There is certainly no love lost when the Parramatta Eels and the Penrith Panthers go head-to-head and another fiery encounter is expected when they meet on Thursday morning at CommBank Stadium.
Neither side has shown consistency in recent weeks and with plenty on the line for both, a tight clash might well be on the cards in this one.
Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers Tips Summary
Best Bet - Parramatta Eels +15.5 handicap @ 1.96
Alternative Bet - Casey McLean anytime tryscorer @ 2.20
Bet Builder - Brian To'o, Thomas Jenkins & Joash Papalii anytime tryscorers @ 15.00
Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers Prediction
Best Bet: Parramatta Eels +15.5 handicap @ 1.96
The Panthers have been the dominant force in this rivalry in recent years, winning all of their last five meetings with the Eels.
However, Parramatta have picked up some scalps at home of late, winning two of their last three home games against the Canberra Raiders and Manly Sea Eagles.
While a victory over NRL table-toppers Penrith might be a stretch, the Eels, boosted by the return of star playmaker Mitch Moses, can push the Panthers closer than many might think.
With that in mind, the hosts with a +15.5 handicap get the thumbs up here.
Alternative Bet: Casey McLean anytime tryscorer @ 2.20
Scoring three tries in his last five appearances for the Panthers, Casey McLean finds himself in good form going into this derby clash.
Also scoring the last time these rivals faced off back in Round 4, McLean jumps off the page at 2.20 in the anytime tryscorer market.
Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers Bet Builder Tip
Brian To'o anytime tryscorer
Thomas Jenkins anytime tryscorer
Joash Papalii anytime tryscorer
Pays 15.00
Sticking with the anytime tryscorer market, here are three selections to consider in this Bet Builder.
Brian To’o requires one try for a century of NRL tries and he can reach that career landmark on Thursday.
Thomas Jenkins has scored seven tries in his last five games and is backed to add at least one more to his tally, as is Joash Papalii, with the Eels utility star scoring in three of his last five matches for Parramatta.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
The Penrith Panthers have won all of their last five meetings with the Parramatta Eels
The Panthers have won six from seven at CommBank Stadium this term
The Eels have managed to beat only one current top-eight team this season, with a single victory over the North Queensland Cowboys in Round 10
The Eels have won two of their last three home games, beating the Canberra Raiders and Manly Sea Eagles in that time
Read more rugby league betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
