NRL Round 4: Penrith Panthers maul sorry Manly Sea Eagles

Manly’s first win of the season seems a mile away after being mauled by a ruthless Penrith. Here’s how the rout unfolded.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 01: Viliame Kikau of the Panthers is tackled during the round four NRL match between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Penrith Panthers at Lottoland on April 01, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“Yuck.”

That was the word used by an Immortal to describe a Manly outfit out of its depth on Thursday night.

With already 22 points piled against the Sea Eagles on the scoreboard in the first half, it looked like Des Hasler’s troops would have rather been anywhere than Brookvale Oval.

“Body language. Yuck,” rugby league legend Andrew Johns said.

“You have to stay in the fight. If you make an error you have to be thinking about getting through the next four or five sets and build pressure.”

Penrith put on four quick tries in the first half, terrorising Manly’s right edge defence along the way.

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Fijian powerhouse Viliame Kikau made easy work of Manly halfback Daly Cherry Evans in defence time and time again.

“Cherry Evans is going to dream about Kikau tonight … not pleasant dreams,” Johns said.

Manly’s defence were often caught out numbered by Penrith’s slick attack.

“The right side of the Manly defence, of Cherry Evans and Morgan Boyle, don’t know what they’re doing,” Johns said.

Viliame Kikau gave Daly Cherry-Evans a torrid time.

“Penrith move the ball laterally and with an offload and they pulled the Manly defence apart.”

Much has already been said about Tom Trbojevic’s importance to the Sea Eagles — Manly have only won eight from 31 games when the fullback doesn’t play — and the Sea Eagles’ inability to score points without him.

But it is Trbojevic’s work in defence that is as crucial as his attacking prowess.

Manly conceded 38 points last week and leaked another 46 to the Panthers.

The best fullbacks in the NRL are key cogs in their sides defensive structures and defensive lines.

Moses Leota of the Panthers celebrates with teammates.

Not only did makeshift Manly fullback Dylan Walker miss four tackles, he and his edges were caught out in defence.

It was clear in Penrith’s first try.

Livewire Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai delivered a pinpoint tip on pass to Brian To’o as Penrith shifted left for the winger to score but Manly’s defence did not react.

On numerous occasions last night Manly’s defence did not react or match the numbers of attacking in the line with the number of defenders.

“The defence has to react, they have four attackers, you put four defenders,” Johns said

It’s the kind of marshalling of troops that the best fullbacks in the NRL spend endless hours perfecting.

The Panthers ran riot against a Sea Eagles side which struggled to defend.

No doubt, Trbojevic’s return into Hasler’s 17 will add another dimension in attack for the Sea Eagles, but the full-back’s inclusion should improve the side’s defensive structures.

But Manly’s problems extend beyond the 156 points conceded over the first month of football.

The Sea Eagles are also struggling to score points.

Even without Trbojevic, it doesn’t explain why a side with Daly Cherry Evans, Kieran Foran, Dylan Walker and Josh Schuster, when tackled 41 times in 80 minutes last night, could only manage a single try.

Trbojevic’s return will no doubt be a boost for the northern beaches club but what last night’s 46-6 loss highlighted, for another week, is that the gulf between the best and the worst sides in this season’s competition is real, and for outfits like Manly, it’s a gap that feels impossible to narrow.

“I can’t see Manly getting out of this whole, not in the near future, Johns said.

The big boys link up!#NRLManlyPanthers#TelstraPremiershippic.twitter.com/O50qoPNlNK

— NRL (@NRL) April 1, 2021

This is absolute carnage so far. Manly have been woeful and half the team is reserve grade standard. #NRLManlyPanthers

— Bowser (@bowenrob) April 1, 2021

If you are a tradie in the Manly area who fixes doors get yourself down to Brookvale within next 15 minutes. Guaranteed a couple will hanging from the hinges needing repair #hasler#NRLManlyPanthers

— David Packwood (@DavidPackwood) April 1, 2021

#NRLManlyPanthers Getting harder to watch now, this side is playing a very poor standard of Footy, yes Penrith are a good side, but the fans deserve a refund for watching this, have a go, have a little pride in the jumper you wear.

— Shane Moran (@scoolm8) April 1, 2021