Match Preview: Panthers v Dragons

Dragons v Panthers: RFM back on deck; Origin guns return

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 28 Jul 2024, 01:01 PM

The vastly improved Dragons get the sternest test of just how far they have come in 2024 when they host defending champs Penrith at WIN Stadium.

Sitting outside the eight on points differential only, the Dragons face the Panthers and then Melbourne in consecutive weeks - two games that hold the key to whether they surge into contention or fall out of the finals race.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan will be proud of what his team have done so far but he knows if they are to be taken seriously they must aim up against the might of the Panthers, who welcomed their main man Nathan Cleary back on Sunday in a thrilling win over the Dolphins.

Barely skipping a beat after seven games out with a hamstring injury, the ice cool Cleary nailed a long-range field goal in golden point to get his team home 28-26 and with co-captain Isaah Yeo set to return from a rest this weekend the Panthers are looking ominous again.

The Dragons need look no further than Round 13 this year for inspiration, knocking off the Panthers 22-10 at BlueBet Stadium, although the premiers were missing their posse of Origin stars.

Sportsbet Betting Preview - Dragons v Panthers

Team News

Dragons: Tyrell Sloan played NSW Cup on Saturday after being dropped to the reserves list in a swap with Mat Feagai, who will play fullback. The return of Origin stars Zac Lomax and Ben Hunt sees Mikaele Ravalawa and Jesse Marschke (hamstring) make way while back-rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner is also good to go after missing the Broncos game with back spasms. Luciano Leilua shifts to the bench. Blake Lawrie is 18th man.

Panthers: The Panthers are 1-17 with no late changes. Origin stars Jarome Luai, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo and Brian To'o are back on deck after being rested in Round 20 but fullback Dylan Edwards remains sidelined with a knee injury. Liam Henry goes back to the bench and Luron Patea makes way. Matt Eisenhuth drops to 18th man.

Round 21 - Round 21 - Sunday 28 Jul

Full Time

Dragons

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 18 Mathew Feagai

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Daine Laurie
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Zac Lomax

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli

Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Max Feagai

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Francis Molo

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Jacob Liddle

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Jack De Belin

Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Raymond Faitala-Mariner

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
Lock for Dragons is number 14 Hame Sele

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 13 Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Trent Toelau
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Luciano Leilua

Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby Couchman

Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Ben Murdoch-Masila

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Mavrik Geyer

Reserves

Replacement for Dragons is number 19 Blake Lawrie

Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Matthew Eisenhuth

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:25:38 PM

Stat Attack

The Dragons have won three from three at WIN Stadium in 2024.
The Panthers have won six of their past seven games against the Dragons.
Dragons winger Christian Tuipulotu has scored five tries in his past three games.
The Panthers have not won at Wollongong since 2014.
Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored 10 tries in his past 10 games at WIN Stadium.