Panthers v Cowboys preview
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/6511/Default.aspx Where was the Panthers side we saw last weekend throughout the rest of the year?
A comprehensive win over the Rabbitohs was great to see for the Penrith faithful but it must have had them wondering why they havent seen it more often.
The win has given the mountain men a real chance of offloading the wooden spoon to someone else they are now just a win away from Cronulla but probably need two wins from their last four games to be a real hope of giving it away, thanks to differential.
They will fancy their chances against the Cowboys, who may have stopped a three-match losing streak with a close win over Canberra last week, but who still have major defensive problems.
The Panthers defeated the Cowboys earlier this year and will be out to do the same again but the boys from Townsville wont surrender easy they are, after all, in the top four and have a home final at their mercy if they keep winning throughout the last month.
Penrith coach Matthew Elliott has named a similar side to last week, with Michael Gordon coming back, sending Mark OHalloran to an extended bench that includes Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse two big names who have been out with injury.
Waterhouse has missed the majority of the season with a broken leg and will be keen to make the final cut.
We told you to watch young fullback Jarrod Sammut and he didnt disappoint with 16 runs for 117 metres, five tackle breaks, two try assists and four goals on debut.
Hell be out to prove he can be a consistent performer against Graham Murrays men.
The Cowboys welcome back Brenton Bowen and Paul Bowman to their backline at the expense of Scott Minto and Ben Farrar, while Shane Muspratt also makes way at pivot for Justin Smith.
Sione Faumuina will start at lock while Origin forward Jacob Lillyman returns to the bench. Matthew Bartlett replaces Ben Vaeau.
Watch out Panthers: Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen put in one of the most astonishing individual displays of the season last week to prove if Johnathan Thurston is a little down, he can take over.
The diminutive custodian had 17 runs for 253 metres, 15 tackle breaks, four kicks for 173 metres, two line breaks, a try and a try assist and was simply outstanding.
He continues to set the standard this year in the NRL, leading the league in try scoring (18), tackle breaks (161) and line breaks (24).
Watch out Cowboys: Not that you ever know what you are going to get with him but giant forward Frank Pritchard showed impressive form against the Bunnies.
The massive Kiwi terrorised the Rabbitohs on the fringes something he is paid the big bucks to do and if he can continue it hell be a handful for the weak Cowboy defence.
His 15 runs for 143 metres, five tackle breaks, a line break and a try were vintage Pritchard and if he keeps the roll going it could be devastating.
Where it will be won: Defence. Both teams have been hopeless in D this year.
The Cowboys might be running fourth but they have leaked 528 points (only the Knights have leaked more)!
The Panthers are last on the ladder and have leaked 519 so its no secret whichever team muscles up will go a long way to winning this contest.
The Panthers weakest area in conceding tries is up the middle where they have let in 33 four pointers while the Cowboys biggest weakness is their left side (right-side defence) which has seen a whopping 38 tries put past it.
The History: Played 21; Panthers 13, Cowboys 8. One of Penriths few positives this season was a 22-12 win against the Cowboys in round nine earlier this year.
They have won five of the past eight against the boys from up north but in the 10 matches at CUA Stadium the honours are shared five apiece.
Conclusion: If the Cowboys are serious about a top-four finish and serious about being contenders for this years title they should win this game.
Yes the Panthers showed plenty of ticker last week and have the motivation of trying to offload the wooden spoon but the Cowboys have bigger fish to fry.
If North Queensland doesnt leave with two points, you get the feeling a slide into the bottom half of the eight will eventuate and the odds of another grand final will lengthen.
Match officials: Referee Jared Maxwell; Sideline Officials Mohamad Fajajo & Paul Holland; Video ref Graeme West.
Televised: Foxsports 3 Live 7pm
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
crazy
