2019 NRL – Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers taking place? Thursday 23rd May, 10:50
Where is Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers taking place? Bankwest Stadium
What channel is Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers on?
UK – This match will not be televised live in the UK
Australia – Fox Sports
Where can I stream Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers?
UK – N/A
Australia – https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-movies-music/sports-offer
Where can I get tickets for Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers?
Parramatta Eels – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500031
Penrith Panthers – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500014
THE TEAM NEWS
PARRAMATTA EELS
Head Coach: Brad Arthur
Starting 13: Gutherson, Sivo, Hoffman, Ferguson, G. Jennings, Smith, Moses, Paulo, Mahoney, Mannah, Lane, Niukore, Ma’u – Interchanges: Terepo, Alvaro, Takairangi, Gower – Reserves: Salmon, French, Evans, Kaufusi
Unavailable: Kaysa Pritchard, Nathan Brown, Dylan Brown, Michael Jennings, Tepai Moeroa
- Parramatta's woes away from home continued as the Eels fell to another defeat on the road with North Queensland edging them last week but will hope a return to the Bankwest Stadium can help them get back on track.
- Michael Jennings will miss another week with a calf injury but Maika Sivo will return from his one-match ban to face the Panthers in a much-changed backline with Blake Ferguson reverting to the centres and George Jennings switching wings.
- Brad Takarangi drops to the bench along with Daniel Alvaro which sees Tim Mannah start in the front row whilst David Gower makes his return to the side on the bench with Oregon Kaufusi dropped.
PENRITH PANTHERS
Head Coach: Ivan Cleary
Starting 13: Edwards, Mansour, Whare, Blake, To’o, Luai, Cleary, Tamou, Katoa, Campbell-Gillard, Kikau, Winterstein, Fisher-Harris – Interchanges: Martin, Fuimaono, Grant, Leota – Reserves: Kenny, Sele, Ellis, Aekins
Unavailable: Tyrone May, Sam McKendry, Isaah Yeo, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, James Maloney
- Penrith ended Round 10 bottom of the NRL ladder after the Panthers suffered their eighth defeat of the season against New Zealand Warriors and have now lost five consecutive matches.
- The Panthers will have to do without James Maloney for this game after he was handed a one-match ban for a late hit against the Warriors with Jarome Luai coming into the side whilst Ivan Cleary has made some more high-profile changes.
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is dropped with Josh Mansour returning to the side whilst Reagan Campbell-Gillard is also back in the front row after sitting out last week and that sees Kaide Ellis drop out of the side.
THE PREDICTION
Nobody would have predicted Penrith would be sitting bottom of the NRL at this stage of the season but they have been shocking ten rounds in. They now travel to a Parramatta side that are unbeaten at their new stadium and will be hoping their form at home can continue. The Eels have produced two very strong home performances at the Bankwest Stadium and they will be confident of getting back on track against the out-of-sorts Panthers.
