'Take it to them': Panthers product ready to haunt former side
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Newcastle forward Francis Manuleleua is relishing the chance to bundle his former club out of the NRL finals as the Knights look to extend their giant-killing run on Sunday afternoon.
The New Zealand-born talent was lured to Australia by the Panthers and spent two years in the club's famed development system before joining Newcastle last season.
The two teams will collide in a blockbuster preliminary final at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with thousands of Knights fans preparing to descend on Sydney for the clash.
Francis Manuleleua Try
Manuleleua completed a hands-on apprenticeship in Penrith, even spending a stint as a groundskeeper at the club's HQ, and will use those lessons to his advantage this weekend.
"I played a lot of footy with them so it's going to be a little weird seeing them across the field," Manuleleua told NRL.com. "They've been the benchmark the last four or five years and we want to be the team that upsets them, just like we did with the Bunnies and Warriors.
"They pride themselves on a full 80-minute performance, they always back their fitness and are the team that tries to outlast others. It's worked for them, they keep grinding down teams until they cause an error and then they pounce.
"We need to make sure we play our style of footy, reduce our errors and if we go with them for the whole 80 minutes we can come away with the win."
Match: Panthers v Knights
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Panthers
1st Position
away Team
Knights
7th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Manuleleua grew up in Auckland and quickly developed into a schoolboy rugby league and union star.
The 13-man game remained his true passion and he jumped at the opportunity to move to Australia when Penrith came calling.
Manuleleua played SG Ball in 2023 and Jersey Flegg in 2024 alongside current Panthers Billy Phillips, Billy Scott and Luron Patea.
The freakish talent started his time in Penrith as a halfback before shifting to the backrow in his second season with the club.
Francis Manuleleua Try
"Francis was a very good player," Phillips said. "We had a good time while we were here together. He's been killing it this year so I'm looking forward to going up against him.
"He played a couple of different positions at Penrith but he's found his true colours in the backrow so it'll be good on Sunday."
With opportunities limited in Penrith, Manuleleua joined the Knights at the start of 2025 and his shot at the NRL finally arrived when he made his first grade debut in Round 3.
The 22-year-old hasn't looked back, quickly developing into one of the most damaging ball runners in the game. Such is his form, Manuleleua has retained his place in the starting side despite the return of NSW Origin backrower Dylan Lucas from an ankle injury.
Manuleleua headlines a young Knights pack, with Cody Hopwood, Jermaine McEwen, Lachlan Crouch and Harrison Graham all in the early stage of their careers.
The youngsters have thrived under the finals spotlight and Manuleleua is confident they won't be overawed playing in front of more than 55,000 fans on Sunday afternoon.
Last time they met: Panthers v Knights
Everyone underestimates our team," Manuleleua said. "With how young we are and how much experience we have but we're going out there and showing we can hang with anyone.
"We went with the Warriors, with the Bunnies. Whoever they put in front of us, we can take it to them and they're not going to get one over us.
"It's a good sign for our club moving forward in the future. Hopefully we can keep this finals window going for the next four or five years and be that team in the finals every year."
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