Matchday Details
Sunday, 3 May 2026 – 6:15pm AEST – CommBank Stadium, Sydney
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Wyatt Raymond | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Penrith Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Thomas Jenkins, 3. Paul Alamoti, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Nathan Cleary (c), 8. Moses Leota, 9. Freddy Lussick, 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Luke Garner, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Jack Cogger, 15. Scott Sorensen, 16. Kalani Going, 17. Billy Phillips, 18. Izack Tago, 19. Jack Cole, 20. Luron Patea, 21. Billy Scott, 22. Sione Fonua
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles: 1. Tolutau Koula, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Clayton Faulalo, 4. Reuben Garrick, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Luke Brooks, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Taniela Paseka, 9. Brandon Wakeham, 10. Kobe Hetherington, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Ben Trbojevic, 13. Jake Trbojevic (c), 14. Jake Simpkin, 15. Nathan Brown, 16. Ethan Bullemor, 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 18. Blake Wilson, 19. Jackson Shereb, 20. Joey Walsh, 21. Simione Laiafi, 22. Zach Dockar-Clay
Match Preview
Both teams come into this clash in red-hot form: the Panthers comfortably sitting on top of the ladder while the Sea Eagles have had a revival since Kieran Foran took over as head coach.
The Panthers are unchanged following their big win over the Knights last week, while the Sea Eagles have just one change, with Nathan Brown recalled onto the bench in place of the injured Corey Waddell.
Manly has won four on the trot since Foran’s first game in charge in Round 5, defeating the Dolphins, Dragons, Cowboys, and Eels by an average margin of almost 23 points. They look a completely different side compared to the one that started the season under Anthony Seibold, but now face their toughest test under the club legend against the top-of-the-table Panthers.
After a shaky fortnight in which they lost to the Bulldogs and squeaked past the Dolphins in Golden Point, the Panthers were back to their clinical best in a 44-12 demolition of the Knights last week. The usual suspects found their top form once more, with Dylan Edwards scoring a first half hat-trick in just eight minutes, to go along with 292 run metres, while Nathan Cleary’s kicking game ensured the Knights never got consistent field position.
The Sea Eagles will come into this without their star fullback Tom Trbojevic, but Tolutau Koula has looked like a future star every time he has been called upon. He was strong again last week as he ran for over 200 metres, which included eight tackle breaks, trailing only Haumole Olakau’atu in both departments. The damaging back rower remains one of Manly’s most dangerous weapons on the field, and the Panthers will need to ensure they limit his impact, particularly inside the red zone.
It’s further in the middle of the field where the Panthers should hold the advantage. While Lindsay Smith had a quieter game against the Knights, Moses Leota was one of the best on the park: he had 17 runs for 166 metres in just 47 minutes of action. Leota just needs to keep the momentum going off the back of Penrith’s typical strong starts to sets through Edwards, Thomas Jenkins and Brian To’o, who was almost unstoppable on the wing a week ago, amassing 227 metres, three line breaks, and two tries.
The Sea Eagles have found their form after a rough start to the season, but will face an uphill battle to come away with a win this weekend against the Panthers, who have won nine of the past 11 games between the two sides.
Jack Cogger will also feature in his 100th NRL game on Sunday.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Panthers by 10.
Bold call: The Sea Eagles keep it close all game, but a late try to Brian To’o seals the win.
