NRL Round 23 Preview and Prediction - Penrith Panthers v North Queensland Cowboys @ Pepper Stadium
Penrith Panthers (8th) v North Queensland Cowboys (6th) @ Pepper Stadium
Preview - The Panthers will be looking to keep the roll going as they face a crucial showdown with the Cowboys at Pepper Stadium on Saturday night. The Panthers have surged into the Top 8, after winning 7 of their past 8 games, after a horror first half of the season. The Panthers were again far from their best, but managed to pull away for a tense 28-14 victory over a gallant Tigers’ side at home last Sunday. The Cowboys are now hanging on to their own Top 8 spot after back-to-back losses against the two top sides in the competition in the Roosters and Melbourne Storm in the past two weeks. Whilst the Cowboys have lost no admirers in their displays the past two rounds, they continue to suffer injury blows as a long season starts to takes its toll.
History - The Cowboys have been totally dominated over Penrith in the last 4 years winning 7 of the past 8 encounters. These sides met just over a month ago with the Cowboys scoring at the death to claim a 14-12 victory in Townsville. Overall Penrith hold and 18-16 win advantage over the Cowboys.
Penrith Panthers’ Scouting Report - The Panthers are expected to be further strengthened with Matt Moylan named in the Number 18 jersey, but expected to start at five eight. Young fullback, Dylan Edwards, has been super impressive since coming into the team half way through the season, and had another excellent game last week against the Tigers. Bryce Cartwright still looks a little underdone after a couple of weeks coming off the bench in what has been a tough year for him.
North Queensland Cowboys’ Scouting Report - The Cowboys season of injury misery continues with them losing another couple of key players in Gavin Cooper and Antonio Wintserstein to the casualty ward. Scott Bolton has been named to start at prop with Javid Bowen going onto the wing.
Verdict – Penrith by 4-12 in a low scoring game
It’s hard to go past Penrith here at home, although a lot of their victories have been far from convincing. Whilst Penrith are building a very similar late-season momentum to 2016 in terms of wins, I don't think the quality of their overall performances have been anywhere near the same. The Cowboys continue to compete hard, however I think they are starting to show some real wear and tear with injuries taking their toll and adding to their problems. Like most Cowboys’ games this season, I expect this to be fairly low scoring and a defensive grind. However I just believe Penrith will have a few too many points in them.