NRL round six tips: Crucial absence could see 'vulnerable' Panthers drop fifth-straight game
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Penrith's tricky start to the season won't get any easier on Thursday night, with a clash against a resurgent Dolphins outfit set to kick off the round.
The reigning premiers have lost four-straight matches and will now take on Kristian Woolf's men, who returned to form last weekend and welcome back Tom Gilbert.
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Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow celebrates the Dolphins' round five win. Getty
The news on the injury front is mixed for the Panthers, who will be boosted by the return of Dylan Edwards at fullback and Scott Sorensen in the back-row.
But there's one key absence that has league legend Andrew Johns worried.
"I think they are really vulnerable without Mitch Kenny - he does a lot of work in the middle of the field," he said on Freddy and The Eighth's Tips.
"I'm gonna go with the Dolphins, I think they're a big chance."
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The other big change for Penrith in round six will see Blaize Talagi earn his first start in the No.6 jumper after biding his time early in the season.
Blaize Talagi during pre-season training with the Panthers. Penrith Panthers
"It will be interesting how he goes," Brad Fittler said.
"When he came on against Melbourne, I thought he defended really good. I haven't understood why they haven't played him.
"When you look at him at Parramatta, he played every position … he's a footy player."
Johns said he "applauds" the four-time champs for how they've handled Talagi's move into the team since he joined in the off-season.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 6 tips by all Nine's expert tipsters!
Nine's NRL tipping leaderboard. Nine
Andrew Johns: Dolphins, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Knights
Darren Lockyer: Dolphins, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Eels, Storm, Knights
Brad Fittler: Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Tigers
Paul Gallen: Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Knights
Johnathan Thurston: Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Tigers
The Mole: Panthers, Titans, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Tigers
Michael Chammas: Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Storm, Tigers
David Middleton: Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Knights
Peter Psaltis: Panthers, Titans, Broncos, Sharks, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Knights
Mat Thompson: Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Storm, Tigers
Danika Mason: Panthers, Titans, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Cowboy, Raiders, Storm, Tigers
Ben Glover: Panthers, Dragons, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Raiders, Storm, Knights
