Two struggling teams clash at the base of the mountains as the Penrith Panthers host the Manly Sea Eagles. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm (AEST).
Penrith started the season as well as anybody, getting wins over the Bulldogs and the Titans to start 2-0. Since then has been a struggle however, with three straight losses seeing them drop out of the top eight.
A loss against Manly would just about end their top-four chances this season, so this game is shaping up as a must-win for the Panthers.
The Sea Eagles are unrecognisable this season, currently sitting dead last on the ladder. While they still have a lot of talent on their playing list, there’s something off about this club.
Key injuries haven’t helped their cause, but ugly back-to-back losses to the Dragons and the Raiders has the Sea Eagles a realistic chance for the wooden spoon in 2015.
Penrith have been forced into one change, with Dean Whare missing this match with a hamstring injury. That injury shifts Jamal Idris back to the centres, while Sika Manu will come back into the side. Brent Kite and Jamie Soward will both miss another couple of weeks.
Manly have named an unchanged side for this clash, meaning youngster Tom Trbojevic retains his place in the side. There is a chance for Steve Matai being a late inclusion, and he would probably bump Trjobevic out.
These two teams played a thriller in their last meeting, with Manly scoring two tries at the death to steal a victory. This continued Manly’s slight advantage in this match-up, as the Sea Eagles have won 13 of the last 23 clashes.
Prediction
Penrith will win this game; it just becomes a question of how much. The Sea Eagles are a shambles, and I’m tipping a blowout.
Panthers by 24.
Tom G
Guest
Just plain awful... Injuries aside this is the worst Manly side in over ten years. EMBRASSING
Dan
Guest
Just saw the highlights. When Moylan made the break from the quick tap, did the commentators mention he had a teammate in front of him? Was this picked up by the referees? It's a pretty simple call to miss.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME The Panthers have broken their losing streak, picking up a 10-point victory over the Sea Eagles at home. It was a five-minute burst that did it for the Panthers, as three quick trys to Josh Mansour, Waqa Blake and Apisai Koroisau put the Sea Eagles to the sword. With both Peter Wallace and Jamie Soward missing, this is a very important win for the Panthers. For the Sea Eagles, they once again confirm their status as worst in the NRL, and it's been a sad fall to witness. With two more injuries to Tom Trbojevic and Jesse Sene-Lefao, the end of the season already can't come soon enough for the Sea Eagles.
Doug Graves
Guest
Say what you want about Toovey but for me he's coach of the year simply for what he's done to Manly!
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
79' Never mind. Steve Matai with a terrible error, and the Sea Eagles have dropped their fourth in a row. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 12
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
78' Hiku steps out of the first tackle, but he's taken well. Cherry-Evans puts a short ball onto Buhrer's chest, but he's put the ball down!! Peachey now runs away, but he's taken into touch by Tom Symonds!! That should have been game over there, but Peachey may have invited them back in. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 12
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
77' Under 3 minutes to go. An interesting play here, as Cherry-Evans with a terrible pass that Hiku kicks into a Panthers player. The Sea Eagles' will get the scrum feed here. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 12
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
76' Manly are on the attack here, and they come to the left side. Foran puts a kick through looking for Cheyse Blair, but DWZ has gathered it, and he forces the goal-line drop out. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 12
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
75' Manly still working it away here, and Tyrone Peachey gives away a 6 again. Matt Ballin let it slip through his grasp, but the Panthers hooker coughed it up. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 12
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
74' James Segeyaro trying the chip through for DWZ, but the young winger has kicked it out of bounds. Scrum feed for Manly on their own 20. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 12
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
73' Cherry Evans gets to kick from Panthers' territory, and Moylan has a fumble. Play on is called though, and the Panthers will work it away. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 12
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CONVERSION UNSUCCESSFUL Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 12
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
TRY SEA EAGLES 70' Steve Matai has a go at the defensive line here, but he's pulled down. They come to the right, where Willie Mason has a charge, and he's only centimetres away. Left side for Trbojevic, but he's held up yet again. Last play, and they come to the left side. Hiku with the tap on that goes behind Matai, and Blair is forced to clean up. He's stopped a couple of metres from the line, but he somehow manages to get a ball away to Matai who scores. Is there a comeback on? Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 12
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
NO TRY SEA EAGLES 68' To be honest, Trbojevic probably scored there, but there was no footage to back that up. They come to the right on the last play, where Josh Mansour is forced to kick the DCE grubber dead. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 8
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
VIDEO REF SEA EAGLES 68' The Sea Eagles try the left side, where Horo has a go at the line. They come to the right side, and Jake Trbojevic is held up over the line. We're going to go upstairs to have a look here. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 8
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
67' The Sea Eagles create the overlap on the left flank here, but Steve Matai has put the pass down. The Sea Eagles will set the scrum though, as DWZ touched the pass on the way through. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 8
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
66' The Sea Eagles try the short ball, but Isaah Yeo taps it back for Isaac John. Nothing working for Manly here. Just as I say that, DWZ mucks up the play the ball. Manly need points off this set. Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 8
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL Panthers 22 Sea Eagles 8
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
TRY PANTHERS 64' McKendry goes straight through the line here, and he offloads off to the right. Now they come back left, where Apisai Koroisau goes over untouched. The wheels are falling off for Manly. Pathers 20 Sea Eagles 8
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
63' Another poor set from the Sea Eagles, as Cherry-Evans kicks from his own 30. DWZ brings it outside his own 40, and the Panthers are right on top here. Panthers 16 Sea Eagles 8