The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles NSW Cup side have snapped a 6-game winless streak with a narrow 40-34 victory over the Penrith Panthers in round 21 action at Commbank Stadium.

Both sides scored seven tries apiece, with Penrith’s three missed conversions to start the match proving costly. 

 

Manly showcased their ability to score from anywhere on the field, with several long range efforts to go with their smart last tackle kicking options and their relentless efforts and offloads.

Their defence almost got the better of them though, conceding four tries in ten minutes to set up a mountain to climb and three tries in the final 35 minutes to keep them on their toes.








 

The victory is their sixth of the season and sees them move further ahead of the Rabbitohs who are currently in last place on the ladder.

The Sea Eagles stunned the Panthers to open the scoring after three minutes. Brandon Wakeham put a grubber kick past the defence that sat up perfectly for Jacob Sykes to burst through and score under the posts for a 6-0 lead.

Penrith hit back quickly with four tries in a ten-minute span for an 18-6 scoreline with 20 minutes played.

A smart offload by Joey Walsh and a few quick passes to the left edge by Manly saw Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega crash past three defenders to score in the corner in the 23rd minute, cutting the deficit to 18-12.








After a handful of missed opportunities, the Sea Eagles capitalised to score their third try in the 37th minute. A perfectly-timed short ball at the line by Walsh sent Tommy Talau through the defence untouched to score, levelling the scores at 18-all at half-time.

Manly began the second half in similar fashion to the first with a quick try after two minutes to take the lead. A Penrith attacking kick was allowed to bounce and ended up in the hands of Hugo Hart. The young second-rower ran 75 metres downfield and fended off a defender deep in Penrith territory to score in the corner for a 22-18 scoreline.

The Sea Eagles continued their monentum to score their fourth straight try in the 50th minute. A crossfield kick by Walsh was taken smartly by Talau, who quickly popped an offload out to Semisi Kioa who scored in the corner for a 28-18 scoreline.

Penrith snapped Manly’s momentum with tries in the 56th and 60th minute to level the scores at 28-all, setting up a grandstand finish for the final 20 minutes.

The Sea Eagles regained the lead in the 66th with a try to Aaron Schoupp in the corner. Zaidas Muagututia poked a grubber kick to the in-goal area that sat up perfectly for Schoupp to ground for a 34-28 scoreline.

Manly all but sealed victory with a breakaway intercept try to Tuaimalo Vaega in the 73rd minute. The winger read the play and intercepted the pass before racing 80 metres downfield to score his second try for a 40-28 lead.

Penrith’s desperation and scrambling earned them a consolation try in the 77th minute but it was all too late, with Manly holding on for a six-point victory.

The Sea Eagles host the Sydney Roosters in round 22 of the NSW Cup. The match kicks off at 5:15pm on Saturday August 2 at 4 Pines Park.