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First Grade
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Panthers V Storm Preview
NRL.com
CUA Stadium
Monday 7pm
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=52506
IT was all well and good for the Panthers to bounce back from their humiliation in Canberra with a huge win against the Bulldogs but with all due respect, some of the NSW Cup sides might give the Bulldogs a run for their money at the moment.
As such, the true test of their turnaround comes on Monday night when they take on the rampant, ladder-leading Storm, who keep confirming their favouritism for the title with impressive wins.
The Roosters were the most recent side to be hammered by the Storm and if the Panthers don’t turn up at 100 per cent for this game they could be on the end of another hiding.
Penrith are currently in ninth, a solitary point outside the finals zone, and considering the Warriors and Dragons play each other, a win would put them inside the top eight.
However a loss could see them as low as 13th, something they’d be aware of before they hit the field as the last game of the round.
Hooker Luke Priddis is back after being rested for the Bulldogs clash, which pushes Paul Aiton to the bench, while Joseph Paulo has been added to the side which currently has 19 members.
For the Storm, rampaging back-rower Ryan Hoffman is out with an ankle injury meaning Jeremy Smith will start and Aiden Tolman will come onto the bench.
Watch out Panthers: Melbourne are making significantly more metres from kicks then the Penrith side, which if continued will allow them to dominate field position.
Currently Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis are ensuring the Storm gain 639 metres from the boot a match (second in the NRL) while Luke Lewis and his mates are churning out just 488 metres (14th in NRL).
It’s hard enough to beat Melbourne with an even share of field position but if you give up territory, you give up your chances to prevail.
The Panthers must put more pressure on the Storm kickers but it must be done as a unit or the reigning premiers will just run the football instead and exploit any holes left by over-zealous chasers.
Watch out Storm: Melbourne are the competition’s worst team at defusing chip kicks so they can expect Luke Lewis and co to try out their skill when they get a chance.
The Storm are failing to contain chips on 57 per cent of occasions.
They also have trouble with banana kicks and cross-field kicks where they are missing 67 per cent and they are 12th at taking bombs, so it could be raining all sorts of kicks at the foot of the Blue Mountains!
Where it will be won: Defence on the edges.
The Panthers love to attack the edges of the ruck and they have had plenty of success but the also have one of the worst defences when it comes to the fringes.
Canberra, Manly and even the Bulldogs have all had success against the Penrith edge defence in recent weeks and they have now leaked 22 tries on the left fringe and 21 tries on the right fringe which ranks them 13th in both categories.
With Melbourne enjoying plenty of success in attack on the fringes there is danger for the home side.
At least Ryan Hoffman is out; however his replacement in Jeremy Smith is no ‘Neville’.
The Storm know the Panthers will return the favour and are aware that containing Frank Pritchard on the left (their right-side defenders) is easier said than done but if they pull it off they go a long way towards winning the contest.
The History: Played 17; Panthers 6, Storm 11.
The Panthers have a 4-2 advantage at CUA Stadium but the Storm have won the past three matches between the teams.
The Storm last won in Penrith in 2003.
Conclusion: Tip the Storm.
They are in great form and while the Panthers had a big win last weekend you can’t really gauge a side’s prowess after they’ve played the Bulldogs.
An upset isn’t out of the question, especially as the Storm have had an intense past three games, but the Panthers have been far from convincing at home (4-5) and as such are expected to lose.
The real question is, if they are to lose, just how close will it be?
That will answer how serious the Panthers are in regards to this competition.
Match officials: Referee – Matt Cecchin; Sideline Officials – Luke Potter & Rod Lawrence; Video ref – Bill Harrigan.
Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Live 7pm
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
NRL.com
CUA Stadium
Monday 7pm
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=52506
IT was all well and good for the Panthers to bounce back from their humiliation in Canberra with a huge win against the Bulldogs but with all due respect, some of the NSW Cup sides might give the Bulldogs a run for their money at the moment.
As such, the true test of their turnaround comes on Monday night when they take on the rampant, ladder-leading Storm, who keep confirming their favouritism for the title with impressive wins.
The Roosters were the most recent side to be hammered by the Storm and if the Panthers don’t turn up at 100 per cent for this game they could be on the end of another hiding.
Penrith are currently in ninth, a solitary point outside the finals zone, and considering the Warriors and Dragons play each other, a win would put them inside the top eight.
However a loss could see them as low as 13th, something they’d be aware of before they hit the field as the last game of the round.
Hooker Luke Priddis is back after being rested for the Bulldogs clash, which pushes Paul Aiton to the bench, while Joseph Paulo has been added to the side which currently has 19 members.
For the Storm, rampaging back-rower Ryan Hoffman is out with an ankle injury meaning Jeremy Smith will start and Aiden Tolman will come onto the bench.
Watch out Panthers: Melbourne are making significantly more metres from kicks then the Penrith side, which if continued will allow them to dominate field position.
Currently Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis are ensuring the Storm gain 639 metres from the boot a match (second in the NRL) while Luke Lewis and his mates are churning out just 488 metres (14th in NRL).
It’s hard enough to beat Melbourne with an even share of field position but if you give up territory, you give up your chances to prevail.
The Panthers must put more pressure on the Storm kickers but it must be done as a unit or the reigning premiers will just run the football instead and exploit any holes left by over-zealous chasers.
Watch out Storm: Melbourne are the competition’s worst team at defusing chip kicks so they can expect Luke Lewis and co to try out their skill when they get a chance.
The Storm are failing to contain chips on 57 per cent of occasions.
They also have trouble with banana kicks and cross-field kicks where they are missing 67 per cent and they are 12th at taking bombs, so it could be raining all sorts of kicks at the foot of the Blue Mountains!
Where it will be won: Defence on the edges.
The Panthers love to attack the edges of the ruck and they have had plenty of success but the also have one of the worst defences when it comes to the fringes.
Canberra, Manly and even the Bulldogs have all had success against the Penrith edge defence in recent weeks and they have now leaked 22 tries on the left fringe and 21 tries on the right fringe which ranks them 13th in both categories.
With Melbourne enjoying plenty of success in attack on the fringes there is danger for the home side.
At least Ryan Hoffman is out; however his replacement in Jeremy Smith is no ‘Neville’.
The Storm know the Panthers will return the favour and are aware that containing Frank Pritchard on the left (their right-side defenders) is easier said than done but if they pull it off they go a long way towards winning the contest.
The History: Played 17; Panthers 6, Storm 11.
The Panthers have a 4-2 advantage at CUA Stadium but the Storm have won the past three matches between the teams.
The Storm last won in Penrith in 2003.
Conclusion: Tip the Storm.
They are in great form and while the Panthers had a big win last weekend you can’t really gauge a side’s prowess after they’ve played the Bulldogs.
An upset isn’t out of the question, especially as the Storm have had an intense past three games, but the Panthers have been far from convincing at home (4-5) and as such are expected to lose.
The real question is, if they are to lose, just how close will it be?
That will answer how serious the Panthers are in regards to this competition.
Match officials: Referee – Matt Cecchin; Sideline Officials – Luke Potter & Rod Lawrence; Video ref – Bill Harrigan.
Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Live 7pm
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
