PENRITH have hung on to end Manly caretaker coach Kieran Foran’s unbeaten run.
The Panthers won 18-16 at CommBank Stadium in a see-sawing encounter which saw Manly awarded a controversial Lehi Hopoate try despite an apparent obstruction.
Manly had a one-man advantage for 10 of the last 16 minutes as a result of Jack Cogger being sent to the sin bin for high contact – but could not take advantage.
“When you’re down to 12 men, it’s easy to play the victim,” Panthers captain Nathan Cleary told Triple M.
“We didn’t do that. It’s good to be winning different ways.”
PENRITH 18 (Talagi To’o Tago tries Cleary 3 goals) beat MANLY 16 (Faulalo Bullemor Hopoate tries Cleary 3 goals) at CommBank Stadium.
Teams:
PENRITH: Dylan Edwards’ Tom Jenkins, Paul Alamoti, Casey McLean, Brian To’o; Blaize Talagi, Nathan Cleary (c); Moses Leota, Freddie Lussick, Lindsay Smith, Isaiah Papali’i, Luke Garner, Isaah Yeo. Res: Jack Cogger, Scott Sorensen, Kalani Going, Billy Phillips, Izack Tago, Billy Scott.
MANLY: Tolutau Koula; Jason Saab, Clayton Faulolo, Reuben Garrick, Lehi Hopoate; Luke Brooks, Joey Walsh; Taniela Paseka, Brandon Wakeham, Kobe Hetherington, Haumole Olakau’atu, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbjojevic (c). Res: Jake Simpkin, Nathan Brown, Ethan Bullemor, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Blake Wilson, Jackson Shereb.
Referee: Wyatt Raymond.
