gong_eagle
First Grade
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While this match appears to lean heavily towards the Sea Eagles, the Panthers will know they are a very good chance of springing an upset against the competitions front runners who will have to keep their intensity up after a draining top-of-the-table clash with Melbourne last weekend.
The Manly coaching staff will be ramming home a just one more message as the Sea Eagles have the bye in round 13, telling the troops their rest will come if they can just continue the rage against the struggling Panthers.
The Panthers have won just one of their past six while the Sea Eagles have lost just one game all season, so a win to the home side would certainly be against the odds, but desperately needed all the same.
Watch out Panthers: Manly are deadly when they get close to the line. Some 80 per cent of their tries come from within 20 metres of the try line so the key for the home side will be to muscle up and keep them away. Not easy against New South Wales prop Brent Kite and his mates in the Manly engine room.
Watch out Sea Eagles: Frank Pritchard is slowly getting back to his wide-running best. If the Kiwi international clicks into gear he could terrorise the Manly outside backs and kick start a Panthers revival.
Where it will be won: Off the boot. The Manly side are likely to come into the contest slightly lethargic and as such will rely heavily on their kicking game to get points, something they already do very well. The Sea Eagles have scored 17 tries from kicks the most of any NRL side and the Panthers have conceded 13 tries from kicks which is equal 14th in the competition. You dont have to be a rocket scientist to know Orford and co will be looking to exploit, especially considering the obvious discomfort Penrith fullback Rhys Wesser is in with a leg injury.
The History: Played 67; Panthers 23, Sea Eagles 43, drawn 1. While Manly hold a significant advantage in the head-to-head stakes the Panthers have won five of the past six between the sides at CUA Stadium.
Conclusion: Its hard to see the Panthers troubling Manly if they tun up at their best, but the Storm game last week was a war of attrition and if energy levels are down the Panthers can pounce. Manly average four less handling errors and three more offloads a game so the home side will need to arrest that while theyll have to be awake on set plays as well. Penrith has conceded six tries from set plays this season, the worst of any side in the NRL. If you need to tip an upset, this could be the one.
Match officials: Referee Steve Clark; Sideline Officials Rod Lawrence & Allen Foster; Video ref Bill Harrigan.
Televised: Channel 9 Live 7.30pm NSW, Delayed 9.30pm Qld; Foxsports 2 Delayed 11.30pm
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
