NRL Previews - Panthers v Storm (Round 6)

  vs  
17-04-2011 03:00PM at Centrebet Stadium Penrith

Referees: Ben Cummins and Chris James
Touch Judges: David Abood and Henry Peranara
Video Referee: Russell Smith

You could not find two more contrasting football teams. The Panthers of recent years have been inconsistent, reliant upon only a handful of players and have disappeared in some big games. The Storm, on the other hand, have been a model of week-to-week consistency, have talent across the park in attack and defence and have done nothing but win the big games. Whilst some of this can be explained away via the Salary Cap scandal of 2010, Melbourne's performances this year suggest otherwise.

They defend for 80 minutes, they are clinical in attack and they have enough firepower to blow you off the park in a hurry. This is exactly what will happen on Sunday afternoon at Centrebet Stadium. The Panthers will lift as they do but will drop their guard long enough for the visitors to punish them. It will be hard going for Luke Walsh and Kevin Kingston as they are out-gunned in the end by Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith.

My Tip: Storm 18-10

The Teams

Penrith Panthers               Melbourne Storm
Suspensions No Suspensions Injuries N. Smith L. Coote L. Lewis D. Laurie	1. Michael Gordon Fullback 1. Billy Slater 2. Sandor Earl Wing 2. Matt Duffie 3. Michael Jennings Centre 3. Dane Nielsen 4. Brad Tighe Centre 4. Beau Champion 5. David Simmons Wing 5. Anthony Quinn 6. Travis Burns Five Eighth 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Luke Walsh Halfback 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Tim Grant Prop 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Kevin Kingston Hooker 9. Cameron Smith 10. Petero Civoniceva Prop 10. Bryan Norrie 11. Trent Waterhouse Second Row 11. Adam Blair 12. Nigel Plum Second Row 12. Kevin Proctor 13. Sarafu Fatiaki Lock 13. Todd Lowrie 14. Nafe Seluni Interchange 14. Adam Woolnough 15. Matthew Bell Interchange 15. Atelia Vea 16. Timana Tahu Interchange 16. Ryan Hinchcliffe 17. Sam McKendry Interchange 17. Jaiman Lowe	Suspensions No Suspensions Injuries T. Thompson S. Manu C. Stanley S. Kite

Head to Head

Other Games this Round

• Parramatta Eels v Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium
• Gold Coast Titans v Wests Tigers at Skilled Park
• Manly Sea Eagles v New Zealand Warriors at Brookvale Oval
• Sydney Roosters v Brisbane Broncos at Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
• North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders at Dairy Farmers Stadium
• Newcastle Knights v Cronulla Sutherland Sharks at Ausgrid Stadium
• Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm at Centrebet Stadium Penrith
• South Sydney Rabbitohs v St George Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium