Oracle of Delphi
KC Hill
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Craig HillRound twenty-two preview - Panthers vs Cowboys
August 13th 2007 04:22
VENUE and TIME: CUA Stadium 7:00pm AEST, Monday August 13
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 21, Panthers 13, Cowboys 8
LAST TIME: Panthers 22 - Cowboys 12 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, round 9, 2007
COVERAGE: Fox Sports (live), ABC Radio, Triple M
MEDICAL ROOM: The Panthers welcome back lock Trent Waterhouse (broken leg), centre Luke Lewis (groin) and winger Michael Gordon (neck) for this clash, while creative backs Rhys Wesser (hand – round 23) and Luke Rooney (neck) still remained sidelined.
Experienced centre Paul Bowman returns to the Cowboys side after serving a one-match suspension as does forward Jacob Lillyman (ankle). Classy backs Ben Farrar (foot), Jason Smith (ankle) and forward Steve Southern (knee) are tipped to return in round 24. Forwards Shane Tronc (knee) and Luke O’Donnell (hamstring) remain sidelined for the rest of the season.
FORM: Penrith are sure to be fired up this encounter, as another loss would mean that he dreaded wooden spoon would once again be heading the Panthers way. Coach Matt Elliott’s young charges impressed with a crushing 32-16 victory over Souths in round 21 and will be keen to finish the season on a high note.
The Cowboys snapped a three-game losing streak and kept their top four hopes alive with a narrow 28-22 victory over the Raiders in round 21. The brilliance of Matt Bowen and Johnathan Thurston got them out of jail, and the Cowboys know that another loss here may well see them miss out on a home final.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Joel Clinton vs Carl Webb
Clinton is one of only three Panthers to have played all 20 games this season, with the mammoth Panthers prop producing yet another quality performance against the Rabbitohs. His fearsome charges and crunching defence will be needed against a primed Cowboys pack. Look for Clinton to attempt to personally nullify the impact of Webb.
Webb produced a ferocious 60 minutes of football against the Raiders, with the hulking prop making 15 hit-ups for 164 metres gained. The Cowboys number 10 will need to put in another big performance on Monday night against a Panthers forward pack led by Clinton and Frank Pritchard that was at its damaging best against the Rabbitohs.
Craig Gower vs Johnathan Thurston
Gower has regained the dazzling form of seasons past that propelled him to higher honours. The Panthers skipper is finally enjoying the freedom of playing injury free, and his combination with rookie five-eighth Peter Wallace is bordering on lethal. Gower and Wallace could cause plenty of damage on Monday night, with the Cowboys having the second worst defence in the competition.
Struggling with a nagging shoulder injury in recent weeks, the Cowboys need Thurston to remain on the field if they hope to play finals football this season. Thurston mixed moments of individual brilliance with seven missed tackles against the Raiders. Expect the Panthers forwards to single out Thurston in defence on Monday night.
VERDICT: Given North Queensland’s poor defensive record to date, and the fact that the Panthers will be approaching the remainder of the season with a cavalier attitude, it will be no surprise to see Penrith record back-to-back victories on the back of their more creative outside backs.
Panthers by 10.
Penrith Panthers Team
Jarrod Sammut, Geoff Daniela, Michael Jennings, Maurice Blair, Michael Gordon, Peter Wallace, Craig Gower (c), Joel Clinton, Luke Priddis, Bryan Norrie, Frank Pritchard, Matthew Bell, Nathan Smith
Bench: Frank Puletua, Matthew Cross, Luke Lewis, Paul Aiton, Tim Grant, Trent Waterhouse, Mark O’Halloran (three to be omitted)
North Queensland Cowboys Team
Matt Bowen, Brenton Bowen, Ashley Graham, Paul Bowman, Neil Sweeney, Justin Smith, Johnathan Thurston (c), Ray Cashmere, Aaron Payne, Carl Webb, Sam Faust, Steve Southern, Sione Faumuina
Bench: David Faiumu, Jacob Lillyman, Matthew Bartlett, Matt Scott
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 21, Panthers 13, Cowboys 8
LAST TIME: Panthers 22 - Cowboys 12 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, round 9, 2007
COVERAGE: Fox Sports (live), ABC Radio, Triple M
MEDICAL ROOM: The Panthers welcome back lock Trent Waterhouse (broken leg), centre Luke Lewis (groin) and winger Michael Gordon (neck) for this clash, while creative backs Rhys Wesser (hand – round 23) and Luke Rooney (neck) still remained sidelined.
Experienced centre Paul Bowman returns to the Cowboys side after serving a one-match suspension as does forward Jacob Lillyman (ankle). Classy backs Ben Farrar (foot), Jason Smith (ankle) and forward Steve Southern (knee) are tipped to return in round 24. Forwards Shane Tronc (knee) and Luke O’Donnell (hamstring) remain sidelined for the rest of the season.
FORM: Penrith are sure to be fired up this encounter, as another loss would mean that he dreaded wooden spoon would once again be heading the Panthers way. Coach Matt Elliott’s young charges impressed with a crushing 32-16 victory over Souths in round 21 and will be keen to finish the season on a high note.
The Cowboys snapped a three-game losing streak and kept their top four hopes alive with a narrow 28-22 victory over the Raiders in round 21. The brilliance of Matt Bowen and Johnathan Thurston got them out of jail, and the Cowboys know that another loss here may well see them miss out on a home final.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Joel Clinton vs Carl Webb
Clinton is one of only three Panthers to have played all 20 games this season, with the mammoth Panthers prop producing yet another quality performance against the Rabbitohs. His fearsome charges and crunching defence will be needed against a primed Cowboys pack. Look for Clinton to attempt to personally nullify the impact of Webb.
Webb produced a ferocious 60 minutes of football against the Raiders, with the hulking prop making 15 hit-ups for 164 metres gained. The Cowboys number 10 will need to put in another big performance on Monday night against a Panthers forward pack led by Clinton and Frank Pritchard that was at its damaging best against the Rabbitohs.
Craig Gower vs Johnathan Thurston
Gower has regained the dazzling form of seasons past that propelled him to higher honours. The Panthers skipper is finally enjoying the freedom of playing injury free, and his combination with rookie five-eighth Peter Wallace is bordering on lethal. Gower and Wallace could cause plenty of damage on Monday night, with the Cowboys having the second worst defence in the competition.
Struggling with a nagging shoulder injury in recent weeks, the Cowboys need Thurston to remain on the field if they hope to play finals football this season. Thurston mixed moments of individual brilliance with seven missed tackles against the Raiders. Expect the Panthers forwards to single out Thurston in defence on Monday night.
VERDICT: Given North Queensland’s poor defensive record to date, and the fact that the Panthers will be approaching the remainder of the season with a cavalier attitude, it will be no surprise to see Penrith record back-to-back victories on the back of their more creative outside backs.
Panthers by 10.
Penrith Panthers Team
Jarrod Sammut, Geoff Daniela, Michael Jennings, Maurice Blair, Michael Gordon, Peter Wallace, Craig Gower (c), Joel Clinton, Luke Priddis, Bryan Norrie, Frank Pritchard, Matthew Bell, Nathan Smith
Bench: Frank Puletua, Matthew Cross, Luke Lewis, Paul Aiton, Tim Grant, Trent Waterhouse, Mark O’Halloran (three to be omitted)
North Queensland Cowboys Team
Matt Bowen, Brenton Bowen, Ashley Graham, Paul Bowman, Neil Sweeney, Justin Smith, Johnathan Thurston (c), Ray Cashmere, Aaron Payne, Carl Webb, Sam Faust, Steve Southern, Sione Faumuina
Bench: David Faiumu, Jacob Lillyman, Matthew Bartlett, Matt Scott
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