Match Report: NSW Cup Round 9 vs Panthers

In a bizarre game, the Panthers crossed for three tries from consecutive restarts before Manly fought back well to trail 24-18 at half-time at Parker Street Reserve.

However, the Panthers capitalised on some costly errors late in the game to win 40-36 to sit on top of the ladder.

With Joey Walsh called up to the NRL team to replace the injured Jamal Fogarty, the Sea Eagles shifted hooker and captain Zach Dockar-Clay to half with Zaidas Muagututia coming off the bench to play hooker.

Some flimsy defence out wide by Manly saw Penrith full-back Jaxen Edgar slice through for a 6-0 lead after eight minutes.

The Panthers made it 12-0 after 11 minutes when prop Tom Ale backed up a break on the last to score next to the posts.

Two tackles after the restart, Penrith lock Luron Patea split the defence to race upfield to send Edgar over for his second for an 18-0 lead after 14 minutes.

After being starved off possession, Manly took their first real opportunity when the ball was spread left for winger Navren Willett to cross for an 18-6 scoreline after 21 minutes.

The Sea Eagles scored their second try when centre Josh Feledy dived on a Dockar-Clay grubber kick to make it 18-12 after 32 minutes. It was Feledy’s sixth try in five games this season.

Manly got back to 18-all after 36 minutes when forward Kylan Mafoa crashed over from a sharp dummy half pass from Jermayne Cook.

The hard work was quickly undone when Penrith centre Sione Fonua finished off some razzle dazzle play from a kick for a 24-18 lead at half-time.

The Sea Eagles started the second half perfectly when forward Paul Bryan took a Dockar-Clay bomb to score next to the posts for a 24-all scoreline after 43 minutes.

Manly missed a try scoring opportunity in the 51st minute when second-rower Aaron Schoupp failed to ground a grubber kick from Dockar-Clay.

Some desperate scrambling defence from Feledy and Mafoa then stopped Penrith centre Patrick Moimoi from scoring.

Penrith regained the lead when Nick Murphy rushed over from a one-handed offload from Josh Ruxton for a 30-24 scoreline after 56 minutes.

For the fourth time from a restart, the Panthers scored again after Fonua brushed past the attempted tackle of five-eighth Tex Hoy to send Edgar over for his second for a 36-24 lead.

A drop ball from Willet saw the Panthers spread the ball right for winger Jirah Liddiard to score in the corner for a 40-24 lead after 70 minutes.

Dockar-Clay was awarded for his energetic work when he showed great strength to force his way over under the posts for a 40-30 scoreline with seven minutes remaining.

A minute later, Manly lock Viliami Fifita charged over under the posts off a spilt Dockar-Clay to make it 40-36 to give the Sea Eagles one last hope but it wasn’t to be.

The Sea Eagles have a bye next weekend.