Overview
- Manly remain the last team mathematically able to make the NRL top eight but their path is highly conditional and unlikely without help from other results.
- The Sea Eagles must beat St George Illawarra at Brookvale tonight and then beat the New Zealand Warriors away in the final round to stay alive.
- Late official team news added 19-year-old Onitoni Large to Manly’s bench after Tolu Koula was injured and moved Josh Feledey into the starting centre role, with Large a possible NRL debutant.
- Tom Trbojevic has returned to the side and Manly’s strong points differential (+66) gives them an edge in tiebreak scenarios against immediate rivals.
- The Panthers versus Bulldogs game is a key fixture that will influence who finishes inside the top eight and therefore directly affects how realistic Manly’s chance will be.