It's the most important home game of the season for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles when they tackle premiers Penrith Panthers at 4 Pines Park this Thursday night.
The Sea Eagles have a great opportunity to test themselves against the competition leaders as they look to stay alive in the race to the Telstra Premiership finals.
Team News
Sean Keppie returns to the team after missing last week's match against the Sydney Roosters with a back spasm to partner Toff Sipley in the front-row. en Trbojevic moves into the starting side with Kelma Tuilagi dropping to the bench.
Match: Sea Eagles v Panthers
Round 24 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Reuben GarrickFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad ParkerCentre for Panthers is number 3 Zac Hosking
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Raymond Tuaimalo VaegaWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Joshua SchusterFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 18 Jack Cogger
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Toafofoa SipleyProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Panthers is number 26 Luke Sommerton
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Sean KeppieProp 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 Scott Sorensen
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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 Dean MattersonInterchange for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Aaron WoodsInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Soni Luke
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Kelma TuilagiInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Ethan BullemorInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Jaeman Salmon
Reserves
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Replacement for Panthers is number 22 Liam Henry
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Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 18 Jake Arthur
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Last Start
The Sea Eagles went down 26-16 to the Roosters after losing new prop Matthew Lodge in the third minute with an ACL injury.
The loss leaves Manly in 11th place and one point behind the eighth-placed South Sydney with matches to come against the Panthers, Warriors, Bulldogs and the Tigers.
Penrith recorded a strong 26-6 win at home over the fourth-placed Melbourne Storm to make it six straight victories. Their last defeat was in round 16, a 27-23 loss to the Cowboys in Townsville.
Last Time We Met
The Panthers proved too strong in a 44-12 win on their home turf in round six.
A blistering first half saw Penrith race in five tries to take a commanding 32-0 lead at the break. Jason Saab and Tom Trbojevic scored for Manly.
Manly's last win over Penrith was in June, 2018, with the Panthers having won by at least 22 points in four of the last five meetings.
It's our 'Fortress'
A big home crowd can certainly help lift the Sea Eagles in their quest against the competition leaders.
The support at our home games has been superb all season and it has shown in the results too, with Manly wining five of eight games at 4 Pines Park in 2023.
There is still plenty of self-belief and confidence within the Sea Eagles team despite a very heavy injury toll in recent weeks.
Kicking game crucial
The importance of making Penrith play more from inside their own end will be even more crucial on Thursday as Manly look to nullify some of their dangerous backs.
It's why the boot of half-back Daly Cherry-Evans and hooker Lachlan Croker will again be a key. Manly lead the way in producing 40/20 kicks this season, with Croker on three and Cherry-Evans two.
The battle between halves Nathan Cleary and Cherry-Evans will again be fascinating. Cherry-Evans was superb in leading Queensland to another Origin series victory and will be out for a big game against Cleary, the incumbent Australian half-back.
Match Day Details
Ticketing boxes open 4.45pm. Buy tickets online
5.15pm: Gates open
5.30pm Jersey Flegg: Sea Eagles (10th) vs Penrith Panthers (3rd)
7.50pm NRL: Sea Eagles vs Panthers
