Oracle of Delphi
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Craig HillRound 5 NRL Preview - Panthers VS Eels
April 13th 2007 06:21
Penrith Panthers VS Parramatta Eels @ CUA Stadium, 13/04/2007, 7.30pm
Two of the NRL’s form sides meet in tonight’s clash of Sydney’s inner west, with the victor assured of cementing a spot in the top eight after this weekends round 5 action.
In what shapes as an evenly matched, forward dominated contest, the Penrith Panthers will be looking to arrest their slow start to matches, whilst the Eels will be hoping that their much publicised halve pairing will finally be able to click.
Penrith have stormed home in their last two matches, with the men from the foot of the mountains escaping from Suncorp Stadium with an extra time victory over a stunned Broncos side, while the Panthers came within two points of outlasting the Titans in last Sunday’s thriller at Penrith.
The Eels on the other hand have recorded back to back victories over a gallant Wests Tigers outfit and a tired looking Canberra Raiders side in the past fortnight, with the Eels change in form coinciding with the return of inspirational backrower, Nathan Hindmarsh.
The forward clash is sure to be a highlight tonight, as the Panthers pack of Clinton, Priddis, Pritchard and the Puletua boys square off against Cayless, Moimoi, Cannings and the Hindmarsh brothers.
With both forward packs basically equal in terms of size and skill, look to the more experienced outside Eels backs of Tahu and Grothe to force the younger Panthers combination of Jennings and Gordon into mistakes.
I am going for Parramatta to cause the first upset of the round in this fiery encounter, on the basis of the Eels having more experience, and the fact that the Panthers may just be a little flat after having to storm home in close games over the past fortnight.
Whatever happens, take the victor by a margin of ten points, as the five of the last six clashes have been decided by a margin of exactly ten points (thanks David Middleton for their amazing statistic).
Prediction – Parramatta by 10
Penrith Panthers –
Rhys Wesser, Michael Gordon, Mitchell Jennings, Luke Lewis, Luke Rooney, Peter Wallace, Craig Gower ©, Joel Clinton, Luke Priddis, Frank Puletua, Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua, Nathan Smith
Bench – Matthew Bell, Junior Moors, Bryan Norrie, Paul Aiton
Parramatta Eels –
Luke Burt, Jarryd Hayne, Ben Smith, Timana Tahu, Eric Grothe, Brett Finch, Tim Smith, Nathan Cayless ©, PJ Marsh, Aaron Cannings, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon
Bench –Blake Green, Josh Cordoba, Feleti Mateo, Fuifui Moimoi
Referee – Shayne Hayne
Two of the NRL’s form sides meet in tonight’s clash of Sydney’s inner west, with the victor assured of cementing a spot in the top eight after this weekends round 5 action.
In what shapes as an evenly matched, forward dominated contest, the Penrith Panthers will be looking to arrest their slow start to matches, whilst the Eels will be hoping that their much publicised halve pairing will finally be able to click.
Penrith have stormed home in their last two matches, with the men from the foot of the mountains escaping from Suncorp Stadium with an extra time victory over a stunned Broncos side, while the Panthers came within two points of outlasting the Titans in last Sunday’s thriller at Penrith.
The Eels on the other hand have recorded back to back victories over a gallant Wests Tigers outfit and a tired looking Canberra Raiders side in the past fortnight, with the Eels change in form coinciding with the return of inspirational backrower, Nathan Hindmarsh.
The forward clash is sure to be a highlight tonight, as the Panthers pack of Clinton, Priddis, Pritchard and the Puletua boys square off against Cayless, Moimoi, Cannings and the Hindmarsh brothers.
With both forward packs basically equal in terms of size and skill, look to the more experienced outside Eels backs of Tahu and Grothe to force the younger Panthers combination of Jennings and Gordon into mistakes.
I am going for Parramatta to cause the first upset of the round in this fiery encounter, on the basis of the Eels having more experience, and the fact that the Panthers may just be a little flat after having to storm home in close games over the past fortnight.
Whatever happens, take the victor by a margin of ten points, as the five of the last six clashes have been decided by a margin of exactly ten points (thanks David Middleton for their amazing statistic).
Prediction – Parramatta by 10
Penrith Panthers –
Rhys Wesser, Michael Gordon, Mitchell Jennings, Luke Lewis, Luke Rooney, Peter Wallace, Craig Gower ©, Joel Clinton, Luke Priddis, Frank Puletua, Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua, Nathan Smith
Bench – Matthew Bell, Junior Moors, Bryan Norrie, Paul Aiton
Parramatta Eels –
Luke Burt, Jarryd Hayne, Ben Smith, Timana Tahu, Eric Grothe, Brett Finch, Tim Smith, Nathan Cayless ©, PJ Marsh, Aaron Cannings, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon
Bench –Blake Green, Josh Cordoba, Feleti Mateo, Fuifui Moimoi
Referee – Shayne Hayne
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