Penrith Panthers
44
Match Complete
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
12
| N. Cleary |  | 80 | ||
| N. Cleary |  | 79 | ||
| 75 | | D. Cherry-Evans | ||
| 73 | | T. Trbojevic | ||
| 60 | | D. Cherry-Evans | ||
| 58 | | J. Saab | ||
| N. Cleary | | 53 | ||
| D. Edwards | | 52 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 38 | ||
| S. Sorensen | | 37 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 34 | ||
| D. Edwards | | 33 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 30 | ||
| D. Edwards | | 28 | ||
| N. Cleary |  | 21 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 18 | ||
| B. To'o | | 16 | ||
| N. Cleary | | 6 | ||
| D. Edwards | | 4 |
| 7 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 7 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Round 6 of the NRL continues with the Penrith Panthers hosting the Manly Sea Eagles at BlueBet Stadium in Penrith. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:30pm (AEST).
This clash shapes as a potential match of the round, maybe match the season, with the Panthers showing signs of returning to their dominant form of recent years after a slow start, and Manly, while inconsistent so far under new coach Anthony Seibold, possessing the firepower to trouble anybody when on their game.
Manly certainly haven’t had any trouble scoring points, though you could reasonably argue that’s a product of a couple of high-scoring games against weak teams early in their schedule. They’re firmly in the middle of the pack in many underlying offensive categories and toward the bottom of most others.
One thing you can say about Manly is that they don’t make a lot of mistakes and are fairly well disciplined. In other words, they won’t beat themselves and, while they don’t accumulate big counting stats as a team, they have attacking threats all over the field and will score points given enough ball in good field position.
Nor are Manly’s defensive numbers all that noteworthy. The concern for Manly supporters lies in the team’s proclivity for conceding points in bunches as they did against Parramatta and Newcastle rather than in the team’s overall defensive solidity.
So, even if Penrith are near the top of their game, and their 53-12 demolition of the Raiders in Canberra suggests they’re in the vicinity, Manly are the sort of team who can trouble them.
But I keep on coming back to a couple of things. First, Manly’s proclivity for conceding points in bunches. If Penrith can produce something close to the sort of relentless intensity in the middle of the field that’s yielded back-to-back premierships, Manly will inevitably crack eventually, and then probably crack again shortly thereafter.
Second, is Penrith’s recent record against Manly, including some very good iterations of the Sea Eagles in recent years. Penrith have won 12 of their last 14 games against Manly, with their last defeat coming back in June 2018. Again, Manly will crack and then crack again.
Prediction
Unless Penrith have an off night – and that has happened before this season – they’ll be too strong.
Panthers by 14.
Game information
Kick-off: 5:30pm (AEST)
Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
TV: Fox League
Live stream: Kayo Sports
Odds: Panthers $1.33; Sea Eagles $3.35 – odds via PlayUp
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Matt Eisenhuth 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon
Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Josh Aloiai
Interchange: 14. Kaeo Weekes 15. Karl Lawton 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Sean Keppie
Badseed
Roar Rookie
Sack the 7 immediately and the junior development officer. Learn from the experience and don’t make the same mistake again.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Not sure how well the year will go, but promising signs from the last couple of weeks.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Yeah, but still. Failure isn’t an option around the Beaches. Panthers were superb.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Narra the Angels are weeping in Heaven tonight.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Your boys were too good for us tonight. Way too good. Panthers will have a great year on that form, and deservedly do.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Yeah, he was alright, Jurbo did nothing wrong as per usual. Other that, though...
watty
Roar Rookie
Well done Penrith and all Penrith fans! Commiserations to Manly and their fans!
Bill
Roar Rookie
I actually thought Haumole could hold his head slightly higher (less low?) than the rest. Or maybe I was so cranky at everyone else I didn’t notice his mistakes. Few hard tackles and good runs which would usually be average him, looked golden compared to the rest
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
Have been following Manly since 1951 and of course have seen them well beaten many times during those years. But I don't think I have ever seen a Manly side so completely outclassed as they were in the 1st half of this game. Perhaps some excuses - Manly energy levels may have been down due to the two recent drawn games; Turbo appeared to be quite unfit and at times a passenger: several players were confirmed to be not of 1st grade standard ( particularly the two centres); and then two players went down with injuries. Will be just as tough against Melbourne next week. Difficult days ahead for Manly.
NorthNarra
Roar Rookie
Thanks for graciousness and sanity check Davman, it's only a game of footy after all. Just don't know how many defensive drills a side can do in a week to sort out how awful Manly's D was tonight, especially against a quickly improving Storm next game. Next week at home will be Seibold's and Manly's real test for top eight worthiness. If they lose by 12 or less there's hope.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Manly folded in the first half, there was no more folding to do.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Guts and courage for only 40 minutes doesn't cut it GB. And there are no positives out of a 12-12 half against a Panthers side barely in first gear.
NorthNarra
Roar Rookie
Thank god that's over. So many questions of every Manly player and the coach. Yo Seibs, how was that for a test of where your side is at?
GB
Roar Rookie
Congrats Albo. Commiserations Manly fans. Joel have a couple of stiff drinks and shake this one off. Turbo was playing injured and Manly were down 2 men against the back-to-back reigning premiers.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Penrith, not even near full strength. Well done Panthers & bad luck Manly.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Thanks David
GB
Roar Rookie
12 - 12 in the second half, 12 - 6 Manly until about 20 seconds to go when Manly were down 2 men, 15 vs 17 and with no hope of victory down 32 - 0 at HT showed guts and courage. You can bet the Panthers won't be happy with a 12 - 12 second half. Manly can recover mate. Heads up. :thumbup:
80
Redcap
Roar Guru
Thank you to everybody for joining the blog this evening. Stick with The Roar for coverage of the Broncos and Raiders, with your caller David Holden limbering up for the call as I write. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend. Bye for now.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Second half coasting.