Round 18, 2020: Penrith 20 Parramatta 2

NRL.com

Panthers v Eels: Yeo good to go; Mahoney named to play

The Panthers took the Broncos' best punch last week, coming from behind to carve out a 25-12 win - their 15th of the season - and remain firmly on course for the minor premiership.

Their only loss in 2020 was at the hands of the Eels back in round five, so payback will be high on the agenda on Friday night at Panthers Stadium.

The old saying goes that teams on long win streaks are better off losing a game before the finals. Only time will tell in the case of the Panthers.

Parramatta got their premiership campaign back on track with last week's convincing win over an in-form Warriors outfit, but we'll get a much clearer picture of where the Eels are truly at on Friday.

The rundown
Team news
Panthers: Lock Isaah Yeo will return from a head knock with James Fisher-Harris returning to prop and Moses Leota to the bench while Kurt Capewell has shifted to the reserves. Outside back Charlie Staines has been included on the reserves after overcoming a hamstring injury but with everyone fit may find it tough to get a game.

The Panthers are aiming to become the third team in the NRL era to win 13 in a row in one season.

Eels: Hooker Reed Mahoney (shoulder) has been named to start after it was originally feared he could be out for a few weeks. Coach Brad Arthur declared Mahoney a "touch and go" proposition on Tuesday. Ray Stone will start at dummy-half if Mahoney is ruled out.

In the only confirmed change to the 17 which beat the Warriors Andrew Davey has come onto the bench in place of Marata Niukore (rib).

Key match-up
Nathan Cleary v Mitch Moses. There's some good halfbacks around but Cleary sits on top of the pile. He has been a model of consistency in 2020 and plays like a man who only has eyes for a premiership.

Moses has all the skills and can dominate a game but hasn't shaken off his tendency to coast in other games. He will have to be at his absolute best in his clash with Cleary.

Stat attack
Don't be surprised if the score is 16-10 in Friday night's showdown. That's what it was when the Eels handed Penrith their only loss of the season in round five and it was exactly the same score when the Panthers beat Parra last year in round 11. Their other meeting in 2019 finished in a 20-12 victory to the Eels, so there might not be many points scored when they square off on Friday.

NRL.com

Panthers make it 13 straight by overpowering Eels

A leaping effort from rugged back-rower Liam Martin stole the limelight as Penrith overcame Parramatta 20-2 late in a fierce Battle of the West clash at Panthers Stadium on Friday night.

With the finals just three weeks away the ladder leaders made a statement against one of the sides they may well have to get past in October if they are to collect the club’s third premiership.

Nathan Cleary controlled the game superbly and fullback Dylan Edwards ran for an astonishing 336 metres as Penrith took charge in the second half as the weight of possession told against the Eels.

The home side had 61 per cent of the ball in the first half but the Eels did a remarkable job to stay in the contest, denying Moses Leota, Jarome Luai and Josh Mansour with desperation goal line defence.

The Eels sorely missed regular hooker Reed Mahoney with a shoulder injury with Mitchell Moses and Jai Field struggling in attack.

Stephen Crichton's juicy battle with Waqa Blake got started in the sixth minute with the Panthers centre losing the ball close to the line after a last-ditch effort from his opposite number.

The Panthers peppered the Eels' right side defensive edge of Blake and Blake Ferguson, while Maika Sivo produced an air swing for the ages to almost give up a try to Brian To'o in-goal.

Leota was next to spill the ball over the line as the Eels hung tough.

A floating pass from Edwards put Mansour under immense pressure as Ferguson crept up to put a shot on the veteran winger.

Edwards was then penalised for an alleged crusher tackle on Ryan Matterson that allowed the Eels to take a remarkable 2-0 lead after being forced to defend their line for most of the first half.

The Panthers continued to find success down their left edge in attack with Crichton and Viliame Kikau sent into space but the last play continued to be their biggest problem.

A six-again call 35 seconds before half-time proved costly for the Eels when a floating Luai pass finally stuck for the Panthers with Mansour diving over the line on the half-time siren.

Martin's acrobatic try in the 56th minute gave the Panthers a 10-point advantage before a Luai effort on the stroke of full-time put the exclamation mark on a 13th consecutive win.

In the only concerns for the Panthers, Spencer Leniu and Api Koroisau both suffered head knocks.