The Stats Zone
· Tom

2018 NRL – Penrith Panthers vs North Queensland Cowboys Preview

Post Share

AT A GLANCE

When? Friday 04th May, 10:55 (UK)

Where? Carrington Park

What channel is it on? UK - Penrith Panthers vs North Queensland Cowboys will not be televised live in the UK Australia - Nine Network, Foxtel, LIVE PASS

Where can I stream the match? UK - N/A Australia - https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-...

Are tickets still available? http://premier.ticketek.com.au...

THE STATISTICS

THE LOWDOWN

PANTHERS

Head Coach: Anthony Griffin

Starting 13: Watene-Zelezniak, Crichton, Yeo, Whare, Phillips, Peachey, Maloney, Merrin, Wallace, Campbell-Gillard, Kikau, Harawira-Naera, Fisher-Harris – Interchanges: Katoa, Hetherington, Leota, Tamou – Reserves: Egan, Lui-Toso, Eisenhuth, Ellis

Unavailable: Tyrone May, Sam McKendry, Nathan Cleary, Waqa Blake, Josh Mansour, Dylan Edwards

  • Penrith had to overcome a slow start to the game to claim the spoils against Canterbury this week. The Panthers have made a habit of going behind in games but responding well this season and having trailed 2-12 just before half-time, Penrith were able to hit back to win 22-14.
  • Penrith’s injury woes heightened this week as Tim Browne retired with immediate effect. Fullback Dylan Edwards could be done for the season after he picked up a shoulder injury last week so Dallin Watene-Zelezniak takes the 1 jersey with Tyrone Phillips slated to make his club debut on the wing.
  • Penrith were far from their best but did enough for the win. They’re short of backs at the minute with plenty of talent sat on the sidelines long-term so were thankful their forwards helped out significantly against the Bulldogs. They won the forward battle, making 42m per set whilst restricting Canterbury to just 34.1m per set.

COWBOYS

Head Coach: Paul Green

Starting 13: Coote, Feldt, O'Neill, Hampton, Winterstein, Morgan, Thurston, Scott, Granville, Bolton, Cooper, Hess, Taumalolo – Interchanges: Martin, Fensom, Jensen, Lowe – Reserves: Molo, Clifford, Bowen, Hoare

Unavailable: Josh Chudleigh, Kane Linnett, Jordan McLean, John Asiata

  • North Queensland’s miserable start to the season continued as the Cowboys went down to the Raiders on home soil last week. Having snapped a run of five losses in a row against Gold Coast, the Cowboys couldn’t make it back-to-back wins as they went down 8-18.
  • Despite the loss last week, Paul Green has named the same 17 but may turn to the likes of Javid Bowen at some point soon.
  • With just two wins from eight games and Origin around the corner, a time where the Cowboys will be losing a clutch of important players, it’s difficult to see them jumping up the table. The Cowboys are only one spot off bottom place and that’s only on points difference.

THE PREDICTION

North Queensland’s demise is a strange one with last season’s Grand Finalists languishing near the bottom of the NRL ladder. They aren’t missing too many players and on paper, their team is as strong as anyone in the competition but for some reason, nothing is going right for them this season. On the other hand, their opponents in this one are enjoying themselves at the opposite end of the table. Penrith have done well to overcome some bad luck with injuries to key players this season and will have to do so again following Dylan Edwards’ likely season-ending shoulder injury. However, they should still have enough to keep picking up points despite their injury-list and can add another two points in this one.

TSZ Latest