After crashing back to reality with consecutive losses in the past fortnight, the Sea Eagles will try and return to form against arguably the competition’s hottest team right now in the Panthers.
There were few glimpses of the brilliant attack which headlined Manly's performances through the opening three weeks against the Dragons in Round 4, as Tom Trbojevic came up with a series of uncharacteristic errors and Luke Brooks struggled to impose himself.
There were no such struggles for the Panthers however, who ran in two tries in each half to get past the Roosters despite the absence of star halfback Nathan Cleary, with No.1 man Dylan Edwards rising to the occasion with an eye-catching performance that included a brilliant individual try.
Penrith have won in just under half of their 22 visits to 4 Pines Park over the years, but in recent times it’s been a happy hunting ground for Ivan Cleary’s men with four wins the on the trot.
You have to go back nine games in their head-to-head record to the 2018 season to find the last time the Sea Eagles beat the Panthers.
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Team news
Sea Eagles: Daly Cherry-Evans will become the club’s all-time appearance record holder, surpassing Cliff Lyons with his 310th game for Manly. No late changes with Ethan Bullemor remaining as the replacement player.
Panthers: James Fisher-Harris returns from injury but will do so off the bench after reverting back from the starting side an hour from kick-off. There were no other late changes for Ivan Cleary's men.
Match: Sea Eagles v Panthers
Round 5 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom TrbojevicFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Tommy TalauWinger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben GarrickCentre for Panthers is number 4 Taylan May
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Jaxson PauloWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke BrooksFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Brad Schneider
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Josh AloiaiProp for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Luke Garner
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Karl LawtonInterchange for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey WaddellInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Daine Laurie
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Toafofoa SipleyInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan BrownInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Matthew Eisenhuth
Reserves
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Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 18 Ethan BullemorReplacement for Panthers is number 18 Soni Luke
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Stat attack
- The Sea Eagles have won four of their past six games at 4 Pines Park.
- The Panthers have won their past eight games against Manly.
- Sea Eagles centre Tolutau Koula has scored three tries in his past two games at 4 Pines Park.
- Panthers winger Sunia Turuva has scored 11 tries in his past eight games.
Match: Sea Eagles v Panthers
Round 5 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
4th Position
away Team
Panthers
5th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.