Panthers v Sea Eagles: Eisenhuth in for JFH; Schuster ruled out
The premiers flexed their muscle in a nine-try demolition of the Raiders and will look to keep the roll going when they host the Sea Eagles at Bluebet Stadium on Saturday.
With Nathan Cleary running the show and Brian To'o running for 235 metres the Panthers moved on quicky from the disappointment of a golden point loss to the Eels in Round 4 to take their record to 2-2 for the season.
The Sea Eagles also had their attack working in a free-flowing contest against the Knights in Mudgee but were forced to settle for a draw after 90 minutes of pulsating action.
Superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic put on a show for the packed house at Glen Willow Oval with a staggering 297 running metres and three try assists as he served notice that his injury dramas are well and truly in the past a second Dally M Medal could be in his future.
With so many threats across the park, both defences will need to be on high alert, and that's one area where the Panthers have excelled in their march to back-to-back titles.
After conceding just 12 points per game across the regular season in 2021 they gave up 13.75 points a match in 2022 and so far this season have restricted their rivals to just 52 points in four matches at 13ppg.
Match: Panthers v Sea Eagles
Round 6 -
home Team
Panthers
6th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
11th Position
Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Team News
Panthers: The Panthers are 1-17 with no late changes. Prop James Fisher-Harris has been sidelined for five weeks by a knee injury suffered against the Raiders, his place taken by Matt Eisenhuth. Hooker Soni Luke is back on deck after suffering a concussion in Round 4 so Tyrone Peachey goes back to 18th man.
Sea Eagles: No further changes on game day after Josh Schuster (quad) was ruled out on Friday. Kaeo Weekes moves into the starting side at five-eighth with Cooper Johns added to the interchange. Speedster Jason Saab will play his first game of the season having recovered from a knee injury, taking over from Christian Tuipulotu (knee). The injury to Ben Trbojevic (hamstring) sees Karl Lawton join the bench. Samuela Fainu is 18th man.
Match: Panthers v Sea Eagles
Round 6 -
home Team
Panthers
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan EdwardsFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
-
Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia TuruvaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack TagoCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
-
Centre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen CrichtonCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
-
Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'oWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
-
Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome LuaiFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 14 Kaeo Weekes
-
Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan ClearyHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses LeotaProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch KennyHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
-
Prop for Panthers is number 10 Matthew EisenhuthProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Jake Trbojevic
-
2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
-
2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Zac Hosking2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi
-
Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah YeoLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Josh Aloiai
Interchange
-
Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Soni LukeInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Karl Lawton
-
Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay SmithInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
-
Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Spencer LeniuInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Sean Keppie
-
Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Jaeman SalmonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Cooper Johns
Reserves
-
Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Tyrone PeacheyReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 21 Samuela Fainu
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Panthers have won their past six games against the Sea Eagles.
- The Sea Eagles have not won at BlueBet Stadium since 2018.
- Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary requires seven points for 500 at BlueBet Stadium.
- Only five Sea Eagles players have experienced an NRL victory at BlueBet Stadium.
- Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored three tries in his past three games against the Sea Eagles.
- Manly winger Reuben Garrick leads the NRL in line breaks with nine.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
