Panthers v Manly: Penrith juggernaut rolls to eight straight wins
They may have just recorded their eighth straight victory, but a slew of injuries would have muted the celebration in Penrith’s locker room.
NRL
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Injuries and potentially suspension loom as the only thing which could stop the Penrith juggernaut who started the season with eight wins for the first time in the club’s history. Penrith’s winning streak continued with a 28-16 victory against the Sea Eagles but three players are in doubt for their clash against Cronulla on Friday night.
Matt Burton was placed on report late in the game for making high contact with Manly’s Marty Taupau while Kurt Capewell (ribs) and James Fisher-Harris (hamstring) failed to finish the game.
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Coach Ivan Cleary said Burton had no cause for concern for the hit which left Taupau needing to come to the field.
“I couldn’t give you an insight into what the match review committee could do,” Cleary said. “The referee saw the whole thing and he didn’t penalise it. He was a bit sheepish when he had to. I thought (Burton) was completely upright. What are you supposed to do when Marty is running at you?”
Burton was placed on report after the bunker intervened.
Capewell did not return after halftime while Fisher-Harris came from the field late. Cleary said Fisher-Harris had a cramp which “could have led to an injury”.
“I’m not sure (about Capewell),” Cleary said. “I thought he was going to be OK but he didn’t think he could perform to the level required.”
Centre Paul Momirovski still has one game suspension to serve.
HALF-TIME SPRAY
Manly were embarrassed as they recorded their worst home defeat with a 46-6 loss last month. The performance prompted questions surrounding Des Hasler’s future. This time though the Sea Eagles tested the top of the table Panthers. They trailed 16-6 at halftime which prompted Hasler to rip into his men.
“We didn’t get away to our best start that we wanted,” Hasler said. “We let them down the field a little bit too easily. We had to come off our own line. When they do that they have the ability to create points. The second half I was pleased we held in there. We fought back. Got into a grind. We were within reach.”
When Daly Cherry-Evans scooped up his own grubber in the second half the Sea Eagles were well into the contest but Nathan Cleary’s boot helped lead his side to victory. Winger Jason Saab scored a runaway 70 metre try which had the Sea Eagles trailing by six with six minutes remaining.
Saab said he “back his speed” when he took Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards on the outside.
“(Hasler’s spray) wasn’t anything new to us,” Saab said. “That’s Des being passionate. It’s a spray but it’s not personal. He is very passionate and emotional. We take that as him emphasising his points. No-one takes it personal.”
TERRIFIC TO’O
Brian To’o continues to make his case for being the game’s best winger. He was at his barnstorming best running for a game high 196 metres.
He helped produce Penrith’s first try when he ran over the top of Morgan Harper and Cherry-Evans before off-loading late to Matt Burton. Burton showed his play-making skills with a cross-field kick for Edwards to score on the first play after 10 minutes.
To’o was in the thick of the action again two minutes later, this time completing a backline movement to score off a Jarome Luai cut-out pass.
Tom Trbojevic scored Manly’s only first half try through an intercept pass.
ing the first three set restarts.
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