Panthers v Sea Eagles: Martin a no-go; Hoppa gets fullback gig
The Panthers and Sea Eagles will be sweating on the availability of their Origin stars as they head into a crucial Round 14 showdown at BlueBet Stadium on Sunday.
Already missing Nathan Cleary to a hamstring injury, the Panthers watched on as fullback Dylan Edwards suffered a quad injury in NSW camp, cruelly robbing him of an Origin debut.
With three full days for their Origin stars to recover from Game One, coaches Ivan Cleary and Anthony Seibold will be hoping the majority can back up, with Penrith back-rower Liam Martin (ankle) the only confirmed out as of Saturday.
Manly have Tolutau Koula (shoulder) on deck but one man who won't be there is Sea Eagles superstar Tom Trbojevic, who was at his devastating best in Round 5 when Manly stunned the Panthers 32-18 at 4 Pines Park.
Sportsbet Betting Preview - Panthers v Sea Eagles
Team News
Panthers: An ankle injury picked up on Wednesday night has ruled back-rower Liam Martin out, but the rest of Penrith's Origin contingent remained in the squad when it was cut to 19 on Saturday. Dylan Edwards (quad) dropped out at the 24-hour mark, while Luke Garner joined the run-on side in the second row to replace Martin, with Matthew Eisenhuth the new face on the bench. No late changes 60 minutes before kickoff, with Preston Riki the 18th man.
Sea Eagles: No late changes on Sunday, with all three of their Origin reps set to back up. Lehi Hopoate is the fullback with Tolutau Koula at centre with Tommy Talau moving to the wing. New signing Jake Simpkin will have to wait at least another week for his club debut after dropping out of the squad on Saturday.
Match: Panthers v Sea Eagles
Round 14 -
home Team
Panthers
away Team
Sea Eagles
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Daine LaurieFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Lehi Hopoate
-
Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia TuruvaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
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Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack TagoCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
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Centre for Panthers is number 4 Paul AlamotiCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
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Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'oWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Tommy Talau
-
Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jack ColeFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
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Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Jarome LuaiHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
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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 Karl Lawton
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Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Josh Aloiai
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2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Panthers is number 17 Luke Garner2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
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Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah YeoLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Trent ToelauInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Gordon Chan Kum Tong
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Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay SmithInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell
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Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam HenryInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Toafofoa Sipley
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Interchange for Panthers is number 20 Matthew EisenhuthInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Nathan Brown
Reserves
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Replacement for Panthers is number 22 Preston RikiReplacement for Sea Eagles is number 19 Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Panthers have won eight of their past nine games against the Sea Eagles.
- The Sea Eagles have not defeated the Panthers twice in a season since 2011.
- The Panthers have not been beaten in consecutive games at BlueBet Stadium since 2019.
- Sea Eagles centre Tommy Talau has scored five tries in his past five games.
- Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored 16 tries in his past 13 games at BlueBet Stadium.
Match: Panthers v Sea Eagles
Round 14 -
home Team
Panthers
3rd Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
11th Position
Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
