Penrith have capitalised on a glut of possession from a lopsided penalty count to beat Manly 16-8 at Pepper Stadium.
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Final score
Penrith Panthers 16
Manly Sea Eagles 8
The ninth-placed Penrith Panthers host the third-placed Manly Sea Eagles in Round 18. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game at Pepper Stadium on Saturday evening, starting from 5:30pm (AEST).
It’s a crucial game for the Panthers. They’re two wins outside the top eight with eight matches left in the regular season after this week.
Another loss will make their chances of making the finals much more difficult. They are coming off a big loss against Souths last week.
Manly have performed beyond many people’s expectations so far this season. They’ll have the bonus of having in-form skipper Daly Cherry-Evans on deck, after he was overlooked by the Maroons for the deciding State of Origin game next Wednesday night.
The Sea Eagles will be without Jake Trbojevic who is in camp with the Blues. Lewis Brown is also out with a knee injury.
Darcy Lussick will take Trbojevic’s place at lock, while Jarrad Kennedy comes into the backrow in place of Brown.
Cameron Cullen and Shaun Lane have been named on the Manly interchange bench in the only other changes to the team that beat the Warriors last week.
The Panthers have Mitch Rein coming back from illness to start at hooker. Tyrone Peachey will also start in the centres in place of Dean Whare, who is out with a broken jaw.
James Fisher-Harris has been named on an extended interchange bench, potentially returning from a hamstring injury.
Prediction
Penrith by 4.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game at Pepper Stadium on Saturday evening, starting from 5:30pm (AEST).
Wild Eagle
Guest
DCE can do no thing right in his critics eyes, now it's his fault when the refereeing is abysmal.
Albo
Guest
I thought "the worse bunker decision of all time" was the call of a knock on in that disallowed Panthers second half try . The ball couldn't have gone any further backwards off Harrawira-Naira than it did. Swings and Roundabouts again I guess ? Panthers should have won by 20 but for some naïve attacking strategies and Manly deliberately giving away penalties on their own line.
The Spectator
Guest
EJ, the ref ranks are rank, haha but celebrating milestones is something, I'd trust any 3 gurus from this site to sit in bunker and hand out correct calls yet the bunker with all its tech! Until park footy parents pull there heads in we will struggle to attract ref's.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
But are there any quality referees lining up to replace the current crop? Who actually chooses to become a referee? It's a thankless job. With very little, if any, positive recognition. I heard recently that one of the referees (not sure who) is about to reach the 300 game milestone. The NRL should celebrate it. Show they care. It might entice others to join the ranks. As quite frankly the standard in 2017 is so poor, that one has to pray that a better crop is on the horizon.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I'd say that wouldn't have even been a consideration. DCE is actually quite respectful. Not many captains are gracious on the back of a 14-4 count. Have you seen JT's relationship with referees?!
Big Daddy
Guest
I like my mother in law more than I like manly.
Hicksi
Guest
I wondered early in the week whether DCE's relationship with referees is partly why Qld leave him out. Can Smith can discuss the ref's failings and get recompense. DCE just gets them angry at him and his team.
Chui
Guest
A win to the Perenara Panthers, with a less than honourable mention for the bunker. I wonder if he will feel like a complete goose at his video review this week.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
The whole department needs a clean out. I can't think of a single first-grade ref that I'd call adequate at the moment.
The Spectator
Guest
Perenara, at least his consistent, ?. Penrith took the momentum and the double prop rotation ended running Manly down. Long week!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
The trouble is, Archer will come out and throw his referees under the bus, and what does it achieve? What we are seeing are referees with zero confidence making errors week in, week out. The incinsistencies between one ref and the next is startling. That is a top down issue Archer needs to go. I can't believe he isn't under more scrutiny.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report Thanks for joining me on the coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments on the game.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Not even mad, considering the Panthers needed the worst bunker decision of all time to win. Although, you'd hope the NRL can man up and admit their faults (and sack Henry Perenara)
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Pretty happy with that effort. Everything against them, but they continued to turn up for each other. And were still in it at the death. You won't see that type of penalty count again.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time The hooter sounds and its victory for Penrith! Penrith 16 Manly 8
John Coomer
Roar Guru
77’ Error from Manly, Penrith scrum feed 40 metres out. They should be able to close it out from here. Penrith 16 Manly 8
John Coomer
Roar Guru
76’ Manly back in possession near their own line. Penrith 16 Manly 8
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Manly player tackled without the ball there. The inconsistency is unbelievable
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
You're kidding yourself Alex. 75% of Penrith's penalties have been questionable at best.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
75’ 20 metre tap for Penrith. Penrith 16 Manly 8