah Van
6. Michael Witt
7. Grant Rovelli
8. Sam Rapira
9. Nathan Fien
10. Evarn Tuimavave
11. Simon Mannering
12. Epalahame Lauaki
13. Micheal Luck (c)

14. Ian Henderson
15. Wairangi Koopu
16. Russell Packer
17. Logan Swan
18. Ruben Wiki

[DIEHARD]

Penrith Panthers: 1. Rhys Wesser, 2. Luke Rooney, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Brad Tighe, 5. Michael Gordon, 6. Maurice Blair, 7. Luke Lewis, 8. Tony Puletua, 9. Luke Priddis (c), 10. Matthew Bell, 11. Frank Pritchard, 12. Trent Waterhouse, 13. Nathan Smith. Subs: 14. Paul Aiton, 15. Joseph Paulo, 16. Jarrod Sammut, 17. Sam McKendry, 18. Hutch Maiava.

New Zealand Warriors: 1. Lance Hohaia, 2. Michael Crockett, 3. Jerome Ropati, 4. Ryan Shortland, 5. Patrick Ah Van, 6. Michael Witt, 7. Grant Rovelli, 8. Sam Rapira, 9. Nathan Fien, 10. Evarn Tuimavave, 11. Simon Mannering, 12. Epalahame Lauaki, 13. Micheal Luck (c). Subs: 14. Ian Henderson, 15. Wairangi Koopu, 16. Russell Packer, 17. Logan Swann 18. Ruben Wiki

[Steve]

Panthers will probably really miss Petero, but hopefully can do well without him.

God knows how this game is going to go. I'd be inclined to tip a Panthers win being a home game for them.

[DIEHARD]

What's your opinion of Luke Lewis at halfback Steve?

I didn't see last weekend's match but people are raving and he was selected as halfback of the week from several organisations.

[Steve]

What's your opinion of Luke Lewis at halfback Steve?

I didn't see last weekend's match but people are raving and he was selected as halfback of the week from several organisations.

I'm a big fan of Luke, he's a talented player. Was a 5/8 in his junior days and had been looking at moving back to that position more recently, so he'd be able to handle the halves, but he had a good game against mediocre opposition.

I think he has been bored playing centre/wing, which is why we haven't seen too much of him lately. He seemed to go well in the second row, and handles the pressure of the halves well, but I doubt he'd be a long term option. Except maybe for Souths, god knows they don't have any others!

[DIEHARD]

Panthers V Warriors Preview

CUA Stadium Sunday 2pm

WITH these two teams locked in the middle of the table log-jam this clash takes on extra significance.

Currently percentages has neither team in the top eight (the Panthers are ninth and the Warriors 11th) but they both sit on 10 competition points which is equal to that of the seventh-placed Knights.

A win here could propel them into the finals? zone whereas a loss could see them fall back in the pack ? a place you don?t want to be heading during the representative season.

With only one player apiece involved in Origin, this time of year is when these teams need to take advantage and make their moves up the ladders rather than down the snakes.

Penrith come into the match off an impressive mauling of the Bulldogs but they?ll be without captain Petero Civoniceva who is in Queensland camp.

His loss promotes Matthew Bell to a starting spot while Frank Pritchard will also start after coming off the bench last week.

Luke Rooney returns at Geoff Daniela?s expense while Frank Puletua is out with a busted jaw, bringing extra options onto the bench. Jarrod Sammut, Sam McKendry and Hutch Maiava are the new faces on a five-man bench, all waiting to see who will survive a cull from the squad.

The match looms as a big one for hooker Luke Priddis; it will be his 150th game for the Panthers.

The Warriors will be without their lone Queensland rep in Brent Tate but are thankful to have Jerome Ropati back from injury to take his place. In the only other change to the side that beat Canberra prior to the bye, Ruben Wiki has also been added to a five-man bench in the hope of returning from injury.

Watch out Panthers: The return of Jerome Ropati is massive news for the Warriors, especially with Tate on Origin duty. Before injury struck the Kiwi representative down he was averaging an impressive 129 metres gained a match and was causing constant headaches for defenders.

Look for the Warriors to get quality ball to Ropati as often and quickly as possible, even from inside their own half, as they look to exploit a dodgy Penrith defensive line.

Watch out Warriors: Luke Lewis looked pretty impressive in his first game as a halfback last week and could just be what the Panthers are after in their quest for stability there.

Against the Bulldogs he had 11 kicks for 369 metres, seven runs for 86 metres, 27 tackles, five tackle breaks, a line break, try and an offload in a starring role.

Proving his true utility value, it is the sixth position he has played throughout his 131-game career. Should he produce another big game and the Blues lose game I, he could certainly factor in as replacement for game II and the knowledge of this should drive him to a big performance.

Where it will be won: Defence. Both sides have been average at best in defence this year. The Warriors have leaked more tries and points than any other side and worryingly the leaks are on all sides of the park ? and from all distances. Unless they tighten up right across the park they are done-for as contenders this year.

Penrith aren?t a whole lot better, especially when it comes to clocking off when they think they are safe. They have leaked more tries from over halfway than any other team, a sure sign of complacency when other teams are rucking off their line.

Weather permitting this one looks like a points-fest, with the team more committed to defence for longer periods set to be victorious.

The History: Played 21; Panthers 12, Warriors 9. Penrith have won seven of their past 10 matches against the Warriors, but lost three of the past four.

Matches between the two sides traditionally bring a lot of points with each of the past five games posting between 42 and 76 points. The Warriors still haven?t won away from home this year.

Conclusion: The Warriors have been awful away from home this year and will need to step up if they are to come away with their first travelling win of the season. They have the side to win but do they have the desire?

Penrith have been tough to tip this year? one minute they are awful and the next they are putting teams away like last weekend. The loss of Petero Civoniceva is massive for the home side and the result could hinge on whether they are prepared to bust their guts without him around.

Lean to the home side but toss a coin if you like.

Match officials: Referee ? Tony De Las Heras; Sideline Officials ? Peter Kirby & Bernard Sutton; Video ref ? Bill Harrigan.

Televised: Foxsports 2 ? Live 2pm.

Source: http://www.nrl.com

[Paul]

Panthers will probably really miss Petero, but hopefully can do well without him.

God knows how this game is going to go. I'd be inclined to tip a Panthers win being a home game for them.

From memory they always lose at home to NZ, usually embarassingly

[DIEHARD]

From memory they always lose at home to NZ, usually embarassingly

...locks it into his Foxtel program guide.

[Steve]

46-22.

Go Panthers!

[Paul]

They were fantastic for the first 30 mins then started to let NZ back in.This week they decided to not fall in a heap like usual though and won deservedly

well done boys

[patskE]

can i just say wow i h8 luke rooney after watching this game
shelfish player... everytime he didnt get the ball when he wanted he blew up
even when jennings scored his 2nd, he could of passed to ronney, but bak himself, rooney had his hands up while he was doing, afted he scored he still ha dem up, n just walked off shaking his head without saying congrats to jennings...
another, priddis threw a ball to blair i think, but if he left it, ronney was unmarked, right on warriors try line, n rooney just blew up, bliar didnt know
jeez i h8 him, end of my rant
but how good is pritchard looking!

[jenwood]

Frank Pritchard has improved so much! He seems more mature and is playing like everyone knew he could! I think Petero's influence is showing through- he stepped up today and showed what he is capable of! Great game-well done Panthers-they certainly have some talent in their team!