2019 NRL – Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs taking place? Friday 26th April, 10:55
Where is Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs taking place? Panthers Stadium
What channel is Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs on?
UK – Sky Sports Arena
Australia – Fox Sports
Where can I stream Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs?
UK – Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match via Sky Go
Australia – https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-movies-music/sports-offer
Where can I get tickets for Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs?
Penrith Panthers – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500014
South Sydney Rabbitohs – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500005
THE TEAM NEWS
PENRITH PANTHERS
Head Coach: Ivan Cleary
Starting 13: Aekins, Mansour, D. Watene-Zelezniak, Blake, M. Watene-Zelezniak, Maloney, Cleary, Tamou, Egan, Grant, Kikau, Yeo, Fisher-Harris – Interchanges: Katoa, Martin, Leota, Campbell-Gillard – Reserves: Luai, Ellis, Edwards, Fuimaono
Unavailable: Tyrone May, Sam McKendry, Frank Winterstein, Dean Whare
- Penrith blew a 14-point lead late on against Cronulla as the Panthers allowed three tries in the final 16 minutes to fall to another defeat as their poor start to the season continued and their record stands at 2-4.
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been moved to the centres for the Panthers due to Dean Whare's injury with Caleb Aekins in at fullback meaning Dylan Edwards remains on the sidelines.
- The Panthers have the worst completion rate in the NRL by a distance with just 67.7% so far this season and that is an obvious area where Penrith need to improve as they will struggle to win games if that number doesn’t increase.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Head Coach: Wayne Bennett
Starting 13: Johnston, Allan, Turner, Gagai, Graham, Walker, Reynolds, G. Burgess, Cook, T. Burgess, Sutton, S. Burgess, Murray – Interchanges: Tatola, Nicholls, Lowe, Knight – Reserves: Sironen, Tracey, Britt, Hiroti
Unavailable: Kurt Dillon, Adam Doueihi, Braidon Burns
- South Sydney only just managed to overcome Canterbury last week with some serious improvements needed against the Panthers although the Rabbitohs will point to the Bulldogs’ spoiling tactics which slowed their game down significantly.
- Souths have named the same 17 from last week's win but may once again choose to switch George Burgess to the bench before kick-off with Junior Tatola taking his place as has occurred in the previous two games.
- The Rabbitohs have the most metres to their name so far this season with 10,240 at an average of 1706.6 a game with the forward pack an obvious strength for South Sydney and facing the team with the fewest in Penrith, Souths know if they are clinical they should win.
THE PREDICTION
Souths were left frustrated by the Bulldogs last week but they managed to edge their way to an ugly win. The Panthers will need to find some form and quickly as they surrendered the lead late on against Cronulla last week but the Rabbits should be too strong here and can come out on top. Having racked up the most metres in the NRL this season, they come up against a Penrith side with the least which is partly down to the number of errors they’re making. Unless the Panthers make serious improvements here, they will find themselves on the end of another defeat.
