08 :: R23 Sat :: Panthers 52 Bulldogs 16 @ CUA

[choc_soldier]

5...

 

[murraymob]

the only chance of the bulldogs winning is if priddis starts the game and blair is 5/8.But elliott can not possibly let this happen.Even a u6 coach would make changes to that sorry lot from sunday

 

[choc_soldier]

Elliott won't wield the axe.

Any changes will be through injury.

 

[mxlegend99]

I miss the Matt Elliott that hates Luke Priddis. We could use him right now.

Unforunately he appears to not like Masada Iosefa, and [retty clearly dislikes Paul Aiton after being told off by him in public. So he will definitely be our starting #9.

Maurice Blair i'm more hopeful of getting dropped. Although with Wade Graham injured, he might feel his hand has been forced to keep him.

 

[Caged Panther]

Wouldn't mind seeing this side

1. Wesser
2. Daniella
3. Jennings
4. Gordon
5. Rooney
6. Tighe
7. Sammut
8. Puletuea
9. Iosefa
10. Civinoceiva
11. Waterhouse
12. Pritchard
13. Rodney

14. Woolnough
15. Aition
16. Paulo
17. Moors

 

[pantherz9103]

Let's stay positive: Even a team who lost 13 in a row had no trouble with the Dogs.I reckon Canberra may have gone close to cracking a century of points on that form against the Dogs the other day.

 

[choc_soldier]

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 10. Petero Civoniceva (C) 11. Frank Pritchard 12. Trent Waterhouse 13. Nathan Smith Interchange: 14. Matthew Bell 15. Adam Woolnough 16. Frank Puletua 17. Paul Aiton 18. Masada Iosefa 19. Joseph Paulo Coach: Matthew Elliott

Oh dear. :|

 

[pantherz9103]

Oh dear. :|

Team lineup is no excuse this week.

Look at the opposition

BULLDOGS: 1. Ben Barba 2. Hazem El Masri 3. Daryl Millard 4. Tim Winitana 5. Matt Utai 6. Ben Roberts 7. Daniel Holdsworth 8. Jarrad Hickey 9. Corey Hughes 10. Chris Armit 11. Gary Warburton 12. Andrew Ryan 13. Lee Te Maari
Interchange: 14. Nick Kouparitsas 15. Brad Morrin 16. Charlie Leaeno 17. Reece Blaney

Look at their recent form

Lost to Cowboys 12-36
Lost to Tigers 4-56
Lost to Dragons 0-30
Lost to Warriors 22-40

They've sucked the proverbial for much longer than us

 

[murraymob]

eliott has lost the plot.This is why he is a average coach.Gordon played his junior football at 5/8 does he get a chance of course not.When in doubt pick the same players.The windsor side has not gone up yet so it will be interesting to see if sammut and rodney plays again players just not getting selected

 

[pantherz9103]

I thought Sammut was injured

 

[Rovelli]

Panthers to win easily. Touch and go whether they end the round in the 8, however.

5 teams on 24 - Raiders, Drags, Newie, Tiges, Warriors

One of Raiders/Newie move ahead of them with a win (both do if it's a draw)
Tiges play Eels, winnable
Warriors play Sharks, winnable
Drags play Broncos, winnable.

A win is more important for Penrith however. 40-10.

 

[gong_eagle]

Panthers v Bulldogs Preview
NRL.com
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=52418


CUA Stadium
Saturday 7.30pm

WHAT a watershed moment this game is for Penrith after their capitulation to Canberra last weekend!

Getting beaten 74-12 can not have been good for the confidence of a team trying to force their way into the play-off picture… and it gave their points differential a hammering (although they have an odd number of competition points, which could prove a good thing, thanks to an earlier draw this season).

Luckily for them they have a chance to atone against the competition’s new wooden spoon favourites, the beleaguered Bulldogs.

The Panthers have fallen to 11th position on the ladder after the shellacking but a win here could see them back into the top eight.

Luke Lewis is a welcome addition back at halfback which sees Wade Graham make way, while Geoff Daniela comes off the wing for the return of Luke Rooney.

Junior Moors is also out of the side with Adam Woolnough, Frank Puletua, and Paul Aiton added to a bench of six.

For the Bulldogs, last week’s loss to the Cowboys has them in real danger of collecting the wooden spoon.

They are still two competition points ahead of the 16th-placed Cowboys but their differential is significantly worse, meaning just one more win for the Cowboys and continued losses for the ’Dogs will have them dead last.

Tim Winitana returns at centre in place of Andrew Emelio and Matt Utai returns on the wing for Heka Nanai.

Reni Maitua is out for the season, which brings Lee Te Maari to lock, and Gary Warburton comes into the second row, pushing Nick Kouparitsas to the bench.

Fred Briggs and Aaron Groom are also gone with Charlie Leaeno and Reece Blaney the replacements.

Watch out Panthers: Winger Matt Utai is due back in the Bulldogs’ side and he is one player that can cause problems.

He has only played eight games this season yet has eight line breaks and six tries to his name.

He also has 36 tackle breaks and averages 103 metres a game. Look for the Kiwi flyer to make a real impact.

Watch out Bulldogs: The Panthers have two of the competition’s best tackle breakers in Michael Jennings and Rhys Wesser and the pair will both be hell-bent on returning the Panthers to the winner’s circle after the humiliation in Canberra.

Jennings has 88 tackle breaks so far this year and Wesser has 86 which has them ranked fifth and seventh in the NRL respectively.

Wesser averages 125 metres gained a match, has 11 line breaks (13th in NRL), seven line-break assists and five tries and Jennings averages 106 metres gained, has 13 line breaks (4th in NRL), five line break assists and 11 tries (10th in NRL).

Where it will be won: In the head.

We won’t know how much psychological damage has been inflicted on the Panthers until this match kicks off.

If they have been able to successfully forget about last weekend’s dismal effort than they should win this game and win easily but if they are fragile between the ears then the Bulldogs, with nothing to lose, can cause an ambush and get themselves away from the wooden spoon.

Surely Matt Elliott has just written off the match and hasn’t subjected his men to the horror film?

I doubt Maurice Blair and Masada Iosefa want to watch their eight missed tackles apiece in front of their team-mates, who missed enough themselves to not be in a position to pass judgment.

The Bulldogs also need to rid their brains of wooden-spoon thoughts.

That will only add pressure when the best plan of attack will be just to write off the year as a bad one and have some fun in the last month.

The History: Played 75; Panthers 28, Bulldogs 44, drawn 3.

The Panthers have won five of the past six games between the clubs, including the last three in a row.

Earlier this year they prevailed 30-4 at ANZ Stadium. At CUA Stadium the Bulldogs have won 20, the Panthers 15 and there was one draw.

Conclusion: Despite their capitulation last weekend the Panthers should be able to win this game at home.

They might have a poor 3-5 home record this season but the ’Dogs 2-8 away record means it shouldn’t be an over-riding factor.

The home side has a place in the finals at stake which should be more than enough to motivate them.

And the stain of the defeat last week will only be washed away if they can bounce back with purpose against a side who is just holding on waiting for the end of year trip away.

Match officials: Referee – Gavin Badger; Sideline Officials – Daniel Eastwood & Mohamad Fajajo; Video ref – Russell Smith.

Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Delayed 9.30pm.

* Statistics: NRL Stats.

 

[mxlegend99]

Michael Jennings is pretty high up in those statistics. Not bad considering our team hasn't had a proper halves pairing to feed him quality ball. Although it's more surprising to see Rhys Wesser doing so well in those stats. He's still doing well for an old bloke.

 

[The Gambler]

Penrith should rought the salary cap if they lose this game. Simply so they are stripped of their competition points and finish a deserving dead last.

 

[0neye]

mOFFO SAID , 500 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ oN tHE dOGGIES $_$

 

[Timmah]

Bulldogs emphatic winners in Toyota, 38-18 in the final minutes.

 

[The Gambler]

God that was a soft try to the Panthers.

Made it look Jennings performed a miracle to score. Well he did - the sea of defence opened for him!

 

[Apey]

Poor Cowboys... I hope they don't take the spoon.

 

[Patorick]

Chin up Dogs fans, only three weeks of this to go.

 

[pantherz9103]

Just got back from the game. Good to see us put 50 on someone, even though it was only the bulldogs. Still scrappy at times and wouldn't be good enough to beat storm (intensity needs to double or triple), but the boys restored pride and reacted the right way by thrashing a team they are supposed to. Jennings deserves to make the Australian squad for the World Cup. He single handedly destroyed the Bulldogs in that 1st half. Also well done Luke Rooney on his 4 tries, shame he's going to French yawnion.