SYDNEY, Feb 20 AAP - Penrith coach Royce Simmons today resisted the urge to make changes to his starting lineup after suffering the heaviest first-round defeat in the at the weekend.
Simmons is keeping faith with his players despite their 40-4 loss to Parramatta last Saturday night.
Simmons' only changes for Penrith's trip to Brisbane this Saturday night have come about through injuries.
"We're only one game into the season and the same side made the finals last year," he said today.
"Players will be given another opportunity to perform this week.
"I'd certainly want to see a big improvement this week, otherwise we're going to have to look at making some changes."
While admitting his patience wouldn't last forever, Simmons was confident that a session of soul-searching may have done the trick.
The Panthers have brought in Shane Elford for fullback Peter Jorgensen (shoulder), while key forward Matt Adamson (knee) was named but is not a certain starter.
Ryan Girdler (groin) was also included, but Simmons said Penrith would not risk the goalkicking Test centre so early in the season if he wasn't 100 per cent fit.
Melbourne welcomes back Queensland State of Origin representative centre Aaron Moule for the Storm's hosting of North Queensland at Colonial Stadium on Saturday night.
Moule has been recovering from a shoulder reconstruction and is an important addition to a backline missing classy fullback Robbie Ross.
Ross (hamstring) was ruled out yesterday, prompting coach Chris Anderson to move Matt Geyer to fullback and Junior Langi to the wing to accommodate Moule in the centres.
Matt Rua comes into the Storm's pack in the absence of suspended forward Rodney Howe.
Injuries and other factors forced a rash of positional changes at North Queensland.
Only six players - skipper Paul Bowman, halfback Nathan Fien and forwards John Buttigieg, Leigh McWilliams, Peter Jones and Glenn Morrison - have held their starting spots.
Rookie Trent Leis moves from the wing to fullback, allowing the Cowboys to tackle the Storm with Origin centres Julian O'Neill and Paul Bowman.
O'Neill's latest positional change follows an injury to Geoff Bell (ankle ligaments).
Highly-rated Josh Hannay is back after a season wrecked by a serious shoulder injury, replacing five-eighth John Doyle, who's nursing a cracked bone in his hand.
Terry Lamb made five-eighth Owen Craigie the scapegoat for West Tigers' 30-16 loss to Sydney Roosters last Saturday night.
The Tigers coach brought in experienced playmaker John Simon and relegated Craigie to the interchange bench for Sunday's match against St George Illawarra at the SFS.
Paul McGregor has again been named to make his comeback for the Dragons after a year in retirement.
McGregor (knee) replaces Lee Hookey after the former Test centre was a late withdrawal last weekend against the Sharks.
Australian representative Ben Kennedy will start for Newcastle against the Roosters at the SFS.
Kennedy (ankle and shoulder) was on the bench last week and comes in for Troy Fletcher (cheekbone).
BRISBANE, Feb 20 AAP - North Queensland's moment of truth has arrived just a week into the 2001 NRL season. The Cowboys ability to perform away from Dairy Farmers Stadium has been a noose around its neck and taking on Melbourne at Colonial Stadium will give coach Tim Sheens a preview of the season ahead.
Sheens, who has offered to quit if the club struggles through another unproductive season, will expect his players to follow up their encouraging one point loss to Brisbane with a strong game against the Storm.
The Cowboys approached the opening game of the season against Brisbane as a mini grand final and will be hoping the roll continues against Melbourne despite news today of changes for Saturday night's match.
Only six players - skipper Paul Bowman, halfback Nathan Fien, and forwards John Buttigieg, Leigh McWilliams, Peter Jones and Glenn Morrison - have held their starting spots.
Rookie Trent Leis moves from the wing to fullback allowing the Cowboys to tackle the Storm with Origin centres Julian O'Neill and Paul Bowman.
O'Neill's latest positional changes follows and an injury to Geoff Bell (ankle ligaments).
Highly-rated Josh Hannay is back after a season wrecked by a serious shoulder injury, replacing five-eighth John Doyle who is nursing a cracked bone in his hand.
Sheens believes Hannay is up to the task of partnering another young gun Nathan Fien in the halves despite a long injury lay-off and a total lack of five-eighth experience in top grade.
All of his 38 first grade games have either been in the centres, on the wing, or in the back-row.
Winger Adam Connolly has lost his spot to Kiwi international Brian Jellick with former Parramatta and Auckland flyer Lee Oudenryn taking Leis' wing spot.
Former Shark Tim Maddison has bumped makeshift prop Robert Relf to the bench in an effort to add some bulk and muscle against a Storm outfit that will miss suspended forward Rodney Howe.
Interchange forwards Kyle Warren (cheekbone) and Mark Shipway (hand) face last minute fitness checks.
Brisbane has named an unchanged side for its ANZ Stadium joust with heavy first round losers Penrith, but have lingering doubts over winger Wendell Sailor (AC shoulder joint) and halfback Scott Prince (ankle ligaments).
Sailor said today if the decision was left up to him "I'd definitely play".
But his injury is such that another bad knock could rule him out for weeks.
Prince, who admits he let the emotion of playing against his old club last week get to him, hit the pool today and is unlikely to be asked to train until Friday.
"Obviously I'm in some doubt," he said.
"I thought about my game against the Cowboys during the week and there was a bit of pressure on me I guess."
Should Prince fail to come good in time, Berrigan, quickly becoming a priceless utility for the Broncos, would step straight into the starting halfback role.
Simmons is keeping faith with his players despite their 40-4 loss to Parramatta last Saturday night.
Simmons' only changes for Penrith's trip to Brisbane this Saturday night have come about through injuries.
"We're only one game into the season and the same side made the finals last year," he said today.
"Players will be given another opportunity to perform this week.
"I'd certainly want to see a big improvement this week, otherwise we're going to have to look at making some changes."
While admitting his patience wouldn't last forever, Simmons was confident that a session of soul-searching may have done the trick.
The Panthers have brought in Shane Elford for fullback Peter Jorgensen (shoulder), while key forward Matt Adamson (knee) was named but is not a certain starter.
Ryan Girdler (groin) was also included, but Simmons said Penrith would not risk the goalkicking Test centre so early in the season if he wasn't 100 per cent fit.
Melbourne welcomes back Queensland State of Origin representative centre Aaron Moule for the Storm's hosting of North Queensland at Colonial Stadium on Saturday night.
Moule has been recovering from a shoulder reconstruction and is an important addition to a backline missing classy fullback Robbie Ross.
Ross (hamstring) was ruled out yesterday, prompting coach Chris Anderson to move Matt Geyer to fullback and Junior Langi to the wing to accommodate Moule in the centres.
Matt Rua comes into the Storm's pack in the absence of suspended forward Rodney Howe.
Injuries and other factors forced a rash of positional changes at North Queensland.
Only six players - skipper Paul Bowman, halfback Nathan Fien and forwards John Buttigieg, Leigh McWilliams, Peter Jones and Glenn Morrison - have held their starting spots.
Rookie Trent Leis moves from the wing to fullback, allowing the Cowboys to tackle the Storm with Origin centres Julian O'Neill and Paul Bowman.
O'Neill's latest positional change follows an injury to Geoff Bell (ankle ligaments).
Highly-rated Josh Hannay is back after a season wrecked by a serious shoulder injury, replacing five-eighth John Doyle, who's nursing a cracked bone in his hand.
Terry Lamb made five-eighth Owen Craigie the scapegoat for West Tigers' 30-16 loss to Sydney Roosters last Saturday night.
The Tigers coach brought in experienced playmaker John Simon and relegated Craigie to the interchange bench for Sunday's match against St George Illawarra at the SFS.
Paul McGregor has again been named to make his comeback for the Dragons after a year in retirement.
McGregor (knee) replaces Lee Hookey after the former Test centre was a late withdrawal last weekend against the Sharks.
Australian representative Ben Kennedy will start for Newcastle against the Roosters at the SFS.
Kennedy (ankle and shoulder) was on the bench last week and comes in for Troy Fletcher (cheekbone).
BRISBANE, Feb 20 AAP - North Queensland's moment of truth has arrived just a week into the 2001 NRL season. The Cowboys ability to perform away from Dairy Farmers Stadium has been a noose around its neck and taking on Melbourne at Colonial Stadium will give coach Tim Sheens a preview of the season ahead.
Sheens, who has offered to quit if the club struggles through another unproductive season, will expect his players to follow up their encouraging one point loss to Brisbane with a strong game against the Storm.
The Cowboys approached the opening game of the season against Brisbane as a mini grand final and will be hoping the roll continues against Melbourne despite news today of changes for Saturday night's match.
Only six players - skipper Paul Bowman, halfback Nathan Fien, and forwards John Buttigieg, Leigh McWilliams, Peter Jones and Glenn Morrison - have held their starting spots.
Rookie Trent Leis moves from the wing to fullback allowing the Cowboys to tackle the Storm with Origin centres Julian O'Neill and Paul Bowman.
O'Neill's latest positional changes follows and an injury to Geoff Bell (ankle ligaments).
Highly-rated Josh Hannay is back after a season wrecked by a serious shoulder injury, replacing five-eighth John Doyle who is nursing a cracked bone in his hand.
Sheens believes Hannay is up to the task of partnering another young gun Nathan Fien in the halves despite a long injury lay-off and a total lack of five-eighth experience in top grade.
All of his 38 first grade games have either been in the centres, on the wing, or in the back-row.
Winger Adam Connolly has lost his spot to Kiwi international Brian Jellick with former Parramatta and Auckland flyer Lee Oudenryn taking Leis' wing spot.
Former Shark Tim Maddison has bumped makeshift prop Robert Relf to the bench in an effort to add some bulk and muscle against a Storm outfit that will miss suspended forward Rodney Howe.
Interchange forwards Kyle Warren (cheekbone) and Mark Shipway (hand) face last minute fitness checks.
Brisbane has named an unchanged side for its ANZ Stadium joust with heavy first round losers Penrith, but have lingering doubts over winger Wendell Sailor (AC shoulder joint) and halfback Scott Prince (ankle ligaments).
Sailor said today if the decision was left up to him "I'd definitely play".
But his injury is such that another bad knock could rule him out for weeks.
Prince, who admits he let the emotion of playing against his old club last week get to him, hit the pool today and is unlikely to be asked to train until Friday.
"Obviously I'm in some doubt," he said.
"I thought about my game against the Cowboys during the week and there was a bit of pressure on me I guess."
Should Prince fail to come good in time, Berrigan, quickly becoming a priceless utility for the Broncos, would step straight into the starting halfback role.
