Follow stats, scores & live commentary from Penrith Panthers vs. Eels NRL opener…
Back it if you are that brave this early in the year, but getting a 7.5-point start against the Eels is a gift that should be taken with both hands.
Penrith were held scoreless in their opening round match with Melbourne and I am not saying that the Eels have the defensive capability to do that, however, they have troubled the premiers over the last two seasons and with their attack failing to find its familiar rhythm in their two matches they have played, this game is set up to go down to the wire.
The game total is as low as 35.5 but find it at 36.5 for that little bit of comfort around the key the number. This will once again be a defensive fight from Penrith’s standpoint so a low scoring tussle with Parramatta covering the 7.5 points as the dog is the play.
Never thought I would see this Penrith team being held to 0, but the Storm achieved that to put the Panthers in the record books as the only reigning premiers to be held scoreless in rugby league history.
It is not often that the team that has 55 percent possession and 69 percent of the territory comes away scoreless. The Panthers also had 47 tackles in Melbourne’s redzone and could not convert.
Kudos to Melbourne, but is it a true worrying sign for Penrith after they had similar issues in the World Club Challenge also.
