Round 20: Bulldogs v Panthers preview
Plenty to play for as Western Sydney rivals face off
A match-up between 15th and 7th may appear to be a contest of little consequence, but for the Bulldogs and Panthers the opportunity to secure two competition points will be of the utmost importance when they clash for the first time at Bankwest Stadium.
Sitting two points above the last-placed Titans, but suffering from the worst for-and-against differential in the league, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will go a long way towards avoiding the wooden spoon with a win on Saturday evening.
Showing signs of improvement in recent weeks with two wins over the past month, coach Dean Pay will be stressing the importance of maintaining possession at key moments following several costly mistakes in last week's 20-12 loss to the Sydney Roosters at home.
Averaging just over 12 points per game in 2019, the Bulldogs have managed four tries in a match on just three occasions; however in each of those matches the blue and whites have emerged victorious as a result of their doggedness.
In a major milestone for Aiden Tolman, the veteran prop will become only the tenth player in 85 seasons to reach 200 appearances for Canterbury-Bankstown. Joining the Bulldogs in the aftermath of Melbourne's salary cap scandal, the 30-year-old has provided immense experience during a challenging period for the club in recent times.
Maintaining an unchanged line up from the team beaten by the reigning premiers last Sunday, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Corey Harawira-Naera will face off against their former club for the first time.
Going down to the Raiders, 30-18, in a spirited affair at home last Sunday, the Penrith Panthers will be eager to get back in the winner's circle as they chase a top eight finish.
Winning seven matches in a row prior to last week's loss, coach Ivan Cleary will be confident in Penrith's ability to come away with two competition points given the side's strong record in recent years against the Bulldogs with four wins from their past five clashes.
Posting four tries in a match just three times this season, the Panthers will be wary of the threat posed by the Bulldogs with a loss potentially having huge ramifications on their standing at the end of the round. Set to remain in seventh position with a win, the closeness of the premiership ladder could see the Panthers fall as low as 11th with a loss as a result of their poor for-and-against differential.
Resisting the urge to make changes in the aftermath of last week's loss, Liam Martin retains his place in the second row with Viliame Kikau still sidelined through suspension.
Last meeting: Round 8 2018 - Panthers 22 Bulldogs 14
Who to watch: Returning to the NRL after a lengthy stint on the sidelines last Sunday, Bulldogs playmaker Lachlan Lewis will be hoping to make the most of his opportunity back in the top grade. Regarded as a rising star after being named the club's Rookie of the Year in 2018, the 22-year-old has been emblematic of the Bulldogs' season after struggling to kick on from the positive end to last year. Having a hand in a late try against the Roosters with a nicely weighted kick, look for Lewis to test the Panthers with his kicking game and willingness to take on the line.
Coming back into form following a lacklustre start to 2019, Dylan Edwards has been central to the Panthers' resurgence over the past two months. Relegated to the wing before spending time in reserve grade due to a lack of confidence under the high ball, the 23-year-old fullback hasn't missed a beat since earning a recall, averaging over 150 metres per game as part of a potent back three combination alongside Josh Mansour and Brian To'o. Facing off against his former teammate, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, in a key duel on Saturday evening, expect Edwards to provide the Panthers with strong service with the ball in hand.
The favourite: Winning 10 of 16 clashes against the Bulldogs this decade, the Panthers are expected to maintain their dominance on Saturday evening.
My tip: Having shown tremendous effort over the past month only to fall short against the top teams due to the quality of their roster, look for the Bulldogs to pull off an upset in a low scoring contest. Bulldogs by 2.
