The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup will see top four action between top of the table Penrith Panthers and the North Sydney Bears for the first time this season, when NSWRL TV live streams their Round 15 game at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday.
The Bears have played three teams twice already – Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, Mounties and the Western Suburbs Magpies – but have not faced the Panthers so far in 2021. They will be fresh from a bye when they arrive at the foot of the mountains for a 1pm kick-off.
The Panthers have regained their mojo after suffering their first loss this year to the Mounties (38-16) in Round 12. They are on another roll with wins over the Magpies and Newtown Jets from the past two weeks.
The backline battle will be an intriguing one with NRL players Brent Naden (fullback), Robert Jennings (wing) and Paul Momirovski (centre) giving the Panthers a lot of punch, while the Bears will have NRL rookie Joseph Suaalii. He’s scored a try in his three games for the Roosters NRL side.
The Panthers could prove a real handful since they lead The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup for tackle busts (418) compared with the Bears in seventh place (313). The Bears are fourth in the competition for line breaks (61), not all that far behind the Panthers (68).
