Sea Eagles embrace big opportunity against Panthers

Author: Wayne Cousins
Timestamp: Wed 9 Aug 2023, 09:29 AM

It's the most important home game of the season for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles when they tackle premiers Penrith Panthers at 4 Pines Park this Thursday night.

The Sea Eagles have a great opportunity to test themselves against the competition leaders as they look to stay alive in the race to the Telstra Premiership finals.

Team News

Sean Keppie returns to the team after missing last week's match against the Sydney Roosters with a back spasm to partner Toff Sipley in the front-row. en Trbojevic moves into the starting side with Kelma Tuilagi dropping to the bench.

Round 24 - Round 24 - Thursday 10 Aug

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben Garrick

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker

Centre for Panthers is number 3 Zac Hosking
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau Koula

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua Schuster

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 18 Jack Cogger
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Toafofoa Sipley

Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker

Hooker for Panthers is number 26 Luke Sommerton
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Sean Keppie

Prop for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Dean Matterson

Interchange for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Aaron Woods

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Soni Luke
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Kelma Tuilagi

Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ethan Bullemor

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Jaeman Salmon

Reserves

Replacement for Panthers is number 22 Liam Henry
Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 18 Jake Arthur

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Darian Furner
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated: 6/3/2024 4:46:25 AM

Last Start

The Sea Eagles went down 26-16 to the Roosters after losing new prop Matthew Lodge in the third minute with an ACL injury.

The loss leaves Manly in 11th place and one point behind the eighth-placed South Sydney with matches to come against the Panthers, Warriors, Bulldogs and the Tigers.

Penrith recorded a strong 26-6 win at home over the fourth-placed Melbourne Storm to make it six straight victories. Their last defeat was in round 16, a 27-23 loss to the Cowboys in Townsville.

Last Time We Met

The Panthers proved too strong in a 44-12 win on their home turf in round six.

A blistering first half saw Penrith race in five tries to take a commanding 32-0 lead at the break. Jason Saab and Tom Trbojevic scored for Manly.

Manly's last win over Penrith was in June, 2018, with the Panthers having won by at least 22 points in four of the last five meetings.

It's our 'Fortress'

A big home crowd can certainly help lift the Sea Eagles in their quest against the competition leaders.

The support at our home games has been superb all season and it has shown in the results too, with Manly wining five of eight games at 4 Pines Park in 2023.

There is still plenty of self-belief and confidence within the Sea Eagles team despite a very heavy injury toll in recent weeks.

Kicking game crucial

The importance of making Penrith play more from inside their own end will be even more crucial on Thursday as Manly look to nullify some of their dangerous backs.

It's why the boot of half-back Daly Cherry-Evans and hooker Lachlan Croker will again be a key. Manly lead the way in producing 40/20 kicks this season, with Croker on three and Cherry-Evans two.

The battle between halves Nathan Cleary and Cherry-Evans will again be fascinating. Cherry-Evans was superb in leading Queensland to another Origin series victory and will be out for a big game against Cleary, the incumbent Australian half-back.

Match Day Details

Ticketing boxes open 4.45pm. Buy tickets online

5.15pm: Gates open

5.30pm Jersey Flegg: Sea Eagles (10th) vs Penrith Panthers (3rd)

7.50pm NRL: Sea Eagles vs Panthers