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.
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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.
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Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.