Panthers NYC v Rabbitohs NYC
Pepper Stadium
Kick-off 5.30pm Friday
The Penrith Panthers NYC team will be looking to get back to its winning ways when it hosts South Sydney Rabbitohs at Pepper Stadium on Friday night.
Penrith’s nine-match winning streak finally came to an end with a tough 10-6 loss to Wests Tigers last weekend. The Panthers were their own worst enemy at Leichhardt Oval, with 19 handling errors undermining their attacking play, while Nathan Cleary had a tough day on debut in the halves.
The defeat saw the team’s lead at the top of the competition table reduced to just a single point.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo has responded to the disjointed attacking performance with a few changes to his line-up, although more changes will occur on game day with fullback Brent Naden, centre Robert Jennings and prop Oliver Clark receiving call-ups to the NSW Under-20s side.
Get to know this week's Panthers Young Gun - Andy Saunders
Soni Luke and Dylan Edwards have been named to start in the halves, after a late hit saw regular playmaker Sam Elwin stretchered off with a jaw injury against the Tigers.
The highly-rated Sione Katoa has served his one-match suspension and with NSW Cup enjoying the bye this week, he slots straight into hooker for the Panthers.
Souths have only one Under-20s Origin representative in centre John Olive, with coach Troy Finch to name his replacement on game day.
The Rabbitohs are coming off 38-12 loss to the Sea Eagles in a season where they have struggled to string together consistent performances. With only five wins to their name thus far, the team is languishing in 13th on the table and needs an instant upturn in fortunes if they are to play finals football in 2015.
PENRITH PANTHERS | Brent Naden ©, Fuimanu Enise, Maliko Filino, Robert Jennings, Braidon Burns, Dylan Edwards, Soni Luke, Moses Leota, Sione Katoa, Oliver Clark, Corey Waddell, Corey Harawira, Tyrone May, Paea Pua, Cowen Epere, Soni Hala, Shane Kiel, Jarome Luai, Thomson Tuigamala.
