Panthers v Bulldogs: Cole in for Cogger; Tuala good to go
The Panthers have once again put themselves in a striking position late in the season with a fourth minor premiership in seven years beckoning.
With games against the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers to come, the team of the decade can start planning for an all-out assault on another premiership to go with the 2021, '22, '23 and '24 titles.
Standing in their way on Friday night will be a desperate Bulldogs outfit still clinging to their own finals dream and a shot at breaking a premiership drought that stretches all the way back to 2004.
The Bulldogs have more than enough firepower to cause the Panthers problems and this promises to be a cracking contest with so much at stake for both sides,
How Bulldogs playmaker Lachlan Galvin copes with the intense pressure from a rushing Penrith defence will go a long way towards deciding his team's fate as they look to stay alive in the race for the eight.
Match: Panthers v Bulldogs
Round 26 -
home Team
Panthers
2nd Position
away Team
Bulldogs
9th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Panthers: Jack Cole takes over at five-eighth with Jack Cogger serving a three-game ban for a careless high tackle. Blaize Talagi has been added to the bench after playing NSW Cup the past two weeks while impressive young fullback Jaxen Edgar also joins the interchange.
Bulldogs: Enari Tuala returns on the wing after missing last week's game with a knee injury. Utility Kurt Mann (groin) is sidelined so Jack Underhill has been added to the six-man bench.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan EdwardsFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor Tracey
-
Winger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas JenkinsWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
-
Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack TagoCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Matt Burton
-
Centre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLeanCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Bronson Xerri
-
Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'oWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Enari Tuala
-
Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jack ColeFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Stephen Crichton
-
Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan ClearyHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Galvin
Forwards
-
Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses LeotaProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
-
Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Freddy LussickHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Bailey Hayward
-
Prop for Panthers is number 10 Liam HenryProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Leo Thompson
-
2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau
-
2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
-
Lock for Panthers is number 13 Lindsay SmithLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman Salmon
Interchange
-
Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Billy ScottInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jake Turpin
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Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott SorensenInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Alekolasimi Jones
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Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Luke GarnerInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Harry Hayes
-
Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Billy PhillipsInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Josh Curran
-
Interchange for Panthers is number 18 Blaize TalagiInterchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Sean O'Sullivan
-
Interchange for Panthers is number 19 Jaxen EdgarInterchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Jack Underhill
Reserves
-
Reserve for Panthers is number 20 Kalani Leuluai-GoingReserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Logan Spinks
-
Reserve for Panthers is number 21 Tom AleReserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Jed Reardon
-
Reserve for Panthers is number 22 Jesse McLeanReserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Cooper Toy
Panthers Ins
- Blaize Talagi
- Jaxen Edgar
- Jesse McLean
- Kalani Leuluai-Going
- Tom Ale
Bulldogs Ins
- Cooper Toy
- Enari Tuala
- Jack Underhill
- Jed Reardon
- Logan Spinks
Panthers Outs
- Jack Cogger
- Luron Patea
Bulldogs Ins
- Jonathan Sua
- Kurt Mann
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Panthers have won nine of their last 11 games against the Bulldogs.
- The Bulldogs have lost seven of their last eight games at CommBank Stadium.
- Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored six tries in his last eight games against the Bulldogs.
- Bulldogs back-rower Jacob Preston has scored six tries in his last four games against the Panthers.
- Panthers second-rower Isaiah Papali’i will achieve his 200 NRL game milestone.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
