Wests Tigers v Panthers preview

Embed from Getty Images

Wests Tigers v Penrith Panthers Sunday 4:05pm at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta / Burramattagal

They won four premierships together and were statistically the greatest halves pairing in rugby league history, winning 87.6 per cent of their games in the NRL.

But on Sunday afternoon, Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai will be rivals as the Panthers and Tigers face off for the first time since the Penrith five-eighth left the club.

Of course, Luai is just the latest of many former Panthers to make the switch with Sunia Turuva and Apisai Koroisau also lining up for the Tigers on Sunday afternoon while Charlie Staines and Brent Naden have been named on Wests' extended bench.

While the Luai-Cleary narrative will dominate headlines all week, this shapes as a pivotal game for Penrith in particular as the four-time premiers look to get their title defence back on track.

The Panthers have not won back-to-back games this season and while last week's 18-10 win over Parramatta was much-needed, it won't mean much if Ivan Cleary's team is unable to build on it.

It was one of Penrith's best defensive efforts in the season and a similar performance against a Tigers team with the second-worst defence in the league will go a long way to securing the win.

The Tigers had only themselves to blame last Saturday as ill-discipline cost Benji Marshall's side in a thrilling loss to the Cowboys.

North Queensland finished on top 32-28 but it could well have been a very different result if the Tigers hadn't had two players sent to the sin bin.

In team news, Isaiah Papali'i has been named on Penrith's extended bench and could return from a knee injury to face his former team while Luke Garner is also a chance of featuring for the Panthers after a concussion-related absence. 

It would be a welcome boost for the Panthers, especially given they relied heavily on their Origin stars Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin last week to get the job done up front.

In a strange decision, coach Ivan Cleary has yet again opted for Daine Laurie on the bench, perhaps signaling he is happy to run with Mitch Kenny as an option in the forward rotation instead of an 80-minute hooker.

Meanwhile, the Tigers welcome back Latu Fainu (thumb) on the bench and Jeral Skelton (hamstring) on the wing while Alex Twal's absence (concussion) sees Alex Seyfarth move to lock and Tony Sukkar start in the back row. 

Elsewhere, Charlie Murray makes his NRL debut off the bench.

Last meeting: Round 7 2024 - Panthers 22 Wests Tigers 6

Who to watch: The Panthers have typically struggled in recent years when it comes to defending running five-eighths, with Tom Dearden and Ezra Mam at the top of that list. While Heath Mason is still establishing himself in the NRL, the Tigers young gun could be particularly threatening playing second-fiddle to Luai. All eyes will be on the former Panther but Mason ran for over 123 metres in last week's loss to North Queensland and could have a real impact.

In desperate need of punch off the bench, Luron Patea has provided spark for the Panthers. The loss of James Fisher-Harris saw Lindsay Smith promoted to the starting line-up and while he has largely excelled in the role, it has left Penrith's bench stocks thin, especially with Liam Henry suspended and veterans like Papali'i and Garner battling injuries as of late. Patea though has emerged as a genuine game breaker like Leota was early in his career. He is able to pick up plenty of post-contact metres with his leg drive and can turn momentum when the opposition defence is starting to tire.

Favourite:The Panthers are well-backed to make it two wins in a row.

My tip:If the Panthers play with the same level of desperation in defence, they should get this done. But there is little doubting the Tigers will lift for Sunday's game, especially as Luai looks to get one up over his former teammates. An upset could be brewing. Wests Tigers by 4.

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To'a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Heath Mason 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Sione Fainu 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Tony Sukkar 13. Alex Seyfarth 14. Latu Fainu 15. Jack Bird 16. Kit Laulilii 17. Charlie Murray 18. Luke Laulilii

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To'o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Luron Patea 19. Isaiah Papali'i 21. Luke Garner 14. Luke Sommerton

Referees: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski; Sideline Officials: Drew Oultram, Jon Stone; Video Referees: Adam Gee;