Panthers v Cowboys preview

Penrith Panthers v North Queensland Cowboys
Pepper Stadium - Monday 7:00pm

We travel out to the wild west on Monday Evening with the Penrith Panthers hosting the North Queensland Cowboys. The boys from the west are desperate to halt a 2 game skid. Since Jamie Soward succumbed to a back injury requiring surgery the Panthers have failed to win a game and have struggled to score points. Isaac John returns to the side this week to partner Peter Wallace in the halves. James Segeyaro and Nigel Plum also return with Bryce Cartwright dropping to the bench. Apisai Koroisau is the 18th man. Penrith will be eager to start well as they have given up the first try in the last two games. All eyes will be on Matt Moylan who will be eager to continue his good early season form to stake a claim for a NSW origin jumper.

North Queensland got the monkey off the back with a relieving 18-17 thriller against Melbourne on Monday Night. Jonathan Thurston played out of his skin and was back to the old Thurston that we have grown to love in the past 10 years. Despite givng up a 16-4 lead more than 60 minutes intot he match the Cowboys showed great spirit and fight to come home with a wet sail and steal the game in Golden Point.

They will no doubt be looking to build on this effort against Penrith and make it back to back wins.

Kelepi Tanginoa returns to the bench with John Asiata moving back to 18th man in the only change for the North Queensland side.
The Cowboys 11 missed tackles on Monday night was their lowest for the season and will be the key for them winning this tough clash on Monday Night. It was a vast improvement on their 47 missed tackles in their drubbing at the hands of Brisbane a week earlier.

Last meeting: Round 23 2014 - Penrith Panthers 23 North Queensland Cowboys 22
Penrith got the goods in last year's clash but had lost the previous 4 before that. Both sides have registered 5 wins in the last 10 clashes. In 32 matches since North Queensland were admitted to the competition in 1995 Penrith hold the slight edge 18-14. 15 of those clashes have been at Pepper Stadium and the Panthers hold the advantage slightly 8-7.

Who to watch: Penrith will be very happy to have James Segeyaro back after missing last weekends clash with a hip injury. The creative hooker will add some much needed spark back into the Penrith attacking game but he is also a very good defender and some of his bone crunching hits will no doubt inspire his team mates who are lacking a bit of confidence.

Keep an eye out for his running from Dummy Half that could be a nightmare for the Cowboys to defend against if they aren't on their toes. I also expect Segeyaro to have a big game as he is playing his former club.

For the Cowboys keep a close eye on the wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo. The New Zealand International can be one of the most destructive ball runners in the NRL when on song. After having a slow start to the season, he was back to his best last Monday night. He had 20 runs for 240 metres, 5 tackle busts, 19 tackles and 1 offload in just 56 minutes! Freakish stuff. If Thurston and co can help Taumalolo get one on one with some of the smaller guys on the field (of which there are many when you consider their size to Taumalolo!).

His ability to break tackles and offload can create space and havoc. Look for him to have a big game to back up last week's performance.

The favourite: Penrith are favourites with the game being played at home.

My tip: Penrith are favourites with the game being played at home.

1. Matt Moylan 2. Josh Mansour 3. Dean Whare 4. Jamal Idris 5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 6. Isaac John 7. Peter Wallace 8. Sam McKendry 9. James Segeyaro 10. Jeremy Latimore 11. Sika Manu 12. Isaah Yeo 13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Nigel Plum 16. Regan Campbell-Gillard 17. Bryce Cartwright 18. Apisai Koroisau

1. Lachlan Coote 2. Matthew Wright 3. Tautau Moga 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Matthew Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. James Tamou 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Rory Kostjasyn 15. Kelepi Tanginoa 16. Scott Bolton 17. Ben Hannant 18. John Asiata 19. Justin O'Neill

Referees: Matt Cecchin, Grant Atkins; Sideline Officials: Nick Beashel, Chris Sutton; Video Referees: Ashley Klein, Henry Perenara;

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