Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is confident the systems he has in place across all grades will uphold their astonishing NRL winning streak against Wests Tigers.
Returning fullback Dylan Edwards is wary of the threat former player Daine Laurie possesses as the depleted Panthers look to keep their unbeaten 12-game winning streak alive on Friday night.
Team news
Panthers: Maroons back-rower Kurt Capewell (crusher) accepted a one-week ban with an early plea, allowing Moses Leota (shoulder) to slot back in after his late withdrawal last week. Liam Martin shifts back to the second row.
Dylan Edwards (hamstring) has failed to recover so Stephen Crichton stays at fullback and Paul Momirovski partners hat-trick hero Matt Burton in the centres.
Mitch Kenny and Lindsay Smith were omitted when the squad was trimmed to 19 players 24 hours out from kick-off.
The Panthers have won their past 14 games at BlueBet Stadium.
Bulldogs: Jack Hetherington returns at prop and captain Josh Jackson is back locking the scrum in a major revamp of the Canterbury pack.
I have rarely, if ever, seen such a good team as the 2021 Penrith Panthers. The 1983 Eels, 1985 Bulldogs, 1991 Panthers, 1993 Raiders, 1998 Broncos and the 2007 Storm are probably the best, most complete sides I’ve seen in my lifetime. I’d put Ivan Cleary’s 2021 Panthers right among those sides. They are a […]