Wests Tigers v Penrith Panthers

[Guest]

Wests Tigers v Penrith Panthers
GREG PRICHARD
August 12, 2010

Sunday, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 3pm
Referees: Tony Archer, Gavin Badger
Head to head: Panthers 14, Tigers 4
Last clash: Panthers 26 bt Tigers 18 at CUA Stadium (Rd 7 2010)
TAB SportsBet: Panthers $1.85, Tigers $1.95
FootyTab: Tigers +0.5

It's the battle of the big cats, but both teams will need to spend time sharpening their claws for this one after recent setbacks. The Tigers have won eight of their last 11 games, but they were disappointing in a 34-30 loss to the Rabbitohs last weekend. They had injury setbacks on the night, but led by 16 points during the second half only to be forced into extra time by a Rabbitohs side that was missing a heap of players because of injury and suspension. The loss looked to be coming when the Tigers only just beat the struggling Sharks the week before.

The Panthers are still second on the competition table, but the only team with a worse winning percentage than them over the last five rounds are the Sharks, who haven't won at all during that time. The Panthers have won one of their last five - the same as the Cowboys. The Panthers have remained competitive throughout that period, but have paid the price for not playing for 80 minutes. They were at it again in last Monday's game against the Raiders, when they got away to a good lead in the first half but didn't score after halftime and ended up losing.

 

[Guest]

Preview: Wests Tigers v Panthers
Steve Orme

VENUE & TIME: Campbelltown, Sun, August 15, 3.00pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Channel 9.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 18 – Panthers 14, Tigers 4.
LAST TIME: Round 7, 2010 – Penrith 26-18.

WALKING WOUNDED: The Tigers are sweating on the availability of three key players - centre Chris Lawrence (concussion), prop Keith Galloway (concussion) and full-back Wade McKinnon (hamstring) - who all remain in doubt for Sunday's clash. All three have been named but Lawrence and Galloway are both still suffering the effects of head knocks suffered against the Bunnies, while McKinnon is still struggling with a hamstring injury that kept him out of last week's loss. Meanwhile, Todd Payten returns at starting prop ahead of Bryce Gibbs who reverts to the bench. The stuttering Panthers are strengthened by the return of half-back Luke Walsh and prop Tim Grant (ankle).

FORM: The Tigers surrendered a 16-point lead on the way to a heartbreaking 34-30 golden-point loss to an injury hit South Sydney last Saturday. The loss caps an unconvincing three weeks for Tim Sheens' men who were beaten soundly by Manly in Round 21 before scraping home against lowly Cronulla a fortnight ago. Despite their dip in form, the fifth-placed Tigers can climb into the top four with a win over the Panthers, but a loss could see them drop as low as eighth. The Panthers have fallen into an even bigger hole having lost four of their last five matches including Monday's second-half capitulation against the Raiders. After a blistering opening 40, Matt Elliott's men were held scoreless in the second stanza in the nation's capital, blowing a 14-point half-time lead on the way to a costly 30-26 defeat. Despite the loss, the Panthers somehow remain in second spot on 28 points alongside the Roosters, Titans and Tigers, but another loss could see them drop as low as fifth by the end of Round 23.

WHO'S HOT: In-doubt Tigers centre Chris Lawrence has made a habit of finding the tryline this season, his second-half effort against the Bunnies last weekend taking his season tally to 12 tries from 20 games. Look for the man many believed should have played for NSW this season to have a big impact on Sunday's clash provided he is cleared to play. Penrith winger Brad Tighe was among the Panther's best against the Raiders, celebrating his 100th game with a four-pointer. The underrated 26-year-old has just signed a new two-year deal with Penrith on Thursday, so look for him to make another statement this week.

WE THINK: The bookies can't split these two and, to be honest, neither can we. Both teams are suffering from a severe case of the late-season wobbles and both teams will be stinging after surrendering healthy leads last weekend. However, if you believe in historical trends the Panthers are dead-set certainties. The Mountain Men have won five of their last five meetings with the Tigers and seven of the past nine. However, on recent form it's a fair-dinkum coin toss but we'll stick with the Panthers to get their season back on track in a thriller. Penrith by 4

 

[Guest]

Laurie Daley's round 23 preview

Wests Tigers v Penrith, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney, Sunday 3pm (EST)
Penrith have not been travelling well but I think they are a bit more match hardened than the Tigers. Wests Tigers haven't been consistent and haven't really shown me a great deal with their performances over the last couple of weeks. Penrith look to have more points in them; they play a more controlled, composed style of play. I think they can beat the Tigers this week.

 

[Leroy_The_Tigers_Fan]

You know what really screwed us in the games since 2000 was a game at the Panthers Stadium in our inaugarual year when we showed the Penrith side no respect at all.
We were leading pretty well and after a try celebration where John Hopoate tried some WWF/WWE wrestling type of move Matt Adamson got fired up and the bottom dwelling Penrith side staged a major upset.
Since then we have won bugger all against the Chocolate Soldiers and then I learn that Frank Pritchard should have been a Tiger, no wonder he lifts against us.
Well it's now basically do or die and we have to do the best with what we line up with, well it's Tigers till I die so if I can't make it to the game I'll be listening on the Transistor Radio just like I did in 1969, go hard young Tiges!.

 

[Love_the_WestsTigers]

I havent heard Laurie Daley say anything positive or good about us recently .. His commentary on Fox is hardly in our favour either so it will be great to put his preview/prediction to bed once and for all..

 

[Guest]

Wests Tigers v Panthers Preview

NRL.com, Fri, 13 Aug 2010 9:50

Wests Tigers v Panthers
Campbelltown Stadium
Sunday, 3pm

When you take out the rubbish this weekend, don’t forget to pick up the kitty litter on the way out. In the latest instalment of the “Battle of the Cats” this Sunday, one team will have found their much-needed growl after the 80 minutes – not to mention cementing their spot in top four – while the other… well, someone’s going to have clean that mess up!

Don’t be fooled by their current standings. Both teams might share second spot on the ladder, but fans from either side must feel like their side is scrapping for bottom eight spoils, rather than a home semi-final.

Despite an impressive opening half in the nation’s capital last Monday, the Panthers must’ve left the stadium early mentally – because they somehow gave up a 26-12 lead and were shut out in the second stanza. The 30-26 disappointment was their fourth loss in five games and it’s safe to say that the State of Origin break was the worst thing to happen for Penrith’s season.

But if you think handing over at 14-point head start was bad, what about the Tigers, who were leading by 18 with just 15 minutes to go against the Rabbitohs last week? And it wasn’t the “We’ve-got-the-best-pack-in-the-NRL” Rabbitohs, but the “We-need-Jaiman-Lowe-and-Craig-Stapleton” Bunnies who eventually took the game to golden point and won 34-30 through hat-trick hero and rookie Dylan Farrell. The loss embarrassed the Wests Tigers to two losses over their past three games… and their win was a lucky 24-22 nail-biter to Cronulla. (Yep, the Sharks.)

But still, following the catfight on Sunday arvo, one of these teams will somehow still be in contention for the minor premiership – while the other will be left to battle it out for the top eight. The 2010 Telstra Premiership is that close.

Make no mistake: this western Sydney shootout – which will surely include a blockbuster Campbelltown crowd – is going to draw a desperate, win-at-all-costs, do-whatever-it-takes battle from two teams that need to show that they’re serious premiership contenders, and not just kitty litter.

Despite being named, expect Penrith fullback Lachlan Coote (groin) to be missing, meaning Michael Gordon will once again shift to fullback, with Sandor Earl coming onto the wing. The mountain men do get linchpin Luke Walsh back from a minor hamstring injury. Daine Laurie is also a chance to earn a spot on the bench.

For the hosts, Wade McKinnon (hamstring) is likely to regain his number one jumper, while Todd Payten (hamstring) also returns and forces Bryce Gibbs to the bench. Geoff Daniela also gets a spot on the bench, meaning Mark Flanagan misses out.

Watch out Wests Tigers: Injuries to Lachlan Coote and Luke Walsh might be a blessing in disguise for the Panthers, who were forced to look to a familiar pair of destroyers in Michael Jennings and Frank Pritchard last week.

Between them, the left-hand combination tallied 204 metres, 14 tackle-breaks, and five offloads. Wests’ right-side pairing of Beau Ryan and Blake Ayshford could be in for a torrid night, particularly if the Panthers continue to look for the Jennings-Pritchard combo early in their sets.

Watch out Panthers: When it comes to kicking games, Penrith might be the standouts but, for one week at least, the tables could be turned. And it’s along the ground where the Panthers will have to be prepared to be peppered, because the Tigers have registered the most grubbers in the NRL this year (101).

Of the 373 kicks the side has taken in 2010, Robbie Farah (139) and Benji Marshall (150) have taken most of them. The Tigers also have a league-high 17 tries scored from their own half of the field.

Where it will be won: Kicking games. Both sides might know how to put foot to ball when they’re on the attack, but general play kicking is the crucial factor in this game. Everyone knows about the attacking prowess of both teams, so the ability to ensure they get into the best field position they can could be the difference. The Panthers are ranked second to the Eels in good chases (118), while the Tigers rank third with (115).

But where the vital component lies is in poor chases, where the Tigers are among the worst (11), whereas the Panthers continue to work hard after the kick, with just one poor chase.

The history: Played 18; Penrith 14, Wests Tigers 4\. Although Penrith haven’t featured in the finals over the past five years, the mountain men seem to have the wood on their rivals, losing just four games to the joint-venture club.

Furthermore, the Panthers have never lost a game in Campbelltown, and they’ve won the past five clashes between the teams, including a 26-18 victory earlier this year.

Conclusion: Penrith do have history on their side, but the Tigers have the home ground advantage.

Penrith lose their first-choice fullback, but the Tigers have theirs. With both teams coming off last-start losses, we can’t separate these two teams.

Intriguingly, 17 of the Tigers’ matches this season have been decided by 12 points or fewer, and this contest looks to be no different.

Match officials: Referees – Tony Archer & Gavin Badger; Sideline officials – David Abood & Jeff Younis; Video referee – Steve Clark.

Televised: Channel Nine – Delayed 4pm; Fox Sports – Delayed 6pm.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Laurie Daley's round 23 preview

Wests Tigers v Penrith, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney, Sunday 3pm (EST)
Penrith have not been travelling well but I think they are a bit more match hardened than the Tigers. Wests Tigers haven't been consistent and haven't really shown me a great deal with their performances over the last couple of weeks. **Penrith look to have more points in them**; they play a more controlled, composed style of play. I think they can beat the Tigers this week.

I really hope the boys read this article…

Unleash Benji & Lote!!!

 

[bigdamo]

our players are cats thats for sure beaten by reserve grade teams tigers pfft meow