Penrith have suffered their first loss at home this season, going down 18-10 to Manly in an error-riddled match at Panthers Stadium.
Both teams were guilty of sloppy handling throughout the game and their completion rates were very poor.
Manly scored the first try in the 12th minute when Joel Thompson used his footwork and size to barge his way over.
Penrith looked sluggish for most of the first half until fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak charged onto an inside ball from dummy-half Sione Katoa. He burst through some soft Manly line defence to score five minutes before half-time.
Manly had a try by winger Brad Parker disallowed just on half-time after Penrith five-eighth James Maloney was ruled to have been obstructed.
The Panthers led 8-6 at half-time.
James Fisher-Harris continued Penrith’s handling woes by knocking the ball on in the first set of the second half. Manly made them pay for it.
Tom Trbojevic threw a great cut-out ball and winger Matt Wright showed his finishing skills to get the ball down in the corner.
The Sea Eagles then had to overcome the loss of five-eighth Dylan Walker, who was carried off with a leg injury in his first game back from a broken cheekbone.
The game was locked at 10-all with fifteen minutes to go when Panthers’ halfback Nathan Cleary was sent to the sin bin.
He was penalised for a professional foul after holding his opposite number Daly Cherry-Evans back after he put a grubber kick through.
Trent Hodkinson slotted the resulting penalty goal to put Manly in front 12-10, and five minutes later he scored the winning try after being on the end of a great ball from a charging Jake Trbojevic.
The win is only Manly’s fifth of the season. Penrith will be disappointed with their performance and not consolidating their top 4 spot.
Joe
Roar Rookie
This was a very courageous performance by Manly considering their off field troubles and the fact that they lost two players to injury during the game. Wright and Walker both injured with a lot of time to go. First team this season to beat Penrith at home as well. I think the Panthers definitely had Origin hangover and considering their thrashing by a rising Rooster the previous week will really need to act to minimize the Origin impact. .
beachart
Roar Rookie
Did have respect for Tamou, up until yesterday afternoon.
Wayne Morrell
Guest
Did have some respect for Tamou, up until yesterday afternoon.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Tamou should be arrested. That play on Walker was well out of bounds.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Serious question marks loom over Penrith now. I guess it is good they having a slump now but they need a Top 4 spot if they are contenders. They will be depleted by Origin and injuries for the games with NZ and Sharks and could very easily drop four straight. As a Penrith fan I am just excited to see how May and Luai go in the halves next week. Only reason I am looking forward to it. Lucky that the Warriors picked up a couple of injuries of their own but their spine of RTS, Green, Johnson and Luke should carve ours up (DWZ, Luai, May, Katoa).