FRIDAY MAY 10th, 2024 BLUEBET STADIUM, PENRITH.
Return of Former Panthers Stars
A pair of Bulldogs stars are gearing up for their first return to Penrith, while the Panthers anticipate the comeback of Nathan Cleary for Friday night’s showdown.
Panthers Line-up and Cleary’s Return
Cleary, who sat out last week’s victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs as a precaution, had recently made a comeback from a hamstring injury sustained in round three. Despite his absence, the Panthers convincingly triumphed over Souths, extending their winning streak to three weeks.
Now, as the defending premiers, they prepare to face several former teammates at BlueBet Stadium in what promises to be an intriguing encounter on Friday night.
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo , 14. Jack Cole 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Mavrik Geyer, 18. Daine Laurie 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Brad Schneider 21. Preston Riki 22. Soni Luke
Bulldogs Rising Under Ciraldo
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton and edge forward Viliame Kikau will play their first game against their former club in what is sure to be a hotly contested affair. Matt Burton and Jaeman Salmon will also confront their former team in what adds an extra layer of anticipation to the match.
Under the guidance of former Penrith assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo, Canterbury has surged into the top eight with a string of impressive performances.
Their latest triumph—a come-from-behind win against the Wests Tigers—marked their first consecutive victories in over a year.
Bulldogs Roster Adjustments
Forward Jacob Preston is poised to assume a more significant role this Friday, following his return from a fractured jaw, having spent 80 minutes on the bench last weekend.
Additionally, the Bulldogs are optimistic about Connor Tracey’s availability after he missed Saturday’s game due to a quad injury.
Bulldogs
1. Blake Taaffe 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Josh Curran 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Kurt Mann, 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Jacob Preston, 19. Poasa Faamausili 20. Blake Wilson 21. Toby Sexton 22. Connor Tracey 23. Jake Turpin
Referee: Liam Kennedy, Touch Judge: Drew Oultram, Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond, Bunker. Kasey Badger
Expect anything from the Blind, Bungling, Badger in the Bunker. The NRL are to weak to drop her from all duties. Another flop.
Key Stats
The Panthers have won their past six games against the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have four Panthers’ premiership winners in their line-up.
Panthers winger Sunia Turuva has scored seven tries in his past four games at BlueBet Stadium.
The Bulldogs have not won at BlueBet Stadium since 2016
The Panthers have won 12 of their past 13 games at BlueBet Stadium.
Prediction
Last week, the Panthers found themselves trailing the Rabbitohs 12-0 before rallying in typical fashion to secure a comfortable victory.
Likewise, the Bulldogs faced adversity against the Tigers but managed to claw back in the second half, albeit in a messy fashion, to secure the win. This upcoming match holds significance for the Bulldogs, especially with several former Panthers now on their roster.
However, despite their recent improvements, there’s little evidence to suggest that they are prepared to challenge the reigning premiers.
Panthers for me.
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