Penrith Panthers v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
NRL TEAMS - 2025 Round 8 (ANZAC Round)
2 days ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Panthers v Sea Eagles preview
The Penrith Panthers will be looking to build on a much-needed win over the Roosters when they host the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday night at CommBank Stadium.
Penrith arrested an alarming five-game losing skid last week with a dominant 40-12 victory which, while not completely quelling any doubts over the four-time premiers, at least reminded the rest of the NRL what they are capable of.
In some ways it seems quite simple. The Panthers were able to hold onto the ball against the Roosters and didn't concede many cheap penalties either.
The result was a dominant performance that somewhat resembled the Panthers of old, where they controlled field position and forced the Roosters to grind it out with them before they couldn't anymore.
While an impressive win, the challenge for Penrith is to now prove it was not just a one-week thing and that it was instead the start of a resurgence that should have the rest of the competition worried.
The Panthers will have to do that without hooker Mitch Kenny, who is sidelined due to suspension and replaced by Luke Sommerton, robbing them of a rare chance to build chemistry in what is quickly becoming an ever-changing spine.
Elsewhere, Izack Tago returns to the starting line-up one week after being dumped to the bench with Luke Garner (concussion) unavailable.
While Penrith enters Saturday's game full of confidence after last week's win, the opposite is true for a Manly team now on a three-match losing streak.
The Sea Eagles had plenty of opportunities but failed to execute against the Dragons and now the Daly Cherry-Evans saga, which was forgotten in the wake of their win over the Eels, has started to resurface as the losses pile up.
The only way for Manly to quiet the noise is to win, like the Panthers did last week.
In team news, Tom Trbojevic makes a slightly earlier return than expected in a welcome boost to the backline which bumps Lehi Hopoate to the wing and Tommy Talau to the bench.
While Tom returns, brother Jake (concussion) is out and replaced by Jazz Tevaga at lock with Jake Simpkin moving to hooker.
The only other change sees Josh Aloiai named to start at prop for Toafofoa Sipley (suspension).
Last meeting: Round 14 2024 - Panthers 32 Sea Eagles 22
Who to watch: Last week was easily Isaiah Papali'i's best game as a Panther. While Penrith has often made shrewd moves to fill the vacancies left by departing players in recent years, the signing of Papali'i was always somewhat of a risk. He came at a reasonable cost and from a Tigers team where his workrate and effectiveness dipped in his later years at the club. That could be put down to a lack of motivation at a team that couldn't find ways to win, but what does that say about Papali'i's attitude and willingness to buy into a culture at Penrith where everyone plays for each other? Until last week, he had not lived up to the hype. But finally Papali'i seemed to be running with some serious venom and the Panthers were finding better ways to use him against the grain as opposed to as a one-dimensional battering ram. Like Penrith as a whole, the challenge is now to make sure that wasn't just a one-off from Papali'i.
As for Manly, this seems like a game where Tolutau Koula could thrive. While the Panthers have leaked points on both edges, the right side in particularly has been especially problematic with new combinations and has ranked the worst in the league when it comes to conceding tries. Koula, on Manly's left edge, may be in for a field day if the Panthers revert to old habits. He has the kind of speed to cause problems and with Lehi Hopoate outside of him, the Penrith defence will be in two minds.
Favourite: After bouncing back last week, Penrith is favoured to continue building momentum.
My tip: In some ways, this game is more important for the Panthers than the Sea Eagles. Sure, another loss means more pressure on Anthony Seibold, Cherry-Evans and Manly as a whole. But if we're being honest, the Sea Eagles were never going to be true premiership threats. Penrith, on the other hand, were supposed to be contending for a fifth-straight title and if the Panthers are serious about doing that, they need to start stringing wins in a row, especially before the Origin period. All signs towards them doing just that, but it is dangerous to count off a desperate team and in this case the Sea Eagles, having lost three on the trot, are more desperate. They also have the pace and strike out wide to capitalise on shaky edge defence from Penrith. As much as the Panthers were much-improved in that area of the game last week, it is a vulnerability that is still there to be exposed, especially with Tago starting again. Sea Eagles by 6.
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Thomas Jenkins 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Liam Henry 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Isaiah Papali'i 16. Lindsay Smith 17. Mavrik Geyer 18. Daine Laurie 19. Luron Patea 20. Asu Kepaoa 21. Matt Eisenhuth 22. Jack Cole
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Tommy Talau 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Michael Chee Kam 22. Caleb Navale
Referees: Belinda Sharpe; Sideline Officials: Michael Wise, Daniel Luttringer; Video Referees: Ashley Klein;