Reigning premiers Penrith have surged to the top of the VB NSW Cup competition ladder after an epic come-from-behind victory against Manly at Brookvale Oval.

Trailing 16-4 at the break, the cellar-dwelling Sea Eagles looked headed for a shock victory – until last year’s VB NSW Cup champions came storming back at the death.

The Panthers’ victory takes them to first on the VB NSW Cup table on for-and-against, just ahead of Mounties as well as a group of other teams hot on their heels including the Warriors, Wyong, Newtown and Newcastle.

In other Round 12 VB NSW Cup matches, the North Sydney Bears came from 22 points down to pip the Wests Tigers, with Cody Walker playing a starring role; Canterbury recorded the upset of the round beating the then-ladder-leading Mounties 35-20; and the Warriors piled on 24 second-half points to beat Newcastle by six.

In this week’s VB NSW Cup action, the NSWRL has taken games to regional areas for its annual Country Round. Matches will be played at Muswellbrook, Goulburn, Port Macquarie and Tamworth, as well as at Mt Smart Stadium and Hunter Stadium. Click on the links for more information.

Click here for Round 12 VB NSW Cup highlights.

Click here for Round 13 VB NSW Cup match details and team line-ups.