SATURDAY JUNE 1st 2024 BLUEBET STADIUM PENRITH
The clash between second and 12th appears one-sided based on recent form, but the absence of five Panthers due to Origin duty gives the Dragons a chance for an upset.
Origin Absences Shake Up Panthers Line-up
With Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards in Blues camp and Nathan Cleary out injured, the Panthers’ renowned depth will again be tested as they look to navigate the tricky Origin period.
Panthers playmaker Jack Cole will be monitored after sustaining a hamstring injury against the Sharks.
New Faces Step Up for Panthers
Fullback Daine Laurie, winger Jesse McLean, halfback Brad Schneider, and back-rowers Liam Henry and Lindsay Smith are the new additions to Ivan Cleary’s starting line-up, filling in for the five stars away on Origin duty.
Playmaker Trent Toelau will make his NRL debut off the bench alongside Preston Riki, Mavrik Geyer and Tyrone Peachey, who plays just his second game of the season.
Dragons Facing Injury Woes and Absentees
The Dragons will be without Maroons representatives Ben Hunt and Jaydn Su’A, as well as Blues debutant Zac Lomax, prompting coach Shane Flanagan to turn to his son Kyle and Jesee Marschke for a new playmaking combination.
With just one win in their past four games and having conceded 138 points during that span, the Dragons risk losing touch with the top eight if they can’t turn things around against the Panthers, Wests Tigers, and Sea Eagles before their Round 16 bye.
Dragons Line-up Adjustments
Sione Finau will take the wing for his second career game, replacing NSW Blues debutant Zac Lomax, while Max Feagai and his brother Mat join the backline, filling in for the injured Jack Bird and Mikaele Ravalawa, who has been relegated to the reserves.
Jesse Marschke will step in as the new halfback in Ben Hunt’s absence, while Jack de Belin moves to prop to cover for Hame Sele (shoulder). With Jaydn Su’A on Maroons duty, Luciano Leilua and Raymond Faitala-Mariner join the starting side.
The Couchman brothers, Toby and Ryan, have been added to the bench along with Ben Murdoch-Masila, and Fa’amanu Brown has been moved to 18th man.
Panthers
1. Daine Laurie 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Jesse McLean 6. Jack Cole 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Henry 13. Lindsay Smith, 14. Trent Toelau 15. Preston Riki 16. Mavrik Geyer , 17. Tyrone Peachey , 18. Isaiah Iongi 19. Ativalu Lisati 20. Luron Patea 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Casey McLean
Dragons
1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Sione Finau 3. Moses Suli 4. Mathew Feagai 5. Mathew Feagai 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Jesse Marschke 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin , 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Tom Eisenhuth, 14. Blake Lawrie 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Toby Couchman 17. Ryan Couchman, 18. Fa’amanu Brown 19. Michael Molo 20. Alec Tuitavake 21. Christian Tuipulotu 22. Mikaele Ravalawa
Referee. Todd Smith, Touch Judges. Matt Noyen, Drew Oultram, Bunker. Gerard Sutton
Statistics
The Panthers have won their past six games against the Dragons.
The Dragons have lost their last 10 games without halfback Ben Hunt.
The Panthers have won 13 of their past 14 games at BlueBet Stadium.
Panthers winger Sunia Turuva has scored seven tries in his past five games at BlueBet Stadium.
Prediction
The Panthers, still smarting from their previous loss to the Warriors, unleashed their fury on the Sharks, who suffered for challenging their supremacy.
The Dragons performed well in the first half against the Bulldogs but were overwhelmed after the break. The Panthers will lose several key players to Origin, while the Dragons will be without Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax. Typically, the Panthers have systems in place to manage the absence of Origin players and should be able to overcome the Dragons.
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