The Penrith Panthers edged out the Manly Sea Eagles in a gripping Sunday night clash, holding firm to claim a hard-fought two-point win.
Nathan Cleary controlled the game with 6 points (3/3 conversions) and 505 kicking metres, adding 129 run metres, a try assist and a line break assist in a composed performance.
Press Conference: Panthers v Manly
Dylan Edwards led the attack with 219 run metres from 25 carries, while Brian To'o added 198 metres from 22 runs.
Tries came through Blaize Talagi (10’), To’o (37’) and Izack Tago (60’), with Edwards and Cleary combining with try assists.
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Defensively, Isaiah Yeo set the tone with 44 tackles without a miss, supported by Freddy Lussick (37) and Isaiah Papali'i (34), as Penrith’s resilience proved the difference in a tight contest.
Talagi pounces over
TRIES
- Blaize Talagi 10'
- Brian To'o 37'
- Izack Tago 60'
RUN METRES
- Dylan Edwards: 219 (25 runs)
- Brian To’o: 198m (22 runs)
- Tom Jenkins: 164m (22 runs)
- Paul Alamoti: 154m (17 runs)
- Nathan Cleary: 129m (19 runs)
- Blaize Talagi: 110m (11 runs)
- Isaah Yeo: 107m (15 runs)
- Casey McLean: 105m (13 runs)
To'o strikes
TRY ASSISTS
- Dylan Edwards: 1
- Nathan Cleary: 1
LINE BREAKS
- Brian To’o: 1
- Blaize Talagi: 1
- Tom Jenkins: 1
- Izack Tago: 1
Tago four-pointer
TACKLES
- Isaah Yeo: 44
- Freddy Lussick: 37
- Isaiah Papali’i: 34
- Lindsay Smith: 31
- Blaize Talagi: 29
- Nathan Cleary: 25
- Moses Leora: 24
- Luke Garner: 22
- Billy Phillips: 22
- Scott Sorensen: 20
GOALS
- Nathan Cleary (11', 38', 62')
KICKING METRES
- Nathan Cleary: 505m