Date: Saturday 22^nd of April

Venue: ANZ Stadium

Gates Open: 12:30 pm

Kick off: 3:00 pm (NYC 12:40)

Head Referee: Gavin Badger

Assistant Referee: Jon Stone

Head to head: Played 93, Eels 55, Panthers 37, Drawn 1

Head to head odds: Panthers ($ 1.67), Eels ($ 2.25)  

Broadcast: Live Fox Sports (Broadcast kick off: 3:00pm)

 

Last four encounters:

1. Panthers 22, Eels 18 at Pepper Stadium (2016)
2. Panthers 20, Eels 18 at Pirtek Stadium (2016)
3. Eels 10, Panthers 4 at TIO Stadium (2015)
4. Eels 26, Panthers 20 at Pepper Stadium (2015)

 

Preview: This weekend’s round eight Saturday night clash is a battle between the 10^th placed Parramatta Eels and the 13^th placed Penrith Panthers in what has become more commonly known as the battle of Sydney’s west. The Eels and the Panthers enter this encounter in contrasting fashions, the Eels scored a late come from behind victory against the Wests Tigers last Monday, whereas the Panthers were absolutely dominated and blown off the park by a very impressive Cronulla Sharks outfit.

In a strong defensive performance from the Sharks, the Panthers only managed to score just two points. Despite this, the Panthers are still seen as competition heavyweights and should not be underestimated by any team in the NRL. They are young team and full of great potential. However, that potential needs to realized in order for the Panthers to well and truly become competition heavyweights.

As for the Eels they are much like the Panthers – full of untapped potential.

Whichever team can best tap into their full potential will come out on top in this one.

 

Value Bet: This week’s value bet is for Parramatta Eels centre Kirisome Auva’a to grab the first try.

Auva’a bagged a double in last Monday’s encounter against the Tigers and had a very strong game and is at $12 to grab the first try (all odds via Sportsbet).

In the first try market, the Eels have Semi Radradra at $9 and both Josh Hoffman and Kirisome Auva’a at $12. On the other side of the coin the Panthers first try favourites include four players –  Waqa Blake, Peta Hiku, Dean Whare and Dallin Watene Zelezniak. All are all valued at $11 to claim the first try.

 

Interesting fact: The battles for the NSW Origin centre positions are heating up. Jack Bird, Joey Leilua, Jarrod Crocker and James Roberts have all been in fantastic form. Michael Jennings is an incumbent centre in the NSW Origin team and will have a battle in order to retain his position this year. Jennings only strengthened his claims to retain his position through his performance last Monday against the Tigers. Jennings made a whopping eight tackle busts and 217 metres as the Eels scored themselves a much needed victory against the Tigers.

 

 

It will be a big game for:

Returning Parramatta Eels back rower Kenny Edwards, would be chomping at the bit to take the field against the Panthers. During last Monday’s coverage of the Eels and Tigers game Edwards could be seen acting very enthusiastically whilst the Eels were in the sheds before kick off, at half time and full time. He almost appeared ready to rip off his suit and run out with his teammates right then and there if he could.

Edwards’s inclusion into the Eels line up is a timely one with the Eels losing Peni Terepo to a pectoral injury and Beau Scott in doubt with a calf injury.

Edwards is a very versatile player who excels in the back row and can play lock forward, five eighth and centre at a pinch. He has a very strong playmaking game and has the ability to play as a second five eighth in the Eels line, delivering the odd money ball for support runners to bust through the line.

With new signing Nathan Brown a revelation with his ball play, Edwards may play more of a hard nosed back rower role. This should be no problem for the versatile Kiwi. However, the great unknown will probably be the game time expected from Edwards, with Scott’s injury likely to be the determining factor.

 

 

Danger man:

This week’s danger man is Penrith Panthers young gun winger Waqa Blake.

Blake is much more talented than the average winger as he can create try scoring opportunities from just about anywhere on the field. When he made his NRL debut in 2015 he had monstrous expectations laid upon him, with some earmarking him as the next Greg Inglis or Israel Folau.

Whilst a run of injuries could be pointed to for his less than stellar early career, Blake’s is now showing why so many experts expected big things from him. With one spectacular game after another, Blake soon cemented his position in the Panthers regular first grade team.

Blake is a big man with an abundance of speed and tackle bust ability and possesses one of the best fends in the game. His height makes him a definite target for the Panthers high cross-field kicks. A potential match up against Semi Radradra could even decide the clash.

 

Team lists:

 

Parramatta Eels (10^th coming into the round)

 

1. Clinton Gutherson
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Kirisome Auva’a
5. Josh Hoffman
6. Brad Takairangi
7. Corey Norman
8. Suaia Matagi
9. Kaysa Pritchard
10. Tim Mannah (C)
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tepai Moeroa
13. Nathan Brown

 

14. Beau Scott (C)
15. Daniel Alvaro
16. Kenny Edwards
17. Siosaia Vave

 

18. David Gower
19. Will Smith
20. George Jennings
21. Marata Nuikore

 

Coach: Brad Arthur

 

Late mail: Beau Scott is in some doubt with a calf injury and may be a late withdrawal. David Gower would be the likely replacement.

 

Penrith Panthers (13^th place coming into the round)

 

1. Matt Moylan (C)
2. Waqa Blake
3. Dean Whare
4. Tyrone Peachy
5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Nathan Cleary
8. James Tamou
9. Peter Wallace
10. Regan Campbell Gillard
11. James Fisher Harris
12. Isaah Yeo
13. Trent Merrin

 

14. Peta Hiku
15. Leilani Latu
16. Tim Browne
17. Moses Leota

 

18. Corey Harawira Naera
19. Sitaleki Akauola
20. Viliame Kikau
21. Bryce Cartwright

 

Coach: Anthony Griffin

 

Late mail: Bryce Cartwright may force his way into the final 17 come kick off. Expect him to come off the bench if he is named in the final 17.

  

Two key match ups:

 

 

Corey Norman vs Nathan Cleary:

The first key match up is a battle of the halfbacks as Eels superstar Corey Norman goes up against Panthers young gun Nathan Cleary.

After starting his career with the Broncos, Norman is now in his fourth season with the Eels. His top ten finish in last year’s Dally M awards, despite his extended suspension, is testimony to his current stature in the game.

Beginning the 2017 NRL season with a bang, his boom start to the season slowed up as the Eels fell to four consecutive defeats. He has triggered to overcome a hamstring injury, but will need to find some of his spark, and a dash of game management, to steer the Eels to victory against the Panthers.

Panthers young gun halfback Nathan Cleary has similarly been hamstrung by the Panthers inconsistent start to the season. The Panthers are currently languishing in 13^th position on the competition ladder and would be desperate to score a victory against the Eels on Saturday night.

Cleary plays with a maturity beyond his years and is not afraid to take on the line. With top shelf goal kicking skills and a fine all round kicking game, it’s little wonder the young half has been earmarked by many as an Origin star of the future. Come Saturday afternoon Cleary’s mind will be far from rep jerseys and his sole concern will be trying to help the Panthers score their third win of the season against the Parramatta Eels.

 

 

 

Kaysa Pritchard vs Peter Wallace:

The second key match up I is a battle of the dummy halves, as Eels livewire Kaysa Pritchard faces off against Panthers veteran Peter Wallace.

Coming into this season there was plenty of speculation over who would be the Parramatta Eels hooker. Before the first team was announced for round one, the race for the Eels hooking position was between three players –  Issac De Gois, Cameron King and Kaysa Pritchard.

From the outside looking in many experts labeled Pritchard the most unlikely out of the three to claim the Eels hooking jersey. However Pritchard did what he has done for most of his NRL career and that is proving people wrong by winning and holding the 9 jersey.

Pritchard has the ability to be a real game breaker at his best which is why most opposition teams would be weary of him close to the line. Despite being such a tough, young and talented player Pritchard has had his fair share of injuries throughout his time in the NRL and many claim he goes too hard for his own good. He plays a fearless brand of football, particularly in defence. With the hooking stocks of the club currently depleted, the Eels hope that the young rake can stay on the field.

Panthers hooker Peter Wallace started his career as a halfback but it would appear that those days are well behind him.

Wallace has received nothing but praise since making the move to hooker midway through last season and rightfully so. He has added an element of calmness to an otherwise young and enthusiastic Panthers outfit; this element of calmness is a nice touch onto a Panthers side that already possesses an abundance of talent.

Wallace’s ability to read the game as hooker has been simply remarkable and he has even managed to keep the recently signed Mitch Rein out of first grade. His game management is at the top echelon of dummy halves and he will pose a constant menace to the Eels.

 

My tip:

This game is one of the hardest ones of the round to pick. One minute I think the Eels will win and the next I think the Panthers will bounce back from their recent string of losses and claim their third win of the season.

Both teams have dished up some fairly scrappy performances this season and will be desperate to score a win. I believe it will be a close encounter, but I’m sticking with my heart here and tipping an Eels victory, Eels 17, Panthers 16. Don’t rule iut a golden point finish!

 

Man of the match: Corey Norman / Peter Wallace

 

Enjoy the game, GO THE EELS !!!

Nathan