Match Preview: Eels v Panthers, Round 11

Author: parraeels.com.au
Timestamp: Wed 22 May 2019, 02:34 PM

Sterlo's Parra Preview: Eels v Panthers, Round 11

The Parramatta Eels take on the Penrith Panthers at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday 23 May in Round 11’s NRL Indigenous Round.

Following a 17-10 defeat to the North Queensland Cowboys last week, Arthur has made a handful of changes to his side with Maika Sivo returning from suspension on the wing and Blake Ferguson named in the centres shifting Brad Takairangi to the bench.

Tim Mannah comes into the starting side along Junior Paulo in the front row with Shaun Lane, Marata Niukore and Manu Ma’u remaining in the back row & lock positions.

David Gower also returns to the Blue & Gold line up, named on the bench alongside Takairangi, Peni Terepo and Daniel Alvaro. Jaeman Salmon, Bevan French, Kane Evans and Oregon Kaufusi are on the reserves.

For the Panthers, Head Coach Ivan Cleary has made a handful of changes to his side that is searching for their third win of the season.

Jarome Luai will start at five-eighth for the suspended James Maloney, Frank Winterstein returns in the back row, James Fisher-Harris shifts to lock and Liam Martin drops back to the bench.

Josh Mansour and Reagan Campbell-Gillard return following a week with the Canterbury Cup side, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been omitted.

Heading into Round 11, the Eels are coming off back to back losses, and a five day turn around, and will be eager to get back to the winners circle in front of their loyal Blue & Gold Members and fans at home.

For the Panthers, they enter this clash with six losses in a row, with four clubs scoring 30 points or more against them. They have scored 88 points in the last six rounds but conceded 166.

Historically, the Eels hold a head to head advantage over the Panthers with 57 wins from 97 games.

In the last time these two sides met, the Eels came away 20-12 victors over the Panthers in the 2019 season opener at Panthers Stadium. The Eels have won four of the last eight clashes over the past five years.

This will be the first time the Panthers have played at Bankwest Stadium, with the Eels claiming two big wins in their past two games at their new home.

The Eels are running third in the NRL, behind the Roosters and Rabbitohs, in terms of try assists, and they're also equal third with South Sydney in line break assists.

Props James Tamou and Junior Paulo bring too vastly different body shapes but a wealth of power and velocity. Tamou has 14 tackle breaks this year, Paulo has 11, and they are both averaging 12 hit-ups a game. The starts by these two will go a long way to determining which team gets the upper hand early.

Manu Ma’u will play his 100^th NRL game.

Kick off will be at 7:50pm. Click through to purchase your tickets to the clash.

Round 11 - Round 11 - Thursday 23 May

Full Time

Eels

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Eels is number 1 Clinton Gutherson

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
Winger for Eels is number 2 Maika Sivo

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Josh Mansour
Centre for Eels is number 3 Josh Hoffman

Centre for Panthers is number 3 Dean Whare
Centre for Eels is number 4 Blake Ferguson

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Waqa Blake
Winger for Eels is number 5 George Jennings

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
Five-Eighth for Eels is number 6 Will Smith

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
Halfback for Eels is number 7 Mitchell Moses

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Eels is number 8 Junior Paulo

Prop for Panthers is number 8 James Tamou
Hooker for Eels is number 9 Reed Mahoney

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Sione Katoa
Prop for Eels is number 10 Tim Mannah

Prop for Panthers is number 16 Tim Grant
2nd Row for Eels is number 11 Shaun Lane

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau
2nd Row for Eels is number 12 Marata Niukore

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Frank Winterstein
Lock for Eels is number 13 Manu Ma'u

Lock for Panthers is number 13 James Fisher-Harris

Interchange

Interchange for Eels is number 14 Peni Terepo

Interchange for Panthers is number 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Interchange for Eels is number 15 Daniel Alvaro

Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Tyrell Fuimaono
Interchange for Eels is number 16 Brad Takairangi

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Moses Leota
Interchange for Eels is number 17 David Gower

Interchange for Panthers is number 18 Mitch Kenny