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Dragons v Panthers: Same 17 for Flano; Big guns return

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94ddz.com
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The Dragons are looking to finish a disappointing season on a high by ensuring the defending champs head into the finals series on the back of four straight losses.

Shane Flanagan's outfit are also riding a three-game losing streak having gone down to the Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs and Warriors in recent weeks and they'll be hoping the support of the WIN Stadium faithful can help them turn that around.

The Panthers rested their entire squad last weekend so big guns Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards and co will be fresh and firing for a finals tune-up this weekend.

While Penrith will go in as clear favourites they will be wary of an unpredictable Dragons outfit that has cut down tall poppies Canberra and Cronulla in consecutive weeks just a month ago.

Team News

Dragons: Coach Shane Flanagan goes with the same 17 for the final game of the season. Michael Molo (ankle) has been listed among the reserves as he eyes a return to the field but back-rower Hamish Stewart (concussion) and centre Moses Suli (knee) will turn their attention to the 2026 season.

Panthers: Ivan Cleary brings backs the majority of his stars after they were rested last week. Winger Brian To'o and back-rower Liam Martin will be given another week off after enduring a huge workload in 2025. Paul Alamoti holds his place on the wing and Matt Eisenhuth remains in the 17 after captaining the side last week. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
    Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
  • Winger for Dragons is number 2 Christian Tuipulotu
    Winger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
  • Centre for Dragons is number 3 Hayden Buchanan
    Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
  • Centre for Dragons is number 4 Mathew Feagai
    Centre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean
  • Winger for Dragons is number 5 Tyrell Sloan
    Winger for Panthers is number 5 Paul Alamoti
  • Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Lyhkan King-Togia
    Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Blaize Talagi
  • Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Kyle Flanagan
    Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

  • Prop for Dragons is number 8 Emre Guler
    Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
  • Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
    Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
  • Prop for Dragons is number 10 David Klemmer
    Prop for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Jacob Halangahu
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
  • 2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
    2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Luke Garner
  • Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin
    Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

  • Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle
    Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Brad Schneider
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Luciano Leilua
    Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Liam Henry
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Hame Sele
    Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Isaiah Papali'i
  • Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Loko Pasifiki Tonga
    Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Matthew Eisenhuth

Reserves

  • Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Ben Murdoch-Masila
    Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Daine Laurie
  • Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Corey Allan
    Reserve for Panthers is number 19 Mavrik Geyer
  • Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Lachlan Ilias
    Reserve for Panthers is number 20 Riley Price
  • Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Michael Molo
    Reserve for Panthers is number 21 Luron Patea
  • Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Blake Lawrie
    Reserve for Panthers is number 22 Jaxen Edgar

Dragons Ins

  • Ben Murdoch-Masila
  • Blake Lawrie
  • Lachlan Ilias
  • Michael Molo

Panthers Ins

  • Blaize Talagi
  • Casey McLean
  • Dylan Edwards
  • Isaah Yeo
  • Isaiah Papali'i
  • Izack Tago
  • Liam Henry
  • Lindsay Smith
  • Luke Garner
  • Mitch Kenny
  • Moses Leota
  • Nathan Cleary
  • Scott Sorensen
  • Thomas Jenkins

Dragons Outs

Panthers Ins

  • Austin Dias
  • Billy Phillips
  • David Fale
  • Jack Cole
  • Jesse McLean
  • Luke Sommerton
  • Preston Riki
  • Sione Fonua
  • Soni Luke
  • Zac Lipowicz

Match Officials

  • Referee: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Dragons have won three of their past four games at WIN Stadium.
  • The Panthers have won seven of their last eight games against the Dragons.
  • Dragons winger Tyrell Sloan has scored seven tries in his last seven games.
  • Panthers captain Nathan Cleary has scored six tries in his last six games against the Dragons.
  • The Dragons have beaten four of the current top eight teams this season.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the 

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