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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:25:31 GMT 10
SUNDAY 17th March: Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers at Panthers Stadium, 3.05pm
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:26:05 GMT 10
NRL.com
How will the Panthers respond to the dark days that have enveloped their club in recent weeks when they take on their western Sydney rivals on Sunday afternoon?
The Panthers enter the 2019 Telstra Premiership rated among the top echelon of sides. They'll be determined to put a tough couple of weeks behind them come game day, but achieving such plans is often easier said than done.
The Eels, on the other hand, have had a smooth pre-season. They'll be eager to snare an early scalp following a largely disappointing 2018.
Parra led 14-0 after 30 minutes of the corresponding round one clash last year before the mountain men scored the final 24 points.
The first match of Ivan Cleary's second run as Penrith coach will be closely watched for many reasons.
The Rundown
Key match-up
Nathan Cleary v Mitchell Moses. This is Mitchell Moses' sixth year in the NRL. He has mixed periods of brilliance with others in which he has struggled for consistency. In this match he will take on Nathan Cleary, the Panthers star who has enjoyed a meteoric rise since breaking into the NRL in 2016. If Cleary can continue the upward trajectory he has enjoyed each year of his career, something special beckons in 2019.
For the Panthers to win
Unity is a big word in team sport, and the unity among the Penrith players has been put to the test in recent weeks. On paper, they have a stronger squad than the Eels, so if they're playing with clear minds and a common purpose a win should follow.
For the Eels to win
If the Eels forwards can match it with their Penrith counterparts, it will be up to Clint Gutherson and Moses to work some magic with ball in hand. The pair are good enough to produce match-winning displays on their day. Eels fans are hoping such days come along with regularity in 2019.
And another thing ...
Blake Ferguson had a superb 2018, a string of performances he turned into a multi-year deal with the Eels. If he can replicate that form for his new club, the Eels will have gone a long way towards replacing Parramatta fan favourite Semi Radradra. A big ask, but Ferguson is good enough to make that happen.
Brett Kimmorley says ...
It is round one from last year all over again. It is important for the Penrith side to start playing from the start of games this year. New coach Ivan Cleary focuses on the little things and as a result, I expect Penrith to go really well in 2019. For Parra, Blake Ferguson will start sets really well and Junior Paulo is a big body in the middle, but they've got a rookie hooker and a rookie five-eighth. That puts a bit of pressure on them to start the year.
Penrith by 6
Stat Attack: Panthers
The Panthers topped the NRL missed tackles in 2018. If they are to turn another season which features finals football into one which has them playing in the final match of the season, their tackling has to improve. It's as simple as that.
Stat Attack: Eels
Finishing with the wooden spoon in 2018 was the stat that still hurts the Eels the most. The fact they only just 15.8 points per game last year was a major contributor that woe. An improvement in that department is sure to lead to more wins.
Head to head in the NRL era (since 1998)
•Played: 38; Panthers 19 wins, Eels 19 wins
•Latest result: Panthers beat Eels 12-6 in round 5, 2018
•At this venue: Panthers 55% wins, Eels 39% wins
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:26:33 GMT 10
Parraeels.com
Eels Round One Team List
The Parramatta Eels Round One team list to take on the Penrith Panthers at Panthers Stadium on Sunday 17 March has been named by Blue & Gold Head Coach Brad Arthur.
Arthur has named a 21 man squad for the season opener with winger Maika Sivo and half Dylan Brown set to make their NRL debuts whilst Blake Ferguson and Shaun Lane will make their Parramatta Eels club debut.
Clinton Gutherson will be the fullback, Michael Jennings and Brad Takairangi the two centres and Mitch Moses at halfback to complete the Eels backline.
Daniel Alvaro and Tepai Moeroa will be the starting forwards, with young hooker Reed Mahoney at number 9, forwards Shaun Lane & Marata Niukore in the back row and Nathan Brown at lock.
Will Smith, Tim Mannah, Kane Evans and David Gower form a four man bench with Josh Hoffman, Oregon Kaufusi, Bevan French and Junior Paulo on the extended bench.
Kick off is at 4:05pm.
Parramatta Eels
1. Clinton Gutherson (c)
2. Maika Sivo
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Blake Ferguson
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitch Moses
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Tepai Moeroa
11. Shaun Lane
12. Marata Niukore
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Will Smith
15. Tim Mannah (c)
16. Kane Evans
17. David Gower
18. Josh Hoffman
19. Oregon Kaufusi
20. Bevan French
21. Junior Paulo
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:27:29 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:27:56 GMT 10
NRL.com
Eels hold off fast-finishing Panthers in thriller
Parramatta have rained over Ivan Cleary's homecoming parade at Penrith, a Michael Jennings double securing their first away win in 570 days and sweet revenge for last year's round-one capitulation.
The 2018 wooden spooners got off the mark with a nail-biting but thoroughly deserved 20-12 triumph over their western Sydney rivals, Jennings sporting grey hair that aged with every dramatic turn of the contest.
His two tries at his old Penrith stomping ground came either side of a game-turning sin-binning.
But even with the customary Panthers comeback – the only silver lining to a soggy start of the Cleary Mach II era – the Eels emerged with their first win on the road since round 25, 2017.
And as was the case in last year's thrilling round-one encounter, not until Parramatta had reached a prophetic 14-0 lead did the Panthers stir from their slumber.
For 50-odd minutes Penrith's helpful handling errors ensured the game was played at one end only, Mitchell Moses the brightest spark in an enterprising Eels attack that paid no mind to the sodden conditions.
First-half tries to Marata Niukore and Jennings offset the loss of Nathan Brown with a biceps injury that had him in all sorts.
Penrith had no consolation for the suspected broken arm suffered by Hame Sele.
But with Reed Mahoney adding another try after the break, Penrith found themselves staring down the same daunting deficit they ran down almost a year ago to the day.
The 12,604-strong crowd then duly erupted when a swinging Jennings arm caught Isaah Yeo on the chin, knocking the Panthers captain out of the contest and the Eels down to 12 men.
With Yeo sporting two wobbly boots as a result of Jennings's foul play, the Parramatta veteran's sin-binning under the NRL's 2018 rule proved a game-changer, even without a resulting try to Maika Sivo being correctly brought back.
Wayde Egan immediately caught the shortened Eels napping from dummy-half for an eight-point deficit at the hour mark.
Parramatta's desperate goal-line defence had started well before Jennings was banished.
First Sivo denied Reagan Campbell-Gillard when he was bound for the try line, then Moses did likewise in a wrestle with Waqa Blake – giving away 13 kilos in the contest, but not the four-pointer.
But just as Jennings made his way back onto the paddock James Tamou broke the Blue & Gold wall, barging through utility Will Smith for a 14-12 ball game.
Just as they had throughout the first half, critical Panthers mistakes gave Parramatta prime attacking real estate.
It was Moses again proving the difference when his cross-field kick sat up superbly for Tepai Moeroa, only for the grounding to be called back.
In everything all day, Jennings fittingly had the final word when rookie Dylan Brown squared up the Panthers' right edge, the Eels centre carving through for the 78th-minute sealer.
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:28:35 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:29:28 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:30:01 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:30:39 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:31:14 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:31:58 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:32:32 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:33:08 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:33:55 GMT 10
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Post by Electric Eel on Dec 13, 2020 15:34:39 GMT 10
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