Check out the match preview and prediction for the round 24 clash between the Sea Eagles and Panthers.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Vs Penrith Panthers
Venue: 4 Pines Park
Date: Thursday August 10, 7:50pm
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Sea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Sean Keppie 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dean Matterson 15. Aaron Woods 16. Kelma Tuilagi 17. Ethan Bullemor 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Ben Condon 20. Kaeo Weekes 21. Morgan Harper 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Zac Hosking 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Jack Cogger 19. Luke Garner 20. Jack Cole 21. Thomas Jenkins 22. Liam Henry
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
Sean Keppie returns for Manly after missing the loss to the Roosters with back spasms in a direct swap for Matthew Lodge (ACL). In their only other change, Ben Trbojevic has been named to start in the back row, with Kelma Tuilagi dropping back to the bench.
With Izack Tago still sidelined, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has named an identical 17 to that which beat the Storm. Moses Leota has been named at prop, but is likely to swap with Lindsay Smith an hour before kick off again.
Having missed out on a chance to jump into the top eight with their 26-16 loss to the Roosters at the SCG last Thursday, the Sea Eagles finals hopes rest largely on this game. A loss would see them sit at least two points outside the top eight with three rounds remaining, while a win would keep them firmly in the hunt and give them a big confidence boost, especially with a game against the high-flying Warriors in round 25.
A win for the Panthers will guarantee a top 4 finish for the Panthers for the fourth-consecutive year and would all-but guarantee a top 2 finish as well. Coming off the back of three home games in a row, this will also be their first away game in Sydney since round 15.
In 94 previous matches between the two sides, Manly have 52 wins to 41, with one game drawn. The Panthers have dominated recent matches between them, winning 15 of the past 18, dating back to 2012, including a club record seven in a row since 2018. At 4 Pines Park, the Sea Eagles have won 30 of the 45 matches, however the Panthers have won five of the past six, including the past three straight.
The Panthers outstanding defence over the past few seasons has also been on display in matches against the Sea Eagles, having not conceded more than one try in first halves against Manly in their last nine matches.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Panthers 8, Sea Eagles 2
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Panthers by 14 points.
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