Cowboys v Panthers
Round 23, Friday, August 23, 1300SMILES Stadium
Looking ahead: The Cowboys and Panthers won't meet until the third last game of the regular season with Ivan Cleary's men to travel to 1300SMILES Stadium in Round 23.
Panthers' changes: Super utility Tyrone Peachey heads north to the Gold Coast, while Corey Harawira-Naera, Christian Crichton, Maika Sivo and Tim Browne have also departed. Prop Tim Grant returns for his second stint at the club and is currently Penrith's only recruit for 2019. Ivan Cleary also returns to the club for his second stint as head coach.
Rosters:
Cowboys squad: Carlin Anderson, John Asiata, Kurt Baptiste, Ben Barba, Logan Bayliss-Brow, Scott Bolton, Javid Bowen, Jake Clifford, Gavin Cooper, Reuben Cotter, Mitchell Dunn, Kyle Feldt, Tom Gilbert, Jake Granville, Ben Hampton, Coen Hess, Corey Jensen, Ethan Lowe, Nene Macdonald, Te Maire Martin, Jordan McLean, Francis Molo, Michael Morgan, Gideon Gela-Mosby, Justin O'Neill, Tom Opacic, Emry Pere, Dan Russell, Matthew Scott, Murray Taulagi, Jason Taumalolo, Enari Tuala, Kurt Wiltshire, Shane Wright
Panthers squad: Caleb Aekins, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Jack Hethrington, James Fisher-Harris, James Maloney, James Tamou, Jarome Luai, Jed Cartwright, Josh Mansour, Kaide Ellis, Liam Martin, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Moses Leota, Nathan Cleary, Nick Lui-Toso, Paea Pua, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Sione Katoa, Tim Grant, Trent Merrin, Tyrell Fuimaono, Tyrone May, Tyrone Phillips, Viliame Kikau, Waqa Blake, Wayde Egan
'Tatey says': I think they'll be up there again, but a lot does depend on Jimmy Maloney and how he comes back from his neck injury. They've had a fair bit of drama around the head coach, which ended up in Ivan coming back so it will be interesting to see how that plays out.
Looking back: The two sides met twice in the 2018 season, with Penrith winning in Round 4 and the Cowboys triumphing in Round 9.
Head-to-head: Played 38; Cowboys 18 wins, Panthers 20 wins
Last 5 meetings:
2018, Round 9: Cowboys def. Panthers 26-20
2018, Round 4: Panthers def. Cowboys 33-14
2017, Round 23: Panthers def. Cowboys 24-16
2017, Round 16: Cowboys def. Panthers 14-12
2016, Round 6: Cowboys def. Panthers 23-18
Finish – NRL ladder: Cowboys 13th v Panthers 5th
