Friday Night Thriller: Florida Panthers Strike First in Series Opener
The biggest Friday night of the season takes us from Mudgee to Melbourne, as four heavyweight title contenders compete in two mouth-watering matchups.
We begin at the picturesque Glen Willow Oval, where the Panthers will try to return to the top four by defeating the Raiders, who have only lost four games this season.
From Mudgee, we'll drive to AAMI Park, where the Storm faithful will gather to see if Harry Grant can perform another miracle against a Bulldogs team reeling from two consecutive losses.
We begin at the picturesque Glen Willow Oval, where the Panthers will try to return to the top four by defeating the Raiders, who have only lost four games this season.
From Mudgee, we'll drive to AAMI Park, where the Storm faithful will gather to see if Harry Grant can perform another miracle against a Bulldogs team reeling from two consecutive losses.
Following this tremendous round of Friday night footy, the finals picture will undoubtedly become clearer
Panthers v Raiders at Glen Willow Oval in Mudgee
Panthers v Raiders at Glen Willow Oval in Mudgee
Cleary and Lindsay Smith stop Hudson Young in his tracks at 27 minutes with a mousetrap maneuver.
25 minutes: The Raiders' finest offensive opportunity so far comes from a penalty for interference with Ethan Strange as he chased a Jamaal Fogarty bomb. Xavier Savage is down in backplay with a biceps injury.
20 minutes in: Kangaroos and NSW Origin skipper Isaah Yeo comes off the bench for the Panthers and is instantly involved in the action.
25 minutes: The Raiders' finest offensive opportunity so far comes from a penalty for interference with Ethan Strange as he chased a Jamaal Fogarty bomb. Xavier Savage is down in backplay with a biceps injury.
20 minutes in: Kangaroos and NSW Origin skipper Isaah Yeo comes off the bench for the Panthers and is instantly involved in the action.
16 minutes: Mclean scores after a short Blaize Talagi kick ricocheted off Zac Hosking's legs, and the Kiwi centre gathered up the loose ball and dived over. Clearly, a conversion occurred. Panthers 6-0
13 minutes: Nathan Cleary forced a goal-line dropout with a well-placed grubber kick, forcing Kaeo Weekes to run dead.
11 minutes: It will be fascinating to watch if the Panthers regret not taking a gift two points after the Raiders' defense proved up to the challenge and turned them away.
9 minutes: The Panthers have received back-to-back penalties, and on both occasions, they have turned down an easy shot at the goal. Raiders captain Joseph Tapine has been warned for dissent.
13 minutes: Nathan Cleary forced a goal-line dropout with a well-placed grubber kick, forcing Kaeo Weekes to run dead.
11 minutes: It will be fascinating to watch if the Panthers regret not taking a gift two points after the Raiders' defense proved up to the challenge and turned them away.
9 minutes: The Panthers have received back-to-back penalties, and on both occasions, they have turned down an easy shot at the goal. Raiders captain Joseph Tapine has been warned for dissent.
7 minutes: A Raiders blunder results in a scrum feed for Penrith, and Brian To'o makes a long-range break.
5 minutes in: Panthers centre Casey McLean makes his first blunder of the game, dropping the ball in a tackle by Raiders hooker Tom Starling near the Penrith tryline.
Finalized team lists
Panthers: Isaah Yeo will return for Friday night's big game in Mudgee, starting on the bench with Isaiah Papali'i at lock. Matt Eisenhuth was the player who left when the team was announced 60 minutes before kickoff, with Paul Alamoti coming in as the 18th man.
5 minutes in: Panthers centre Casey McLean makes his first blunder of the game, dropping the ball in a tackle by Raiders hooker Tom Starling near the Penrith tryline.
Finalized team lists
Panthers: Isaah Yeo will return for Friday night's big game in Mudgee, starting on the bench with Isaiah Papali'i at lock. Matt Eisenhuth was the player who left when the team was announced 60 minutes before kickoff, with Paul Alamoti coming in as the 18th man.
Raiders: Ricky Stuart has decided not to rush back Matty Nicholson and Savelio Tamale, who are close to returning from leg injuries. The Raiders coach has instead stuck with the same 17 that defeated Manly before last week's bye, with Ethan Strange and Jamal Fogarty steering the ship in the halves. There were no changes to the team before kickoff, with Noah Martin announced as the 18th man.