Panthers pounce for eight straight
Turns out an injection of Turbo can’t beat a welloiled machine.
Table-topping Penrith overcame a serious challenge from Manly in Bathurst to claim a hardfought 28-16 victory yesterday, extending their mighty unbeaten start to the NRL season to eight games, a feat achieved only three times before.
They had to overcome another classy effort from Tom Trbojevic, who has sparked the Sea Eagles’ resurgence since his return from injury two weeks ago and notched a team-high 191 run metres.
Manly’s three tries — two of which involved their star fullback — were the most the Panthers have conceded this season.
But, led once again by star halfback Nathan Cleary and in-form winger Brian To’o, the home side answered each Manly surge to keep their winning streak intact.
Not since Melbourne in 2012 has an NRL side opened their campaign unbeaten after eight weeks.
Down 16-6 at halftime, the Sea Eagles drew within four when Daly Cherry-Evans fielded his own grubber that hit the post and cannoned off a chasing Trbojevic. But Penrith answered through Tyrone May in the 57th minute.
Manly set up a grandstand finish when winger Jason Saab burned Dylan Edwards on a 60m run, only for Liam Martin to acrobatically tap back a grubber over the dead-ball line for Stephen Crichton to seal another Panthers victory.
The only sour point for Penrith was the citing of centre Matt Burton ( high contact).