As it happened: Panthers back on top; Manly keep dream alive

Media conferences

Full-time: A professional performance from Penrith as they complete 38 of 41 sets and keep the Bulldogs at arm's length the entire night in a 24-10 victory. That's the season all but done for the Bulldogs, who are now sweating on the Cowboys losing to Wests Tigers. The Panthers go back to the top of the table for the time being.

77 min: Nathan Cleary's kick is a touch too long and goes dead in goal for a Bulldogs 20m tap.

76 min: A penalty against the Bulldogs for hands in the ruck allows the Panthers easy passage out of trouble and this one looks to be done.

74 min: Brilliant attack from Penrith down the left as Nathan Cleary and Casey McLean combine to put Tom Jenkins into space. The winger kicks back inside and Liam Henry regathers but his pass to try and find Dylan Edwards travels forward.

72 min: Izack Tago hobbles off after he landed awkwardly while trying to tackle a rampaging Viliame Kikau.

67 min: The Panthers strike a big blow with Casey McLean's speed and footwork finishing off good hands from Nathan Cleary, Lindsay Smith, Isaiah Papali'i and Jack Cole. With the Bulldogs feeling the pinch the speed of McLean was too much for them. Cleary converts. Panthers 24-10

64 min: Bronson Xerri and Enari Tuala are penalised for putting a 'wall' around Connor Tracey to block Penrith's chasers. Nathan Cleary takes a shot at penalty from 10m inside the sideline and guides it home. Panthers 18-10

60 min: The Bulldogs hit back as Lachlan Galvin goes with the double pump and puts Jacob Preston over on the right edge for a try that breathes life into the Dogs' season. Stephen Crichton converts. Panthers 16-10

59 min: A high tackle by Freddy Lussick invites the Bulldogs into good field position but Dylan Edwards gets across to knock Stephen Crichton's grubber over the dead ball line. The Panthers go short with the dropout but it fails to travel the 10m. 

57 min: With the Panthers in control, Nathan Cleary is happy to put the ball into touch on the last play and make the Bulldogs work off their own line.

53 min: Nathan Cleary goes to the line and Jake Turpin throws out a lazy arm and is penalised for a high shot. Cleary bangs over the penalty goal from 28m out. Panthers 16-4

52 min: Another heavy grubber from Stephen Crichton goes dead and the Panthers have seven tackles.

51 min: Scott Sorensen is placed on report for a crusher tackle.

49 min: Dylan Edwards brings down a bomb but loses the ball in contact. The Bulldogs sweep to the right where Matt Burton is chopped down by Casey McLean and slides into touch. A big defensive play by McLean to keep the Panthers' line intact after Edwards' error.

44 min: A wicked floating bomb from Nathan Cleary launched from the halfway line bamboozles Connor Tracey who can't make the catch. Always leading the chase, Liam Martin is on hand to pick up the scraps and race 15m to grab his second try of the night. Cleary converts. Panthers 14-4

HIA report: Matt Burton has passed his assessment and is good to go for the second half.

No.1 guns: Dylan Edwards racked up 158 run metres, seven tackle breaks, one try assist and three offloads for the Panthers while Connor Tracey came up with some big plays at the back for the Bulldogs and had eight runs for 82 metres.

Half-time: A sensational first half with so much at stake for both sides. The Panthers have remarkably completed 22 of 22 at 100 per cent while the Bulldogs completed 18 off 22 sets.

40 min: A penalty against Bailey Hayward for being inside the 10m hands Nathan Cleary a shot at penalty goal from 35m out. Cleary nails the kick. Panthers 8-4

39 min: A neat grubber into the in-goal from Connor Tracey is knocked dead by Dylan Edwards with Matt Burton closing in on the ball. Burton goes to the ground after the collision and will leave the field for a HIA. Alekolasimi Jones comes into remonstrate with Edwards and is penalised for running in to get involved well after play had stopped. 

36 min: Nathan Cleary kicks, the ball hits Enari Tuala and rolls into touch. The referee rules Tuala had played at the ball. The Bulldogs throw in a captain's challenge and the bunker rules the Dogs winger did not play at the ball so they come out of trouble.

34 min: A penalty against Jake Turpin for a slow peel allows the Panthers easy passage out of their own end.

31 min: A huge kick from Stephen Crichton in search of a 40-20 and Tom Jenkins has to scramble back and tap the ball back infield. The Dogs then muscle up in defence and Jack Cole has to kick from 10m inside his own half.

On report: Isaiah Papali'i (grapple tackle) and Viliame Kikau (dangerous contact) have both been placed on report during the first 30 minutes.

25 min: The Bulldogs go to the right edge where Lachlan Galvin's cut-out pass puts Matt Burton into space and the centre shows great strength to get the ball down despite Dylan Edwards and Casey McLean doing their best to hold him up. Stephen Crichton can't convert from touch. Panthers 6-4

24 min: Nathan Cleary kicks cross field for Tom Jenkins and Jacob Kiraz to contest the ball. Kiraz makes the catch, Jenkins picks his pocket and puts it down but officials rule Kiraz had possession and control of the ball. The Bulldogs come away with a 20m tap.

23 min: Nathan Cleary kicks, Tom Jenkins takes it and offloads to Casey McLean who grubbers into the in-goal where Max King cleans it up. The Dogs go short with the line dropout and the Panthers come up with it.

19 min: Jacob Kiraz is rag dolled into touch by Liam Martin and Tom Jenkins as the Panthers again scramble back well in defence.

18 min: Connor Tracey is safe under the high ball and is caught high by Lindsay Smith as he brings the ball away from his own line. Bulldogs penalty.

15 min: The Bulldogs hang on as Matt Burton climbs high to defuse a Nathan Cleary high ball.

13 min: Back-to-back errors from Stephen Crichton as he puts the ball down 10m out from his own line to put the Dogs under the pump.

12 min: Stephen Crichton goes with a grubber from 10m out but it is way too strong and rolls over the dead ball line to hand Penrith a seven-tackle set.

11 min: An escort penalty against Isaiah Papali'i hands the Bulldogs field position to chase their first points.

8 min: The Panthers strike first as Dylan Edwards hits the line and gets between Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau before delivering an offload for Liam Martin to score. Nathan Cleary converts. Panthers 6-0

6 min: A long ball from Viliame Kikau puts Enari Tuala away down the left but four Panthers get across to wrap him up and bundle him over the sideline.

3 min: Some slick work from Lachlan Galvin and Jacob Preston before the play finishes 5m out from the line when Jacob Kiraz is wrapped up.

1 min: Nathan Cleary's first kick of the night is too deep and rolls dead to hand the Bulldogs a seven-tackle set.

Late Mail

Panthers: Jack Cole takes over at five-eighth in his third NRL game of the season with Jack Cogger serving a three-game ban for a careless high tackle. Blaize Talagi has been added to the bench after playing NSW Cup the past two weeks. The Panthers have won nine of their last 11 games against the Bulldogs. Kalani Going has been added to the six-man interchange 90 minutes before kick-off with Jaxen Edgar making way.

Bulldogs: Cooper Toy has been added to the bench 90 minutes before kick-off in No.23 and could make his NRL debut. Eight players were sidelined from training on Monday due to illness but coach Cameron Ciraldo said that was mainly precautionary and everyone had "bounced into training on Wednesday and we are ready to go". On a positive note, Enari Tuala returns on the wing after missing last week's game with a knee injury. Utility Kurt Mann (groin) is sidelined so Jed Reardon has been added to the bench. Recently re-signed back-rower Jacob Preston has scored six tries in his last four games against the Panthers.

Numbers Game

• The Panthers have won nine of their last 11 games against the Bulldogs.
• The Bulldogs have lost seven of their last eight games at CommBank Stadium.
• Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored six tries in his last eight games against the Bulldogs.
• Bulldogs back-rower Jacob Preston has scored six tries in his last four games against the Panthers.
• Panthers second-rower Isaiah Papali’i will achieve his 200 NRL game milestone.

 

Sea Eagles v Dragons at 4 Pines Park

Media conferences

Dropsy Dragons: The Red V gave themselves no hope of springing an upset as they produced 15 errors and completed at just 62 per cent. That's a 19th loss for the season for the Dragons as they collect the wooden spoon for the first time in joint venture history.

Full-time: Job done for Manly as they keep the finals dream alive with a thumping 34-point win over the error-riddled Dragons. 

77 min: A consolation try for the Dragons as Kyle Flanagan nudges a grubber into the in-goal for Moses Suli to follow through and score. Sea Eagles 44-10

74 min: Lehi Hopoate has a double courtesy of a classy one-handed offload from Josh Feledy. The conversion attempt from Reuben Garrick is wide. Sea Eagles 44-6

72 min: A short dropout by Jamal Fogarty is taken by Jason Saab but the winger puts it down and Connor Muhleisen swoops on the loose ball to cross the line but the try is disallowed after replays show Ryan Couchman was offside at the dropout. He had never gone behind the 10m line so he was never offside and that sums up the Dragons' night.

70 min: Clayton Faulalo has passed his HIA but he'll be kept on ice for the rest of the night to give young gun Onitoni Large more game time.

69 min: The Dragons are on the board after Loko Pasifiki-Tonga shows great skill to pick up a low pass and then explodes into space before sending a pass to Val Holmes who is dragged down. From there the Dragons go left to Kyle Flanagan who sends it on to Hamish Stewart whose catch-and-pass is a beauty for Tyrell Sloan to score. Val Holmes converts. Sea Eagles 40-6

66 min: A pressure pass for Josh Feledy and he puts it down in traffic as the Dragons take over 20m out from their own line.

62 min: A rampaging Haumole Olakau'atu leaves Lyhkan King-Togia, Hamish Stewart and Dan Atkinson in his wake on a 30m charge to the tryline. Jamal Fogarty fails to convert. Sea Eagles 40-0

61 min: A fumble from Dan Atkinson off a kick takes the Dragons' error tally to 15.

60 min: Jason Saab muscles up in defence to hurl Tyrell Sloan over the sideline as Manly comfortably defend a rare Dragons raid.

59 min: Clayton Faulalo leaves the field for a HIA and Onitoni Large enters the field on NRL debut.

56 min: Lyhkan King-Togia with another poor pass out in front of Kyle Flanagan who can't make the catch. The ball bounces up for Clayton Faulalo who sprints 70 metres to score Manly's eighth try. Sea Eagles 36-0

54 min: Ben Trbojevic sneaks down a short side and looks to slip a pass to Josh Feledy but the centre was out of position and the ball rolls into touch.

50 min: Lyhkan King-Togia throws a pass that Tyrell Sloan has no chance of taking and the Dragons turn it over 10m out. Clayton Faulalo picks it up and sets sail for the line before Hamish Stewart manages to knock the ball free but Faulalo scoops it up and sends it to Josh Feledy who cruises over. Jamal Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 32-0

48 min: Tom Trbojevic tries to get a pass over the top to Lehi Hopoate but it is too low for the winger and he puts it down.

45 min: With Manly inside the red zone, the ball from Jake Simpkin to Nic Lenaz is a tough one to be taken in traffic and Lenaz loses it in contact.

43 min: Dan Atkinson produces a great kick return to get the ball up over halfway but Dylan Egan puts the ball down on the next play.

Saab in cruise control: Manly speedster Jason Saab snared a double courtesy of two pinpoint kicks from Jamal Fogarty to take his season tally to 15 tries. Saab racked up 80 run metres and two tackle breaks to go with his double. 

Half-time: We go to the break with Manly in total control on the back of 63 per cent of possession and an 88 per cent completion rate. The home side ran for 948 metres compared to just 360 metres for the Red V who came up with seven errors to give themselves no chance of matching it with the potent Sea Eagles.

40 min: More space on the right for Manly but Josh Feledy's pass to Jason Saab travels forward and the Dragons have a scrum feed.

36 min: Hamish Stewart runs a good line and gets his arms free for an offload but it goes straight to Jason Saab and Manly come out of trouble.

33 min: Jacob Webster takes a short ball from Damien Cook and sets sail for the line but he puts it down and the Dragons continue to shoot themselves in the foot.

28 min: All too easy for Manly again as Clayton Faulalo picks up Tom Trbojevic who burns Moses Suli and slides over on the left edge for the home team's fifth try of the night. Sea Eagles 26-0

26 min: A high tackle penalty against Kyle Flanagan has the Dragons under the pump again.

24 min: It's a procession at 4 Pines Park as Manly go 80 metres to post their fourth try as the right edge combines to put Jason Saab into space and he flies down the sideline before sending the pass back inside for Reuben Garrick to score. Jamal Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 22-0

21 min: An action replay of Manly's second try as Val Holmes races out of the line and Jamal Fogarty evades him easily before grubbering this time for Jason Saab to gather and score. Fogarty adds the extras. Sea Eagles 16-0

20 min: Dan Atkinson tries to take a bomb with Nathan Brown bearing down on him and the ball is spilled by the Dragons No.1. Manly scrum.

17 min: Val Holmes races out of the line and gets nothing as Jamal Fogarty evades him and puts in a pinpoint kick for Jason Saab to follow through and take the ball on the full to score. Fogarty converts. Sea Eagles 10-0

15 min: Kyle Flanagan's high ball is spilled by Tom Trbojevic and the Dragons get a scrum 20m out from the Manly line. Once again the Dragons hand it back with Val Holmes coming up with a cold drop.

14 min: A crash play from Simione Laiafi from close range but the young prop can't control the pass.

13 min: Jamal Fogarty launches a high ball but Clayton Faulalo knocks on in the contest with Dan Atkinson. The Dragons then make an error on the first play off the scrum through Moses Suli.

8 min: Clayton Faulalo comes up with a sweet cut-out pass to pick up Lehi Hopoate who crosses for his 16th try of the season. Tom Trbojevic also handled in the build-up as Manly's left edge clicked. Jamal Fogarty fails to convert. Sea Eagles 4-0

6 min: Plenty of offloads from Manly before Jamal Fogarty grubbers at the end of the set but Mat Feagai cleans it up.

4 min: The Dragons produce a pressure offload and Damien Cook puts it down with Reuben Garrick all over him. Manly scrum.

3 min: Brandon Wakeham's grubber is cleaned up by Dan Atkinson and the Dragons then get a penalty for ruck interference three plays later and come out of danger.

2 min: The Sea Eagles explode out of the blocks and make big metres on their first set which ends with Dan Atkinson spilling a Jamal Fogarty bomb and Manly are hot on attack.

Late Mail

Sea Eagles: No late changes on game day. Tolu Koula suffered a moderate grade syndesmosis injury against Newcastle and will only play again this season should Manly sneak into the finals. Josh Feledy starts at centre and 19-year-old playmaker Onitoni Large has been added to the interchange for his NRL debut. Manly’s 1996 premiership-winning team will be honoured at 4 Pines Park on Friday night. 

Dragons: The Dragons are 1-19 with no late changes. A big moment for Connor Muhleisen as he joins the bench for his first NRL game since Round 27, 2024 against the Raiders. The 25-year-old has played four games back in NSW Cup across August after recovering from an ACL rupture suffered in last year's NSW Cup grand final. Damien Cook starts at hooker with Muhleisen as his back-up after Jacob Liddle suffered a calf injury last week. 

Numbers Game

• The Sea Eagles have won six of their last eight games against the Dragons at 4 Pines Park.
• The Dragons have won only two of their last 18 away games.
• Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab has scored five tries in his last four games at 4 Pines Park.
• Dragons winger Tyrell Sloan has scored six tries in seven games against the Sea Eagles.
• Sea Eagles forward Nathan Brown will make his 200th NRL appearance.