Salvation for Souths with Good Friday win
16 mins ago | Robert Crosby
Penrith Panthers v Wests Tigers
CUA Stadium Penrith, Saturday 24 April 2010 - 5:30pm kickoff
If the Storm and Dragons are the defensive benchmarks of the NRL, here we have consistently the two most exciting attacking teams in the competition. The Tigers definitely did not display this ability in last week's loss to the Bulldogs but new halfback Blake Lazarus may be better for the run to improve his side's creativity. Both teams will turn up here. The visitors look slightly thinner up front compared to a Panthers pack hosting some of the games best and brightest.
Home ground advantage is also huge here as Penrith, brimming with confidence after dropping 40 on the Warriors last week, will over-power a courageous Tigers defence and outlast them in the end. Michael Jennings may well partner Chris Lawrence in the centre's for NSW this year, but they face each other here in a tantalising battle of superstars. Injury concerns for Tigers entire front row.
Man of the Match Prediction: Frank Pritchard
Tip: Panthers 30-18
Panthers: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Michael Gordon 3. Michael Jennings 4. Adrian Purtell 5. Brad Tighe 6. Travis Burns 7. Luke Walsh 8. Tim Grant 9. Kevin Kingston 10. Petero Civoniceva 11. Trent Waterhouse 12. Frank Pritchard 13. Luke Lewis
Interchange: 14. Nathan Smith 15. Matthew Bell 16. Joseph Paulo 17. Sam McKendry
Reserves: 18. Masada Iosefa 19. Maurice Blair
Tigers: 1. Beau Ryan 2. Lote Tuqiri 3. Blake Ayshford 4. Chris Lawrence 5. Daniel Fitzhenry 6. Benji Marshall 7. Blake Lazarus 8. Bryce Gibbs 9. Robbie Farah (c) 10. Keith Galloway 11. Liam Fulton 12. Gareth Ellis 13. Chris Heighington
Interchange: 14. Andrew Fifita 15. Junior Moors 16. Mark Flanagan 17. Geoff Daniela
Reserves: 18. Chris Corby 19. Mitch Brown
Referees: Shayne Hayne & Chris James; Sideline Officials: Steve Carrall & Ricky McFarlane; Video Referee: Steve Clark