Rivals battle for best in the west title

SATURDAY 7.50PM

It seemed almost certain Penrith and Melbourne would cruise through the finals and meet each other again in the NRL decider. But as the Panthers found out last week, things rarely go to plan in sport. Ivan Cleary’s side was stunned by South Sydney, which means it doesn’t get a week off and must beat the Eels to keep alive its season. The loss was Nathan Cleary’s first of the year. He now faces rival halfback Mitch Moses, who was brilliant in Parramatta’s win against Newcastle. The winner of the western derby plays Storm.