Preview: Panthers v Cowboys
VENUE & TIME: CUA Stadium, Friday, July 30, 2010, 9.35pm (NZT)
COVERAGE: Sky Sport
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 25 – Panthers 15, Cowboys 10
LAST TIME: Round 2, 2010 – Cowboys 28-20
MATCH ODDS: Tab NZ: Panthers $1.23, Cowboys $3.85
WALKING WOUNDED: Both sides are close to full strength for this match with only one or two fringe players out with injuries. But the Panthers are the ones who have received the biggest boost with influential halfback Luke Walsh and NSW Origin star Luke Lewis both making timely returns in a massive boost for the club's finals chances.
FORM: How things have changed for the Panthers. Three weeks ago the mountain men were hot on the heels of competition leaders St George Illawarra and being talked about as serious title contenders. But three losses on the bounce have the chasing pack closing in and all of a sudden Penrith are in danger of throwing away what looked like a certain top four spot. Coach Matthew Elliott called his players in for a training session on their day off this week in an attempt to stop the rot. North Queensland's form hasn't been much better although they do come into this match on the back of a win. Last weekend's golden-point triumph was the club's first victory in five matches. While Neil Henry's troops can't make the finals they have the roster to be a thorn in the side of other club's chasing a top eight berth over the final six rounds of the season.
WHO'S HOT: It's hard to believe Wade Graham is still only 19-years-old given the way he handles himself out on the field. Equally comfortable at hooker or anywhere in the halves, Graham has been a standout for the Panthers in the absence of half-back Walsh. The teenager is highly regarded and became the Sharks' first major 2011 signing this week as they look to rebuild their club around him and some other talented youngsters. He might only be a handful of games into his Cowboys career but Arana Taumata could be the club's answer to a regular partner for champion half Johnathan Thurston. Taumata has always had the ability to make it in the NRL but a raft of off-field issues has hampered his chances of getting his career off the ground. The 21-year-old has had more clubs than Tiger Woods in the last five years - the Cowboys being his sixth home since 2006 - but the early signs in Townsville have been encouraging.
WE THINK: If the Panthers are serious about playing finals football then they should swat away the Cowboys with no troubles. The return of Walsh and Lewis is a major boost for the home side and gives them a much stronger look. The only worry for the Panthers is coming up against a North Queensland side with nothing to lose who, when they get their confidence up, can be very hard to stop. The Cowboys will also have no fear travelling to western Sydney having won three of their last five matches at CUA. But desperation should play a factor in this contest which swings it in the home side's favour. Panthers by 8.
TEAMS:
Penrith Panthers: Lachlan Coote, Michael Gordon, Michael Jennings, Adrian Purtell, Brad Tighe, Travis Burns, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston, Petero