The Panthers head into this match undefeated and on a high after beating premiers Storm, while the Sea Eagles appear in all sorts, being down on confidence after three straight losses.
They could also be forgiven for scratching their heads a little. They ran for more metres, made more post-contact and kick metres, more tackle busts and four line breaks against the Dragons a week ago and still lost badly - by 26 points.
The answer could lie in the fact Manly got through 25 from 38 sets for a 66% completion rate, which isn't going to win you many NRL games.
The Panthers completed at 78 per cent against Storm but, more importantly, conceded only one penalty and made just 11 errors in 80 minutes of football.
The Sea Eagles are home at Lottoland, which may help a little, but it's still 16th versus 1st on the ladder so Manly might be friendless in the tipping department.
Sea Eagles v Panthers
Match: Sea Eagles v Panthers
Round 4 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
16th Position
away Team
Panthers
1st Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Sea Eagles: Morgan Boyle is promoted to the starting pack with Jack Gosiewski shifting back to the bench. Toafofoa Sipley dropped out of last week's side that went down to the Dragons.
Star fullback Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) is at least another round away from riding to the rescue. Stand-in fullback Dylan Walker had a much better game against the Dragons and holds on to the No.1 jersey.
Injuries to key back-rowers saw young playmaker Josh Schuster move into the pack and he was more than up for the challenge so he'll again wear the No.12 jersey.
Tevita Funa and Christian Tuipulotu dropped off the reserves list on game day after Morgan Harper and Christian Tuipulotu were omitted 24 hours before kick-off.
Penrith: The Panthers are 1-17 as named on Tuesday. With Dylan Edwards expected to miss a month after breaking his hand in the grand final rematch, Stephen Crichton shifts to fullback, Matt Burton goes to the centres and co-captain Nathan Cleary returns at halfback.
The forward pack remains unchanged and Spencer Leniu has been named to take his place on the interchange despite hurting his shoulder against the Storm.
Scott Sorensen, Jaeman Salmon, Billy Burns and J'Maine Hopgood made way from the intial 21-man squad.
Match: Sea Eagles v Panthers
Round 4 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Dylan WalkerFullback for Panthers is number 1 Stephen Crichton
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason SaabWinger for Panthers is number 2 Charlie Staines
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad ParkerCentre for Panthers is number 3 Paul Momirovski
-
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Mosese SuliCentre for Panthers is number 4 Matt Burton
-
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben GarrickWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran ForanFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
-
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
-
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin TaupauProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Josh Schuster2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau
-
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 15 Morgan Boyle2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Kurt Capewell
-
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 11 Jack GosiewskiInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Tyrone May
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Cade CustInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Spencer Leniu
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean KeppieInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth
-
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Josh AloiaiInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Liam Martin
Match Officials
- Referee: Matt Cecchin
- Touch Judge: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Henry Perenara
Last updated:
Key match-up
Daly Cherry-Evans v Nathan Cleary: It's an early glimpse of the Origin series with NSW half Cleary up against Queensland halfback Cherry-Evans. Could this also be an early guide to where the Kangaroos No.7 jersey might fall later this year?
Cleary has two try assists from two games - he missed round three due to concussion - while Cherry-Evans has zip from his three matches.
Stat attack
Manly have scored just five tries in three games - but have conceded 20 (nine against the Roosters, five from the Rabbitohs and six by the Dragons).
From a team which has representative forwards Martin Taupau and Jake Trbojevic, along with Test halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, among their senior players, it's not a great start to 2021.
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