VENUE & TIME: CUA Stadium – Sunday, July 5, 3pm (AEST).
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 78 – Eels 49, Panthers 28, Drawn 1.
LAST TIME: Round 17, 2008 – Panthers 22-16.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Panthers have had some injury problems of late but none as big as the loss of Petero Civoniceva. The inspirational Panthers captain ripped tendons from his big toe during Queensland's Origin II win and will be sidelined for at least seven weeks. Civoniceva is irreplaceable up front and it’s hard to see how Penrith will overcome his departure. On the plus side they do have speed machine Michael Jennings back but Luke Lewis is still out. The Eels have no fresh injury concerns.
FORM: You had more chance of collecting the 90 million on offer in Oz Lotto the other night than forecasting what Parramatta will do on a week to week basis. They were smashed by the Wests Tigers before coming up with a terrific performance to beat Brisbane last start. As coach Daniel Anderson said after that game, for the Eels it's about building a winning streak one match at a time because they are so inconsistent that looking too far ahead gets you nowhere. The Panthers are coming off a bye but lost two straight before the break.
WHO'S HOT: The scary thing about Jarryd Hayne is that he's only 21 and is just starting to realise how good a player he actually is. Importantly, the brilliant utility back is starting to produce on a regular basis, not just when it suits him. Not that the Eels can predict when the on days will be. Daniel Anderson and Nathan Hindmarsh both shrugged their shoulders and laughed when asked what went on in Hayne's head before a game. At his best, there are a few better players in the NRL. He is averaging 155m a game and has one of the best line break counts in the competition. Trent Waterhouse was very close to earning a call-up to the NSW Origin side for game two. Considering how the Blues played, missing out may have been a blessing for 'House'. He assumes the captaincy from Petero here and could force his way into the Blues side with a big game.
WE THINK: It's step by step for the Eels as they attempt to make a late dash for the finals. A loss in the western Sydney derby just about spells the end. They meet Penrith at a good time, with Civoniceva and Lewis both out. The Panthers are on a two-game losing streak and need to turn things around quickly. It’s always a risk backing Parramatta, especially coming off a win, but we like to live dangerously. Parra by 8
TEAMS:
Panthers: Jarrod Sammut, Brad Tighe, Michael Jennings, Gavin Cooper, Junior Tia-Kilifi, Wade Graham, Luke Walsh, Tim Grant, Paul Aiton, Frank Puletua, Trent Waterhouse [c], Frank Pritchard, Nathan Smith.
Interchange: Joseph Paulo, Matthew Bell, Joel Romelo, Maurice Blair, Sam McKendry 19, Andrew Emelio (two to be omitted).
Eels: Jarryd Hayne, Luke Burt, Joel Reddy, Krisnan Inu, Eric Grothe, Daniel Mortimer, Jeff Robson, Nathan Cayless [c], Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Joe Galuvao, Todd Lowrie.
Interchange: Kevin Kingston, Jeremy Latimore, Broderick Wright, Tim Mannah.