2020 NRL – Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs taking place? Saturday 17th October, 2020 – 09:50 (UK)
Where is Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs taking place? ANZ Stadium, Sydney
What is the expected weather for Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs? 25c, cloudy with a chance of rain
What channel is Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs on? Sky Sports Arena will be televising selected NRL games in the UK and you can find their schedule here. For Australian broadcasters, you can find a list here
Where can I stream Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs? If televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go. Alternatively, the match will be available to subscribers of Watch NRL
Where can I get tickets for Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs? Click here for ticket information on 2020 NRL matches
THE TEAM NEWS
PENRITH PANTHERS
Starting 13: Edwards, Mansour, Naden, Crichton, To’o, Luai, Cleary, Tamou, Koroisau, Fisher-Harris, Capewell, Martin, Yeo – Interchanges: May, Leniu, Leota, Tetevano – Reserves: Kenny, Whare, Burton, Hetherington
Unavailable: Viliame Kikau (Suspended)
- Penrith Panthers highlighted their premiership credentials thanks to seeing off reigning premiers Sydney Roosters by just a single point in week 1 of the finals as they made it 16 wins in a row and they now stand just one victory away from earning a Grand Final berth.
- The minor premiers fought back from going 0-10 behind in that clash but they were ruthless when they did get onto the scoreboard as Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai pulled the strings for the competition’s second-best attack.
- Head coach Ivan Cleary has been forced into a change for this preliminary final clash with South Sydney Rabbitohs with second-rower Vilame Kikau handed a one-match ban so Kurt Capewell is promoted to the run-on side with Spencer Leniu joining the bench.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Starting 13: Allan, Johnston, Graham, Gagai, Paulo, Walker, Reynolds, Tatola, Cook, Burgess, Su’A, Sironen, Murray – Interchanges: Nicholls, Knight, Cartwright, Koloamatangi – Reserves: Marsters, Sele, Dargan, Mago
Unavailable: Tom Amone (Injured), Braidon Burns (Injured), James Roberts (Injured), Ethan Lowe (Injured), Latrell Mitchell (Injured)
- South Sydney Rabbitohs’ red-hot attack proved to be the difference as they overturned a double-digit half-time deficit to overcome Parramatta Eels last week and advance to the preliminary finals.
- The Rabbitohs went eight points up early on in their clash last week but the Eels hit back to lead 18-8 at the break and it forced Souths to respond which they did convincingly as they ran out 24-38 victors.
- The Rabbits have now averaged 48 points per game in their last three encounters and it is clear they will rely on their attack once again if they are to overcome Penrith Panthers with head coach Wayne Bennett unsurprisingly sticking with the same 17 as last week.
THE PREDICTION
Penrith Panthers have been the best side in the NRL all season and their 16-match winning streak is testament to that but it will mean very little to the minor premiers if they do not come away with the main prize. To do so, they will have to make it 17 in a row against a very dangerous South Sydney Rabbitohs outfit who have played some superb stuff in attack in their last three matches. Generally, defences tend to be on top in these matches in the finals but with the new rules implemented by the NRL following the restart, it could well be the side with the best attack that takes the spoils. The Panthers and Rabbitohs were two of the four highest-scoring teams during the regular season and in a game where both teams will believe they can come out on top, it should be an open, fast-flowing affair where at least 46 points should be scored.
