2020 NRL – Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers taking place? Saturday 4th July, 2020 – 10:35 (UK)
Where is Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers taking place? Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
What is the expected weather for Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers? 9c, clear skies
What channel is Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers 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 Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers? 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 Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers? Click here for ticket information on 2020 NRL matches
THE TEAM NEWS
WESTS TIGERS
Starting 13: Doueihi, Nofoaluma, J. Leilua, Mbye, Talau, Reynolds, Brooks, Aloiai, Grant, Clark, Garner, L. Leilua, Eisenhuth – Interchanges: Taylor, Mikaele, McIntyre, Chee-Kam – Reserves: Marshall, Lawrence
Unavailable: Jacob Liddle (Injured), Alex Twal (Injured), Robert Jennings (Injured), Zane Musgrove (Injured)
- Wests Tigers produced a solid display to see off Canterbury Bulldogs and make it two wins in a row but they will face a real challenge to extend their winning run as they face Penrith Panthers in what will be a real test of their top eight credentials.
- The Tigers scored seven tries in the one-sided affair which saw them score 34 unanswered points having trailed by six points to nil and they will be full of confidence after dominating against the Bulldogs with Wests racking up 2,102 metres, over 800m more than the opposition.
- They will need to be solid up front against a Penrith side that average 1,907 metres per game which is the second highest in the NRL, but they have the luxury of naming the same 17 as last week’s victory.
PENRITH PANTHERS
Starting 13: Edwards, Mansour, Whare, Crichton, To’o, Luai, Cleary, Tamou, Koroisau, Fisher-Harris, Kikau, Martin, Yeo – Interchanges: Burton, Tetevano, Leota, Burns – Reserves: Naden, May
Unavailable: Kurt Capewell (Injured)
- Penrith Panthers were the better side throughout as they earned a comfortable victory against South Sydney Rabbitohs last week to maintain their strong start to the season with the Panthers losing just one of their opening seven matches.
- The Panthers dictated play on the back of the ability to move the ball up the field, making 41.2 metres per set on average compared to the Rabbitohs’ 36.7m and they will be confident that their pack can achieve similar results against Wests Tigers.
- Head coach Ivan Cleary would have found it difficult to make any changes after such a solid showing last week but he has made one alteration to his side with Josh Mansour returning on the wing after overcoming a slight knee issue with Brent Naden making way.
THE PREDICTION
Wests Tigers put in a professional display to see off Canterbury Bulldogs last week but they will face a much more difficult task here in their bid to make it three wins in a row. Penrith Panthers have started the season in superb form and look every bit like a side that can compete for the Premiership. The Panthers look strong on both sides of the ball and having won five of the last six meetings between the two teams, Penrith should be able to continue their impressive start to the campaign.
