VENUE & TIME: Parramatta Stadium, Sunday 6 July - 3:00pm AEST
COVERAGE: Channel 9
LAST TIME: Eels 26 - Panthers 18 at CUA Stadium, round 8, 2008.
WALKING WOUNDED: Penrith get Rhys Wesser back but lose former Test winger Luke Rooney (hamstring). The Panthers still have a heap of players out - eight at last count - but some of those will return in coming weeks. In stark contrast, the Eels are missing only Junior Paulo and Ben Smith.
FORM: Parramatta did everything in its power to throw away victory against a spare-parts Melbourne last weekend before falling over the line by two points. They have won three of their last four. The Panthers did it just as tough as they attempted to put away a weakened Brisbane. In the end it finished 12-all after 90 minutes. The mountain men haven't won since May 31.
WHO'S HOT: Brett Finch has been everywhere the past week. After polishing off the Storm with a man-of-the-match performance, the feisty 'Sparrow' hit the phones to let the media know he wasn't impressed with NSW selector and league legend Bob Fulton. Fulton had the temerity to bag Finch's dad - referees' coach Robert Finch - prior to Origin III. Finch jnr responded by calling for Fulton's sacking should NSW lose a third straight series. So it's over to you, Bozo.
WE THINK: A dinky-di local derby at a suburban ground on a Sunday arvo - NRL at its best. The battle of the westies promises to be a beauty, with both teams in reasonable form and desperate for the competition points. Parra is in eighth spot, one point and one position ahead of Penrith. The loser of this one risks losing touch with the top eight. Parramatta is the healthier of the two and for that reason will begin favourites here. Eels by 10.
TEAMS:
Eels: Luke Burt, Taulima Tautai, Krisnan Inu, Joel Reddy, Jarryd Hayne, Feleti Mateo, Brett Finch, Nathan Cayless (capt), Mark Riddell, Josh Cordoba, Nathan Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon, Chad Robinson. Interchange: Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Weller Hauraki, Brendan Oake, Todd Lowrie, Tony Williams (two to be omitted)
Panthers: Rhys Wesser, Lachlan Coote, Michael Jennings, Maurice Blair, Brad Tighe, Wade Graham, Luke Lewis, Tony Puletua, Masada Iosefa, Petero Civoniceva (capt), Frank Pritchard, Trent Waterhouse, Nathan Smith. Interchange: Matthew Bell, Junior Moors, Tim Grant, Keith Peters, Jarrod Sammut, Shane Rodney (two to be omitted).
COVERAGE: Channel 9
LAST TIME: Eels 26 - Panthers 18 at CUA Stadium, round 8, 2008.
WALKING WOUNDED: Penrith get Rhys Wesser back but lose former Test winger Luke Rooney (hamstring). The Panthers still have a heap of players out - eight at last count - but some of those will return in coming weeks. In stark contrast, the Eels are missing only Junior Paulo and Ben Smith.
FORM: Parramatta did everything in its power to throw away victory against a spare-parts Melbourne last weekend before falling over the line by two points. They have won three of their last four. The Panthers did it just as tough as they attempted to put away a weakened Brisbane. In the end it finished 12-all after 90 minutes. The mountain men haven't won since May 31.
WHO'S HOT: Brett Finch has been everywhere the past week. After polishing off the Storm with a man-of-the-match performance, the feisty 'Sparrow' hit the phones to let the media know he wasn't impressed with NSW selector and league legend Bob Fulton. Fulton had the temerity to bag Finch's dad - referees' coach Robert Finch - prior to Origin III. Finch jnr responded by calling for Fulton's sacking should NSW lose a third straight series. So it's over to you, Bozo.
WE THINK: A dinky-di local derby at a suburban ground on a Sunday arvo - NRL at its best. The battle of the westies promises to be a beauty, with both teams in reasonable form and desperate for the competition points. Parra is in eighth spot, one point and one position ahead of Penrith. The loser of this one risks losing touch with the top eight. Parramatta is the healthier of the two and for that reason will begin favourites here. Eels by 10.
TEAMS:
Eels: Luke Burt, Taulima Tautai, Krisnan Inu, Joel Reddy, Jarryd Hayne, Feleti Mateo, Brett Finch, Nathan Cayless (capt), Mark Riddell, Josh Cordoba, Nathan Hindmarsh, Daniel Wagon, Chad Robinson. Interchange: Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Weller Hauraki, Brendan Oake, Todd Lowrie, Tony Williams (two to be omitted)
Panthers: Rhys Wesser, Lachlan Coote, Michael Jennings, Maurice Blair, Brad Tighe, Wade Graham, Luke Lewis, Tony Puletua, Masada Iosefa, Petero Civoniceva (capt), Frank Pritchard, Trent Waterhouse, Nathan Smith. Interchange: Matthew Bell, Junior Moors, Tim Grant, Keith Peters, Jarrod Sammut, Shane Rodney (two to be omitted).
