NRL finals week one tips: Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Nine's experts give their predictions
An updated weather forecast indicating that Friday's rain in Sydney will pass well before kick-off will give the Eels a huge boost in their bid to knock over the minor premiers, according to Andrew Johns.
Johns filmed Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth's Tips on Wednesday when heavy rain was forecast for Friday night and the Newcastle great expected it to play a significant factor in the match, tipping the scales in Penrith's favour.
"It helps Penrith no end," Johns said.
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"Cause the way the Eels play, they trouble them with ball movement and offloads. So [the rain] makes the forward game even more important but it makes the kicking game really important."
Johns was then asked by Brad Fittler if he thought Nathan Cleary would be at all rusty in his return game after sitting on the sidelines for five weeks due to suspension.
Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary was sent off from the field for a dangerous tackle Getty
Fittler questioned whether the star halfback's timing might be a fraction off.
"It won't affect anything," Johns replied.
Even in the dry, Cleary's surgical kicking game is likely to play a significant role, yet bot times the Eels have played the Panthers this season they've dealt with that by putting him under extreme pressure late in the tackle count.
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That ability to get up in his face has swung both games for Parramatta, resulting in a 22-20 win in round nine and a 34-10 thrashing in round 20.
It was in that game that Cleary was sent off for an ugly tipping tackle and he has not played since.
While Johns was confident in Cleary's ability to hit the ground running, Fittler predicted a challenging night for him after such a long stint out.
Mitchell Moses of the Eels gathers the ball after a chip kick during their round 20 clash with the Panthers. Getty
"I remember his first game when he came back from the shoulder (injury last season), he kicked two dead," Fittler said.
Should a similar scenario play out in dry weather on Friday night, the planets may yet align for the Eels for a third time in a row against a team that is an almost unbackable favourite to win back-to-back titles.
Regardless, Johns sees the Eels as significant players in the outcome of this year's playoffs.
"I think this is the grand final," Johns said. "This is the grand final we're going to see I reckon."
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and week one finals tips by Andrew Johns and all Nine's expert tipsters!
Nine's NRL tipping leaderboard. Nine
Andrew Johns: Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Roosters
Brad Fittler: Panthers, Raiders, Sharks, Roosters
Paul Gallen: Panthers, Storm, Sharks, Roosters
Billy Slater: Panthers, Storm, Cowboys, Roosters
Ruan Sims: Panthers, Storm, Sharks, Roosters
Darren Lockyer: Panthers, Sharks, Storm, Roosters
Dave Middleton: Panthers, Storm, Sharks, Roosters
Peter Psaltis: Panthers, Storm, Cowboys, Rabbitohs
The Mole: Panthers, Storm, Sharks, Roosters
Ben Glover: Panthers, Storm, Cowboys, Roosters
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