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Can the Penrith Panthers finish an amazing season by taking the National Youth Competition title or will the Manly Sea Eagles upset the minor premiers? Join The Roar from 1pm (AEST) for live coverage.
The Panthers are the team to beat, with a line-up full of future stars. Cameron Ciraldo’s team possess hard-hitting forwards Oliver Clark, Moses Leota, James Fisher-Harris and Thomson Tuigimala, as well as an exciting backline featuring Brent Naden, Robert Jennings, Fuimanu Enise, Corey Harawira-Naera and Dylan Edwards.
But the real strength of the team are halves Tyrone May and Soni Luke, who are rated among the best players in the competition.
Although only one Panthers players, Brent Naden, featured in the 2015 Team of the Year, they are still red-hot favourites.
The Sea Eagles have fewer future stars, however they boast two members of the 2015 Team of the Year in Tom Trbojevic and Addison Demetriou, who were both nominees for Player of the Year, losing out to Ashley Taylor of the Brisbane Broncos.
The big match-up will come at the back, with team of the year members Naden and Trbojevic going head-to-head. It won’t be the last time we see these two go up against each other, with both expected to be future rep stars – Naden even trained with the NSW Blues squad ahead of Game 1 of the 2015 State of Origin series.
At just 18, Trbojevic has appeared nine times for the Sea Eagles at first-grade level, and is carrying Manly’s hopes on his shoulders.
The Panthers and Sea Eagles have played each other three times this season with Penrith victorious on all three occasions. Their most recent meeting came at ANZ Stadium during Week 1 of the finals, where the Panthers won 44-24. Previous to that match, the boys from the foot of the mountain won in Round 6 at Pepper Stadium 36-16, and in Round 10 at St Marys Leagues Stadium 42-16.
Prediction
Manly’s forward pack will struggle against Penrith’s forwards with their halves equally lacking direction. Expect them to be trounced.
The Panthers will take out their second title after a stellar season.
Penrith by 8.
Join The Roar from 1pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
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