NRL Round 25 Preview and Prediction - Penrith Panthers v St. George Illawarra Dragons @ Pepper Stadium

Penrith Panthers (6th) v St. George Illawarra Dragons (9th) @ Pepper Stadium
 
Preview - The Panthers will be looking to continue their charge towards a highly unlikely Top 4 spot when they host the Dragons at Pepper Stadium on Sunday. The Panthers continued their massive wave of momentum with an impressive 26-22 victory over the Raiders in Canberra. After a slow start to the season, the Panthers have now won 9 of their past 10 games, and are finding confidence and fitness at just the right time of year. The Dragons remain on the outside of the Top 8 looking in, after their gutsy yet costly 24-12 loss to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. The Dragons have been kept well and truly in contention with the Sea Eagles, Cowboys and Raiders losing, meaning a victory over Penrith could well see them back in the Top 8 with just the Bulldogs to play in Round 26. 

History - These sides met way back in Round 1 where the Dragons stunned the Panthers hammering them 42-10 at Kogarah. The Dragons have enjoyed playing the Panthers of late having won the last three clashes between the two sides. However not since 2014 have these sides clashed at Pepper Stadium and the Panthers have triumphed in the last three clashes at home. 
 
Penrith Panthers’ Scouting Report - Penrith hooker Peter Wallace is back after having minor surgery on his hand, with Sione Katoa dropping to the bench. The Panthers are flying at the moment, with Trent Merrin making a strong return last week from injury, and Matt Moylan looking sharp at five eight. Reagan Campbell-Gillard is a player who has developed dramatically this season, with a couple of barnstorming performances up front in recent weeks. 
 
St. George Illawarra Dragons’ Scouting Report - The Dragons have been forced into a backline reshuffle, with Nene Macdonald being named on a wing to replace Euan Aitken who is out with injury. Russell Packer is out for another week, as the Dragons face a do-or-die last couple of weeks of the regular season. 
 
Verdict - Panthers by 12-22 in a high scoring game

Hard to tip against Penrith at the moment, given the silky football they are playing. They are a strange team, the Panthers, and when they are on a roll like this, they can beat just about anyone, and I think they have too much strike power for the Dragons, particularly playing in front of their home fans. The Dragons played well last week against the Broncos, and I still think there is life in their season, given recent results have gone their way. I expect them to be extremely competitive and in the game for 60-70 minutes, but come up short, which would leave them in a precarious position outside the Top 8 heading into the final round of the season.