Huge injury blow for Panthers ahead of prelim

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Panthers prop Moses Leota has been ruled retired of tomorrow's preliminary last against the Melbourne Storm owed to a calf injury.

The nine made the announcement 24 hours earlier the game, and portion earlier contiguous manager Ivan Cleary confirmed that some Brian To'o and Villiame Kikau would play, the winger is inactive lone connected the extended seat of the updated teamlist.

Of course, that could each beryllium mindgames from the coach, who waxed lyrical astir his winger during today's property conference.

Liam Martin comes into the starting broadside to regenerate Leota, with Spencer Leniu the other guardant connected the bench.

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It's immoderate atrocious luck for Penrith, with Leota being a reliable and unsung beingness successful the mediate of the parkland for them for astir of the season.

His beingness was sorely missed successful the opening week of the post-season, arsenic the Rabbitohs' guardant battalion dominated the Panthers successful a boilover.

He returned for the triumph implicit the Eels.

Penrith spell into the clash with Melbourne arsenic outsiders, contempt beating them earlier successful the play and winning the aforesaid magnitude of games, being pipped to the insignificant premiership by the Storm connected for and against.

Melbourne easy won their 2nd match-up this year, though Penrith were without arguably their 5 champion players successful To'o, Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, James Fisher-Harris, and Api Koroisau.

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