Panthers v Sharks preview

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Will luck be on the Sharks side as the fight for thirteen straight?

Having shown signs of brilliance against Manly and South Sydney, Penrith were left to pay for their defensive lapses against the Tigers last Saturday. Establishing a 14-2 lead early, the Panthers capitulated in the 20 minutes either side of half time, conceding six tries to fall outside the top eight. Returning to Pepper Stadium on Sunday afternoon, coach Anthony Griffin will be looking for a much-improved defensive performance against a Cronulla outfit decimated by Origin. With Matt Moylan missing out on the NSW fullback position in favour of James Tedesco, the Panthers will be without the service of Josh Mansour, who is replaced by English international Zak Hardaker. With Sam McKendry sustaining a suspected ACL tear, fellow Kiwi prop Suaia Matagi comes onto the bench alongside utility Will Smith, playing his first game since Round 4.

Achieving a club record twelfth consecutive win last Saturday against Parramatta, Cronulla will be without five of their key players through Origin duty. With the likes of Gallen, Fifita, Maloney, Bird and Graham all benefitting from the Sharks form on the field, coach Shane Flanagan has been forced to field a new-look side featuring four players making their first appearances of 2016. Samoan international Fa'amanu Brown will make his long-awaited return to the NRL after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the Auckland 9's last season, while off-season recruits Matt McIlwrick, Jesse Sene-Lefao and debutant Kurt Capewell will be looking to take their NRL opportunities with both hands. Coming away with six wins from their past eight meetings with the Panthers, the Sharks will be hoping fortune favours them on Sunday as the look to extend their winning run.

Last meeting: Round 8 2016 - Sharks 20 Panthers 18

Who to watch: Producing an emphatic performance against Cronulla earlier in 2016, Penrith rookie James Fisher-Harris will be looking to make his mark once again on Sunday. Having recently returned from injury, the former Junior Kiwis representative has been named to start for the first time and shapes as a key figure for the club moving forward. At just 20-years-old, Fisher-Harris has made an impression in his first season under coach Anthony Griffin and looms as a strike weapon for the club in the lead up to September.

Beginning his career with the Panthers in 2008, Joseph Paulo shapes as a key figure for the Sharks on Sunday. With five players missing through Origin duty, the former Eels utility will be looking to impress as the Sharks fight to extend their winning run to thirteen straight matches. Having struggled for game time for much of the season, the 28-year-old international will be out to fill the void left by NSW debutant Wade Graham and consolidate his place in the Cronulla squad in preparation for finals football. 

The favourite: Coming up against an Origin depleted Sharks side, the Panthers are expected to bounce back from the disappointment of last week.

My tip: Having conceded six tries last week, expect Penrith to stiffen up in defence and produce a solid win at home. Panthers by 8.

17. William Smith 2. Zak Hardaker 3. Waqa Blake 19. Dylan Edwards 5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 6. Bryce Cartwright 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Leilani Latu 9. Peter Wallace 10. Regan Campbell-Gillard 11. Isaah Yeo 12. James Fisher-Harris 13. Trent Merrin
Interchange: 14. Suaia Matagi 15. Jeremy Latimore 16. Chris Grevsmuhl 20. Sitaleki Akauola

1. Ben Barba 2. Sosaia Feki 18. Mitch Brown 4. Gerard Beale 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Fa'amanu Brown 7. Chad Townsend 8. Matt Prior 9. Michael Ennis 10. Sam Tagataese 11. Luke Lewis 12. Jayson Bukuya 13. Chris Heighington
Interchange: 14. Matt McIlwrick 15. Jesse Sene-Lefao 16. Kurt Capewell 17. Joseph Paulo

Referees: Jared Maxwell, Henry Perenara; Sideline Officials: Jason Walsh, Clayton Sharpe; Video Referees: Ashley Klein, Matt Cecchin, Ben Galea