Dominic Brock | rugbyleaguelive.com | 08/05/08 | 0
Bulldogs v Penrith Panthers
Saturday 10th May, 7.30pm
ANZ Stadium
Referee: Jared Maxwell
HEAD TO HEAD
Bulldogs 44 wins, Panthers 27 wins, 3 drawn.
FORM GUIDE
Bulldogs: LWWLLWLB
Panthers: LLWWLWBL
The Bulldogs have just one win in five weeks and are struggling in 2008 without enforcers Willie Mason and Mark O’Meley, and they face a tough task this week against a Penrith side playing above its weight.
The Panthers were unlucky not to come away with the win against Parramatta last weekend, and they boast a great track record against the ’Dogs at Homebush. They’ve come away with the points the last three times these teams met at what is now ANZ Stadium.
Willie Tonga is out for Canterbury, and New Zealand stars Sonny Bill Williams and Ben Roberts might not back up from Friday night’s Test match. Reni Maitua returns to the lineup after pledging to stay with the club until the end of 2009 this week.
Penrith also have Petero Civoniceva and Frank Pritchard backing up after the Centenary Test, but will welcome back Luke Rooney, Luke Lewis, Paul Aiton and Trent Waterhouse this week.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Will the Bulldogs rediscover their winning touch against the Plucky Panthers?
KEY MATCH UPS
Sonny Bill Williams v Frank Pritchard
This pair will line up as back row teammates for New Zealand on Friday night but will face off 24 hours later as key men for their teams. Assuming both come through the Test injury-free, expect the pair to test out defenders on the fringes.
Both are extremely damaging ball-runners, with Pritchard able to crash over the top of weaker defenders and Williams boasting terrific footwork and offloading skills for a big man. The wide men on both sides will have to keep on their toes.
COACHES CORNER
Penrith will be boosted by the return of Rooney, Lewis, Aiton and Waterhouse after the City-Country stars missed last week’s defeat, and will be relying on Civoniceva and Pritchard to make a quick turnaround if they want to dominate the Bulldogs forwards.
The ’Dogs have conceded 11 tries from kicks this year and their diminutive wingers Matt Utai and Hazem El Masri are sure to be targeted by Jarrod Sammut again on Saturday.
The home side meanwhile will be desperate to get back to their winning ways. Poor completion rates have hurt them this season – and they no longer possess the firepower to roll over teams if they can’t control the ball. Luke Patten returns after two weeks out and should give the side a boost, with Williams and captain Andrew Ryan needing to inspire the Dogs up front.
PUNTERS GUIDE
The Panthers have the better form of these two teams, and have the better head-to-head record in recent years, despite starting as underdogs with the bookies. The Anzac Test makes the line-ups a bit of a lottery, with Williams, Roberts, Civoniceva and Pritchard being such key players, but Penrith by1-12 looks a good value bet.
CASUALTY WARD
Bulldogs: Kane LCeal – groin (Rd 10), Daryl Millard – knee (Rd 12), Andrew Eelio – knee (indefinite), Willie Tonga – shoulder (indefinite), Danny Williams – knee (Rd 10), Brad Morrin – ribs (Rd 12)
Panthers: Tim Grant – ankle (Rd 10), Shane Rodney – neck (Rd 14), Adam Woolnough – knee (Rd 15)
BAD BOYS
Bulldogs: -
Panthers: -
TEAM LISTS
Bulldogs: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Tim Winitana, Cameron Phelps, Matt Utai, Ben Roberts, Daniel Holdsworth, Jarrad Hickey, Corey Hughes, Chris Armit, Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan (capt), Reni Maitua. Interchange: Lee Te Maari, Nick Kouparitsas, Justin Tsoulos, Michael Sullivan.
Panthers: Rhys Wesser, Luke Rooney, Michael Jennings, Brad Tighe, Michael Gordon, Maurice Blair, Jarrod Sammut, Tony Puletua, Luke Priddis, Petero Civoniceva, Frank Pritchard, Luke Lewis, Nathan Smith. Interchange: Paul Aiton, Trent Waterhouse, Joseph Paulo, Frank Puletua, Junior Moors, Matthew Bell (two to be omitted)
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