Matchday Details
Friday, August 22 – 6pm (AEST) – Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Grant Atkins | Bunker: Liam Kennedy
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Luke Garner12. Liam Martin 13. Isaiah Papali’i 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Scott Sorensen 18. Paul Alamoti 19. Isaiah Yeo 20. Mavrik Geyer 21. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton
Raiders
1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Noah Martin 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Danny Levi 21. Trey Mooney 22. Ethan Sanders
Match Preview
If you looked at the two Friday night games, you’d be forgiven if you thought it was the preliminary finals. First up you have the Raiders taking on Penrith, then straight after you have the Bulldogs battling Melbourne. These games will be the perfect pre-finals test, with a lot to digest for the losers if they get a wake-up call. The Raiders and Storm are also locked in an intense battle for the minor premiership. High stakes rugby league comes to Mudgee.
The Panthers have named Isaah Yeo on the bench after he missed the last two games battling a shoulder injury. Yeo coming back is a huge boost for Penrith as he’s the workhorse every team needs as they look to secure a top four spot. Otherwise, Penrith’s team is the same as the one that lost to Melbourne 22-18 last round. Canberra are still waiting on the returns of Tamale and Nicholson from long-term injuries, but for now name the same team as their home victory against Manly two rounds ago.
At their lowest point of the season defending premiers Penrith were sitting rock bottom on the ladder with people questioning if the dynasty was finally over. Fast forward to three rounds out from the finals and – in Penrith fashion – they are arguably premiership favourites again, timing their run of form for the home straight. There is a famous saying in sport that it’s not who you play, it’s when you play them. Earlier in the season you’d predict Canberra comfortably, but now even at first place this feels like an impossible one to tip. Recent history is hard to get a read on the situation, as Penrith have been the best team in the competition for the last five years, and Canberra haven’t had this sort of form since 2019. The Raiders did manage a 22-18 victory in Canberra round 25 last season where Xavier Savage scored a double, but Penrith did not have Nathan Cleary in the halves.
The battle of the halfbacks highlights the key match-up for this game. The kicking game and territorial battle becomes crucial in an anticipated arm wrestle between two title challengers. Jamal Fogarty’s kicking game has been the most improved part of his game since he joined the Raiders; it complements their forward pack so perfectly allows them to lay the hammer down and grind teams to exhaustion. Cleary has a genius level of halfback IQ, mixed with unteachable chemistry with his teammates. He knows which player to hit, whether it’s the short ball, cut-out pass, or run himself to condense the defensive line and let his five-eighth run the next play. Mudgee doesn’t get to see much first grade rugby league, but they get the honour of watching two of the best halfbacks in our game right now.
This feels as good as a preliminary final in August. Are the Raiders actually the real deal? They won’t get a better opportunity than Friday night to say to the world they can win this competition.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Panthers by 4.
See our full Round 25 Predictions (live Wednesday 12pm) here: 2025 NRL Tipping: Round 25 Writer Predictions
Have your say: Who wins? Drop your tip in the comments or vote in our poll.
Related Links
- Round 25 Late Mail
- 2025 NRL Round 24 Injury List
