2020 NRL – Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters taking place? Friday 2nd October, 2020 – 10:50 (UK)
Where is Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters taking place? Panthers Stadium, Penrith
What is the expected weather for Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters? 17c, clear skies
What channel is Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
Where can I get tickets for Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters? Click here for ticket information on 2020 NRL matches
THE TEAM NEWS
PENRITH PANTHERS
Starting 13: Edwards, Mansour, Naden, Crichton, To’o, Luai, Cleary, Tamou, Koroisau, Fisher-Harris, Kikau, Martin, Yeo – Interchanges: May, Capewell, Leota, Tetevano – Reserves: Kenny, Leniu
Unavailable:
- Penrith Panthers ended the regular season in superb fashion as the minor premiers were huge winners over Canterbury Bulldogs and the NRL’s meanest defence laid down a big marker ahead of the finals.
- The 0-42 success over the Bulldogs meant that the Panthers ended Round 20 having conceded just 238 points, an average of 11.9 points per game and Penrith will prove a difficult side to beat if they can maintain that number throughout the play-offs.
- Having rested a handful of players last week, the Panthers are back at full-strength for this one with Dylan Edwards, Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau all back in the side, although Penrith do have a slight concern over winger Brian To’o’s ankle knock.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Starting 13: Tedesco, Tupou, J. Morris, Manu, B. Morris, Keary, Flanagan, Waerea-Hargreaves, Lussick, Taukeiaho, Cordner, Tupouniua, Lui – Interchanges:
Lam, Collins, Crichton, N. Butcher– Reserves: Aubusson, Faamausili
Unavailable: Billy Smith (Injured), Victor Radley (Injured), Sam Verrills (Injured), Jake Friend (Injured), Sonny Bill Williams (Injured)
- Sydney Roosters will have to do what no side has done in the history of the game if they are to win the Grand Final after they were humiliated by rivals South Sydney Rabbitohs in last week’s final game of the regular season.
- The Roosters’ makeshift right edge was torn to shreds by a relentless South Sydney side that posted ten tries in a 60-8 shellacking and the reigning premiers will need to produce a huge turnaround to put that dreadful performance behind them.
- No team has ever gone on to win the Grand Final in a season in which they have conceded 50 points so the task ahead of the Roosters is a gigantic one with history against them and they will have to cope without hooker Jake Friend in the first week of the finals due to a head knock, whilst Sonny Bill Williams dropped out of the side 24 hours before kick-off because of a neck problem.
THE PREDICTION
The NRL’s best defence takes on the best attack in a mouth-watering start to the finals. Minor premiers Penrith Panthers will be confident that their stout defence can keep Sydney Roosters at bay, particularly as the reigning premiers come into this on the back of a huge loss to local rivals South Sydney Rabbitohs last week. They shipped 60 points but are boosted by the return of a handful of players that were rested last week and they should make a big difference. The Tricolours will need to produce a big response to last week’s shock loss which will start with a better defensive effort and in what has the hallmarks of a tight tussle, there should be no more than 38 points in this contest.
