NRL Match Thread Round 18 - Sunday Sharks v Warriors in progress

[Graham]

Seem to have been more than the average number of set restarts in that first half.

[Graham]

Preview of Panthers v Eels kicking off within the hour:

Panthers: Penrith will start 1-17 after Mitch Kenny and Kurt Capewell were omitted an hour before kick-off. Lock Isaah Yeo will return from a head knock with James Fisher-Harris returning to prop and Moses Leota to the bench. 

Matt Burton and Charlie Staines were omitted 24 hours before kick-off.

The Panthers are aiming to become the third team in the NRL era to win 13 in a row in one season.

Eels: Reed Mahoney (shoulder) failed a fitness test on Thursday morning and coach Brad Arthur confirmed the hooker won't play. Ray Stone will take his place while utility Will Smith has earned a bench spot as a dummy-half back-up.

[Graham]

Manly looking lively again at the start of the second half.

Gosiewski unstoppable and goes over after a DCE pass puts him in. (43 minutes)

DCE convers (45 mins)

22-10 Manly

[Graham]

After repeated sets and penalties against Manly, the possession eventually told as the Dogs go over from a collected cross field kick.

Lewis got the try (51 mins)

Meaney conversion (52 mins)

[Graham]

Harper now scores a scintillating try as he took the line on having already burst through a couple of tackles.

Harper try then (54 mins)

[Graham]

26-16 Manly

[Graham]

Here's the finalised teams for the Panthers v Eels game in about 35 minutes time:

[Graham]

latest score:

26-16 Manly

Quarter of an hour left in this game.

[Graham]

A few players injured at once, but thats after Manly's Taupau scored a try from short range after a kick through was lost by the defender.

Fonua-Blake limping out of the game painfully.

Live score:

32-16 Manly (70 minutes)

[Graham]

Manly looking increasingly lively as Dogs recognise their chance has gone in this one.

[Graham]

Now Cust is receiving attention for a leg injury.

[Graham]

Saying TTurbo might be back next week.

[Graham]

Dogs led 10-0 early on, but since then Manly have have much the better of it.

[Graham]

Cust off sat up on the medicab.

[Graham]

Bunker making a meal of a decision in the corner for Okunbor.

Went as no try but for me it looked like a try in real time and there was no separation, but it was fingertip stuff.

After 50 replays, ref decision overturned, try given quite right!

 Okunbor try then (74 minutes)

No conversion

32-20 Manly

[Graham]

FULL TIME

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 20 - 32 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

[Graham]

Next game kicks off in about 5 minutes

[Graham]

Panthers: Penrith will start 1-17 after Mitch Kenny and Kurt Capewell were omitted an hour before kick-off. Lock Isaah Yeo will return from a head knock with James Fisher-Harris returning to prop and Moses Leota to the bench. 

Matt Burton and Charlie Staines were omitted 24 hours before kick-off.

The Panthers are aiming to become the third team in the NRL era to win 13 in a row in one season.

[Graham]

Eels: Reed Mahoney (shoulder) failed a fitness test on Thursday morning and coach Brad Arthur confirmed the hooker won't play. Ray Stone will take his place while utility Will Smith has earned a bench spot as a dummy-half back-up.

"[Reed] just lacks a little bit of power passing the ball, so there's no need to play him," Arthur said.

"We had a plan to give Reedy a bit of rest over the last couple of weeks just to make sure he was freshened up at the end of the year."

Reserves Stefano Utoikamanu and Haze Dunster were the two players dropped from the squad an hour before kick-off.

In other changes to the 17 which beat the Warriors, Andrew Davey has come onto the bench in place of Marata Niukore (rib).

[Graham]

PREVIEW

Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels will face off in a Western Sydney derby between two teams that should finish in the top four. Penrith host third-placed Parramatta wanting revenge after they lost to the Eels earlier in the season. That was Penrith’s only defeat in what has been a wonderfull run of form since with the Panthers aiming for their 13th consecutive victory. Panthers have also scored 107 points more than the Eels so far this season.

Panthers are generally tipped to win this. Well they would be wouldn't they?

[Graham]

Panthers crowd! No social distancing there!

[Futtocks]

9 minutes ago, Graham said:

FULL TIME

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 20 - 32 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

A bit of a curate's egg, that. Some great passages of running, passing Rugby, but also some poor parts. The highlights package should look decent, though.

[Graham]

The game has kicked off.

Vossy on the microphone.

[Graham]

Gutherson having to clear up at the back for the second time in a matter of minutes.

[Irish Saint]

Morning all from wet windy Belfast been looking forward to this one.

Early Penrith pressure forcing goal line drop out