Just one play jumps out at me in today's games.
NRL Round 13)
Game 3) Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights, Penrith Stadium
Panthers +2.5
A rather surprising line given the contrasting fortunes of the two sides at opposite ends of the table. Obviously, the key factor the books have used in determining it is the absence of Knights kingpin Andrew Johns thru injury. The Knights haven't been as impressive since Johns' departure - in the second half v the Dragons and last week's tight encounter at home to the cellar dwellering Cowboys. But they haven't been far off the helter-skelter pace they were previously setting. Against the Dragons, they completed 34 of 42 sets and made just 7 errors; v the Cowboys they made an excellent 27 of 34 completion rate, with just 6 mistakes. And they scored over 30 pts in the first match and over 40 in the latter, so it's not like Joey's absence has meant their attack has dried up.
For the Panthers to win, that's what has to happen but it's very hard to envisage given the Panthers' defensive frailties. They've conceded a whopping 391 pts in 12 matches, the worst in the comp by a long stretch. Look at the missed tackles in recent rds - 28 v the hapless Tigers last weekend, 35 v the rampaging Storm, 25 v the Raiders, 27 v Warriors, 33 v Dragons. The Panthers won last weekend to slightly erase the memory of the horrible towelling from the Storm but when that victory was over the non-entity Tigers, it can't count for much.
Sean Rudder isn't Johns but he's a handy fill-in. Add in the firepower out wide in the likes of MacDougall, Tahu and Albert v a Panthers side without Ryan Girdler, and the visitors have to be favoured to win a high-scoring clash even on the road.
PLAY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS -2.5 OR ML
GLTA
NRL Round 13)
Game 3) Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights, Penrith Stadium
Panthers +2.5
A rather surprising line given the contrasting fortunes of the two sides at opposite ends of the table. Obviously, the key factor the books have used in determining it is the absence of Knights kingpin Andrew Johns thru injury. The Knights haven't been as impressive since Johns' departure - in the second half v the Dragons and last week's tight encounter at home to the cellar dwellering Cowboys. But they haven't been far off the helter-skelter pace they were previously setting. Against the Dragons, they completed 34 of 42 sets and made just 7 errors; v the Cowboys they made an excellent 27 of 34 completion rate, with just 6 mistakes. And they scored over 30 pts in the first match and over 40 in the latter, so it's not like Joey's absence has meant their attack has dried up.
For the Panthers to win, that's what has to happen but it's very hard to envisage given the Panthers' defensive frailties. They've conceded a whopping 391 pts in 12 matches, the worst in the comp by a long stretch. Look at the missed tackles in recent rds - 28 v the hapless Tigers last weekend, 35 v the rampaging Storm, 25 v the Raiders, 27 v Warriors, 33 v Dragons. The Panthers won last weekend to slightly erase the memory of the horrible towelling from the Storm but when that victory was over the non-entity Tigers, it can't count for much.
Sean Rudder isn't Johns but he's a handy fill-in. Add in the firepower out wide in the likes of MacDougall, Tahu and Albert v a Panthers side without Ryan Girdler, and the visitors have to be favoured to win a high-scoring clash even on the road.
PLAY NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS -2.5 OR ML
GLTA
