Manly will be coming after us: Cleary

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is expecting a red-hot clash against an in-form Sea Eagles outfit when the two sides face off on Easter Saturday.

With a near-capacity crowd expected at BlueBet Stadium, the Panthers head coach is expecting a blockbuster encounter against Anthony Seibold’s men.

Manly will be looking for revenge with the Panthers having won the past six matches against the Sea Eagles.

“Manly will be coming after us pretty hard so it should be a good game, and the fans will be flocking to the ground,” Cleary said.

“We’re still trying to find our feet. I saw some good signs last week [against the Raiders] but we need to keep building each week.”

With prop James Fisher-Harris ruled out with a knee injury, Moses Leota will lead from the front on Saturday night.

Earlier in the week, Leota signed a new deal with the Panthers which will see the representative forward remain at the club until the end of the 2027 season.

“I’ve seen a lot of progression from Moses over the years – he’s always one of our hardest workers,” Cleary said.

“When he first came to the club, he would turn up covered in dust and then train really hard. He actually worked with one of our sponsors, and when he become a full-time player they were really disappointed because he was such a hard worker.

“We’re stoked to have him. He works hard, a great family man and someone you want to have around.”