Round 16: Panthers v Wests Tigers preview
Tigers in enemy territory to end the Panthers' record run.
When these sides last met back in round 8 it was the night the sixth placed Tigers fell short, and a smiling Ivan Cleary gestured rowdy Wests fans towards the scoreboard.
Penrith hasn't stopped laughing since. Now with one hand on the minor premiership the Panthers are poised to extend a club record 10 match winning streak, while the Tigers, with only two wins from their past seven, have slipped to ninth needing four wins from their last five to be a puncher's chance at finals footy.
Where the Panthers have grown a leg, the Tigers have once again run out of puff. With the boos of the Leichhardt faithful ringing in their ears after halftime last week, Michael Maquire's Tigers sparked with two tries but failed to ignite as the Roosters skipped clear to win 38-16.
Battered and mentaly shot, the Tigers just couldn't get out of second gear in a depressing first half against the reigning premiers that kick started a horror run that takes them to the foot of the mountains before contests that include the resurgent Rabbitohs and competition heavyweights Melbourne and Parramatta.
In a boost to black-and-gold spirits Harry Grant returns from a knee injury forcing fellow hooker Jacob Liddle to the bench, while in a possible sign of things to come a frustrated Maquire has axed top-dollar recruits Josh Reynolds and Russell Packer. In other changes, Tom Mikaele and Alex Twal will start in the pack with Matt Eisenhuth and young tearaway Shawn Blore named on the interchange.
Back in July when Penrith rolled the Tigers 19-12 it was Api Koroisau's tenacity that proved the difference, but this week the inspiration will have to come from elsewhere given a calf injury will see the classy hooker parked up alongside the suspended Viliame Kikau.
Now three points clear of the second placed Storm, the key outs are a major threat to the Panthers' rhythm. Mitch Kenny will do his best in Koroisau's boots, while the Kikau fallout sees James Fisher-Harris named at lock and Moses Leota at prop. Out wide, Tyrone May makes way for centre Brent Naden and Brian To'o returns on the wing following a seven week ankle injury.
Last meeting: Round 8 2020 - Wests Tigers 12 Panthers 19
Who to watch: Last week at Panthers Stadium Matt Moylan starred as a tormented character in a Liam Martin horror movie. The Sharks five-eighth simply had no answer to the Temora backrower's power - brushed aside for two tries and monstered in a legal steal. Now an 80 minute regular, Martin's profile has been on the rise since his debut in 2019 and thanks to last week's seven tackle breaks, the Tigers' halves could be in for a sleepless week.
Now in his fourth full season of NRL, Luciano Leilua is maturing into a reliable strike weapon. Heading an undersized pack the former Dragon loves nothing more than launching his 114 kilogram bulk into edge defenders. And if the Tigers are to match the Panthers' bully men, the 24-year-old will need a repeat of last week's 148 metres, of which half were a dozer-like post contact.
The favourite: Cronulla coach John Morris reckons the Panthers are the team to beat for the premiership. So it'll take something monumental from the Tigers to upset the apple cart.
My tip: Penrith have made a habit of dining out on mid-table mediocrity. And even allowing for the loss of Koroisau and a host of other changes, a large swig of pre-finals complacency is about the only thing that will stop Penrith from equalling a club record seven consecutive victories on home turf. Panthers by 10.
