PANTHERS: 1.Matt Moylan, 2.David Simmons, 3.Dean Whare, 4.Jamal Idris, 5.Josh Mansour, 6.Jamie Soward, 7.Peter Wallace (C), 8.Nigel Plum, 9.Kevin Kingston (C), 10.Brent Kite, 11.Tyrone Peachey, 12.Sika Manu, 13.Adam Docker
INTERCHANGE: 14. James Segeyaro, 15. Sam Mckendry, 16. Matt Robinson, 17. Jeremy Latimore
KNIGHTS: 1. Darius Boyd, 2. James McManus, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Akuila Uate, 6. Jarrod Mullen, 7. Tyrone Roberts, 8. David Fa’alogo, 9. Kurt Gidley (c), 10. Kade Snowden, 11. Beau Scott, 12. Robbie Rochow, 13. Adam Cuthbertson
INTERCHANGE: 14. Adam Clydsdale, 15. Korbin Sims, 17. Chris Houston, 18. Matt Hilder
We’re in for a real treat this Sunday when two of the NRL’s best kickers line up against each other! Jamie Soward and Jarrod Mullen will face off in the middle of the park and will no doubt run the show with their boots!
These two teams opened the 2014 season against each other and it was the Panthers who came out on top, with a comprehensive 30-8 win at Sportingbet Stadium. Despite taking an 18-6 lead into the half time break, Newcastle suffered a stack of injuries in the second half and couldn’t hold it together.
The Knights haven’t had a good start to the season, only posting two wins so far, but they will have most of their key players on the field on Sunday and they have put in some solid performances over the last few weeks. They only went down to the top of the table Bulldogs by 4 points last round, showcasing some brilliant defence and proving they can be a force to be reckoned with when they put their minds to it.
Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts will be a tough challenge for Jamie Soward and Pete Wallace in the middle of the park. Mullen and Sowie will be ready to put their kicking games to the ultimate test, and whoever secures more room to move will come out on top. The Knights have also pinpointed Jamal Idris and Dean Whare as players to focus on, believing they’re our strongest strike weapons.
They have had to make a couple of last minute changes to their side though with Willie Mason, Jeremy Smith and Korbin Sims all ruled out of Sunday’s clash.
It’s good news from the Panthers camp, with Ivan Cleary naming a near full-strength side. Elijah Taylor and Tim Grant are the only omissions, with both picking up injuries over the last two weeks. Tyrone Peachey and Matt Robinson have been named in the side to step up for those boys, and big Sam Mckendry is back after recovering from an ankle issue that kept him out of our last round loss to the Sharks.
Consistency is something both of these sides have been lacking in the first 8 rounds of the comp and it’s something they’re desperate to change. Penrith need to break their win-loss-win-loss track record, and this weekend would be a great time to do it! Matt Moylan, Jamal Idris, Dean Whare and Adam Docker are all backing up from impressive performances over the rep weekend and that’s sure to inspire some confidence in the other boys.
