Manly Warringah Sea Eagles suffered a 42-12 loss to competition leaders Penrith Panthers at Lottoland tonight in round 12 of the Telstra Premiership.
The match was played as part of the annual NRL Indigenous Round in front of 2, 729 fans with Lottoland the home of the Gayamaygal and Garigal Peoples.
The Panthers were denied a try in the opening minute to centre Brent Naden after it was ruled winger Charlie Staines touched the ball from a kick.
Staines opened the scoring for the Panthers when he got the ball down in the corner in the seventh minute. Nathan Cleary failed to convert the try for a 4-0 lead.
The Sea Eagles lost five-eighth Dylan Walker to a foot injury in the 12th minute in his first game back from a fractured foot injury, resulting in Lachlan Croker coming off the bench to play five-eighth.
The Panthers went to an 8-0 lead when lock Isaah Yeo scored under the posts after the bunker ruled there was no double movement. Cleary converted for a 10-0 lead.
Staines then showed his lethal turn of foot when he latched on to a Cleary pass to score his second try. Cleary converted for a 16-0 lead after 25 minutes.
Penrith crossed for their fourth try when centre Stephen Crichton finished off a raid down their left side for a 20-0 lead. Cleary converted for a 22-0 lead after 29 minutes.
The Sea Eagles then lost centre Brad Parker to a HIA test a minute later before the home side got on the board when lock Jake Trbojevic crashed over next to the posts off an inside pass from half-back Daly Cherry-Evans.
Match Highlights: Sea Eagles v Panthers
Cleary landed a penalty goal from near the posts after the half-time siren to give Penrith a 24-6 lead at the break.
The half-back extended the lead when he regathered his own grubber kick to score behind the posts. He converted his own try for a 30-6 lead after 51 minutes.
The Sea Eagles scored their second try when winger Jorge Taufua strolled over in the 56th minute. Garrick converted for a 30-12 scoreline.
Penrith went to a 34-12 lead when Naden strolled over out untouched wide after the ball was shifted through several hands. Cleary converted the try for a 36-12 lead.
The lead stretched to 40-12 when former Manly hooker Api Koroisau darted his way over under the posts. Cleary converted for a 42-12 lead with eight minutes remaining.
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Sea Eagles second-rower Curtis Sironen left the field with a possible knee injury with five minutes remaining.
The loss sees the Sea Eagles drop out of the top eight into ninth spot ahead of next Friday's match against the Warriors at Lottoland.
