We take a look at Friday’s (19/07/2019) NRL 2019 Week 18 match is between Penrith Panthers and St George-Illawarra Dragons. The Penrith Panthers go into the match as the short priced favourites in betting and have been heavily backed.
When: Friday July 19, 7:55pm
Where: Panthers Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Preview:
The Panthers juggernaut continues to roll on as they have now won six in a row and climbed into the top eight. They’re on the hunt for a seventh win on the trot when they host the Dragons on Friday night.
A 24-2 hammering of the Titans last Friday resulted in the sacking of Titans boss Garth Brennan on Sunday, with Penrith opening the game up late in the first half and never looking back. The Dragons were woeful in a 36-14 loss to Canberra in Wollongong. St George actually played the final quarter of the game with a man advantage, but lost that part of the game 10-4.
Nathan Cleary is back in the halves in a boost for Penrith, with Jerome Luai shifting to the bench. The Dragons have rested playmaker Ben Hunt, perhaps a week too late, with Darren Nicholls named at half back. Jeremy Latimore misses through injury with Jacob Host punted to the reserves list.
St George were a rabble last week and The Wolf isn’t going to back an underperforming forward pack to turn things around in five days with a trip to the foot of the mountains against one of the league’s in form sides. The loss of Ben Hunt is also a big one and adding the Dragon’s miserable 6-10 record against the spread, the second worst in the comp, it’s Panthers all the way.
Odds:
Tip: Penrith Panthers at $1.60
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Brent Naden at $13.00
Teams:
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Dean Whare 4. Brent Naden 5. Brian To’o 6. James Maloney 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Frank Winterstein 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Wayde Egan 15. Jarome Luai 16. Moses Leota 17. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 18. Hame Sele 19. Jed Cartwright
Dragons: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Jonus Pearson 3. Euan Aitken 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Darren Nicholls 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. James Graham 14. Josh Kerr 15. Korbin Sims 16. Patrick Kaufusi 17. Luciano Leilua 18. Reece Robson 20. Tristan Sailor
*Odds correct at time of posting. Subject to change