Key posts
Your say – who wins?
View from the ground at Leichhardt
By Dan Walsh
Panthers keep on winning
And that’s full-time in the 6pm game, with Penrith finishing the game with a try on the final siren to cap an impressive 36-22 win over the Sea Eagles. Don’t expect to see many, if any, of these Penrith players to break into the side currently in Las Vegas any time soon, but it’s a terrific sign for the club’s depth that they made such light work of a Manly side featuring several first-graders.
Broadcast deal talk, the stats that really matter and how valuable is Dylan Brown?
Plenty of NRL news around today if you’ve missed it. The league itself has spruiked its growing broadcast and participation numbers in the past 12 months, while ARLC chairman Peter V’landys says they’ll consider selling off State of Origin separately from the premiership in the next TV deal.
Meanwhile Roy Masters says smarter use of attacking edge forwards could be the key to bringing down the Penrith Panthers’ dynasty this season, while Dan Walsh took a closer look at the statistics that NRL coaches really care about when it comes to improving their team’s performances on the field.
And Adrian Proszenko took a closer look at Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown, after the New Zealand international missed out on selection in the Herald’s list of the top 50 players in the game. Brown isn’t playing in tonight’s match, after grabbing a try in a solid showing against Newcastle last week.
No big names, no worries for Panthers
In tonight’s earlier game, a very reserve grade-looking Penrith outfit (their first team is bound for Las Vegas for next week’s season opener) is on track to beat a Manly side featuring at least a few recognisable starters.
David Fale, Trent Toelau, Thomas Jenkins, David Fale and Harrison Hassett have the tries for Penrith, who lead 26-16 with just over 10 minutes left.
Navren Willett, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega and Ethan Bullemor have crossed for the Sea Eagles.
Penrith celebrate a Trent Toeleu try.Credit: Getty Images
Your say – who wins?
The team lists
Wests Tigers
1. Heath Mason 2. Jeral Skelton 3. Starford To’a 4. Brent Naden 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal.
Interchange: 14. Latu Fainu 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Tristan Hope 19. Tony Sukkar 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Solomona Faataape
Parramatta Eels
1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jake Tago 6. Te Hurinui Twidle 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Jack Williams 9. Joey Lussick 10. Wiremu Greig 12. Kelma Tuilagi 20. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood.
Interchange: 11. William Latu 14. Ryan Matterson 15. Luca Moretti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Toni Mataele 19. Charlie Guymer 21. Dan Keir 22. Ryley Smith 23. Brendan Hands 24. Joash Papali’i 25. Josh Addo-Carr 26. Jordan Samrani 27. Arthur Miller-Stephen 28. Josh Lynn
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our coverage of tonight’s trial match between Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers and Jason Ryles’ Eels at Leichhardt Oval.
Star recruit Zac Lomax will make his first appearance for Parramatta tonight while new faces Terrell May, Jack Bird and Royce Hunt will run out as Tigers for the first time.
Young gun Lachlan Galvin is joined by Adam Doueihi in the halves for the Tigers, with Jarome Luai resting up before round 1, while J’maine Hopgood and Ryan Matterson join a strong-looking Eels pack.
The Eels are in the running to win the NRL’s Pre-Season Challenge – and $100,000 in prizemoney – after knocking over the Newcastle Knights last week.
Kick-off is at 8pm.
