Match Preview: NSW Cup Round 9 vs Panthers

The Sea Eagles have shown much improvement in their past two games and almost snatched victory against Parramatta at home last Sunday before going down late in a 24-18 loss.

Manly Coach Brett Kimmorley has been happy with the efforts over the past fortnight.

“We've played a lot better, we’re getting in the arm wrestle, giving ourselves a chance to win, whether we've been leading at different times or level at different times,’’ Kimmorley said.

“We have shown some consistency which has been good, even though we've had different players come in and out of the squad.

“The challenge for us now is to make sure we keep that consistency, keep getting in those arm wrestles, keep giving ourselves a chance to win games and be in moments of games.

“The next step is handling some pressure defensively and working hard and on the other side of working hard, taking the reward of that into scoring a try to win the game or to get level like we could have done on the weekend.”

Half-back Joey Walsh feels the team is close to breaking through for their second win. Walsh is also building up a nice combination with experienced five-eighth Tex Hoy, who returned to the team a fortnight ago after suffering an injury in round one.

“Being a new young team, it just takes a few games to get some experience and get some combinations going,’’ Walsh said.

“It’s been great to have Tex back in the halves with me. We've got a good combination going.

“He is just a good footballer. Tex has a great running game.”

Interim Manly Head Coach Kieran Foran said Kimmorley and his players are doing well seeing the side can change at any given time.

“We’ve seen the improved performances over the past month. They have stepped it up,’’ Foran said.

“It's hard. There’s a lot of changes in NSW Cup because the priority is first grade and getting our 19 right.

“Brett is doing a great job with them. He has got to bring players in and out each week.

“He tries to get them all on the same page which he is managing to do.

“We’re seeing that in their performances. They weren't far away on the weekend against a red-hot Parramatta side, and they were good the week before against the Warriors.

“What we want to see from those guys is to just keep growing areas of their game and then keep putting themselves in the frame, so when their opportunity comes up to jump into the NRL 19 that they're ready to go.

“We’re seeing that with some of those boys’ performances.”

The Sea Eagles take on the second placed Penrith Panthers at Parker Street Reserve, Penrith, at 1pm on Sunday, May 2.