Tom Jenkins
For most teams facing Penrith, the presence of Tom Jenkins on the left wing must be a lot like having a Huntsman on the living room ceiling; You don’t like that he’s there and it makes you uncomfortable, but because you’re a massive blouse there isn’t much you can do about it. You understand that he has a right to be there even though he scares you, but at least he’s just in that one spot where you can keep an eye on him so you know he hasn’t scurried into one of your shoes or some evil shit. Now imagine for a minute you approach that Huntsman with ill intent, and on your first and only attempt with the swing of a broom, you miss and the spider flips out and does one of those weird floaty leaps down the wall, behind the couch, or maybe the bookcase, or perhaps behind your rolled up yoga mat… You’ll never know. You realize that it is still there, somewhere among your things, patiently waiting for revenge. It could be anywhere, ready to strike when you least expect it… You never sleep again. This is the situation the Parramatta Eels find themselves in this week with Tom Jenkins playing fullback for the Panthers.
Casey McClean
While Parramatta have been destroyed by opposition centres for 22 tries, there’s only actually been five Eels games so far this year where they haven’t conceded a try to a left centre. Casey has been pretty quiet for the last few games, but after looking into it a bit deeper, Penrith appear to have weirdly gone up against three of the harshest defences against opposition centres in a row since he last scored. The Eels have no such defence against them and may god have mercy on their souls.
The Fox
Now in defence of the Eels here, there have only actually been 6 games this season where a left winger didn’t score a try against the Panthers. On six occasions Penrith have also conceded the first or last opposition try to a leftie, including for the last 3 fucking games straight. This one is bound to be a Furry’s dream, Punters, if the Fox manages to burrow his way up the Panthers asshole as expected.
Paul Alamoti/Izack Tago
Parra have had their shit wrecked by these two positions for 24 total tries on the year so far, with 9 of them coming through in just the last 6 games alone. Left wingers and right centres have also scored the first or last opposition try against the Eels for the last three weeks in a row. Penrith’s outside backs may be in disarray on paper, but Tago is far more prolific than Alamoti is at centre, but it’d be wise to combine them since it’s likely that any action on their left side could be snatched by McClean or a now-roving Jenkins without warning.
Kelma Tuilagi
As it happens, the second most popular spot for tries against Penrith in recent weeks has been their left edge, with opposition right edge runners claiming tries in half of their last 6 outings. The Eels have pinched a couple through Kelma’s edge in the last four games, so he has a far better shot at it then the odds would have you believe.
Liam Martin/Isaiah Papali’i
Rounding this one out are Penrith’s edge runners. Parramatta have been slapped around for 15 tries to second rowers and have given up the first opposition try to left or right edge forwards a massive 6 times. The Panthers edge runners haven’t exactly been setting the league on fire, but they certainly fuckin burned the Eels last time they faced off.