Wests Tigers v Penrith Panthers
Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off 4pm - Sunday 28th June
Penrith Panthers face Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval. Both teams are currently in the grips of mid-season form slumps and the Panthers desperately need a victory to re-ignite their 2015 campaign.
In a huge positive for the Panthers, they welcome back fan favourite Josh Mansour from a knee injury. The powerhouse winger's inclusion is a timely blessing for Penrith in a season where injury has claimed a number of the club's biggest names.
The Panthers will benefit from Mansour’s ability to make big metres off their own line, along with his slick finishing capabilities. Waqa Blake shifts back into the centres and Isaah Yeo returns to his more familiar position in the back row.
James Segeyaro’s knee injury brings Apisai Koroisau into the starting side as the Panthers hooker. He will go head-to-head with Robbie Farah, with the Tigers skipper having overcome the worst of the shoulder injury he suffered in State of Origin I.
Koroisau, who won a 2014 NRL Premiership ring with Souths after stepping up for the suspended Issac Luke, has had limited chances in his time at Penrith so far. This week he has been tasked with containing the wily NSW Origin hooker, while also creating some much-needed spark for the Panthers in attack. With Segeyaro out of action for at least a month, this is Koroisau’s opportunity to prove he deserves a regular spot in the Penrith line-up moving forward.
