Pre-Game Panthers V Manly [Round 8, 2025]

[Ron E. Gibbs]

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Belinda Sharpe
Referee

Do we have enough data on Belinda Sharpe yet to know how much we hate her?

 

[ManlyArmy]

Manly 13+ is paying $6.50. Load up..............responsibly of course!

I got on when it was $8.50...

We've gone from $3.06 into $2.51 in 24 hours.

 

[Sea Eagle 4 Life]

I got on when it was $8.50...

Your shout Saturday night!

 

[HoldenV8]

A great chance of reinjuring himself. This smacks of a desperate coach and a big-hearted player.

Hence why Tommy Talau is on the bench. It doesn't say a lot about the confidence in Turbo actually finishing the game in good health if we basically have to sacrifice a bench spot against a resurgent Penrith in order to be able to effectively cover for him in case he breaks down again.

 

[Waz13]

Do we have enough data on Belinda Sharpe yet to know how much we hate her?

Noticed she was in charge. Does she get many games? I can only recall a couple.

 

[Waz13]

I got on when it was $8.50...

We've gone from $3.06 into $2.51 in 24 hours.

Yeah noted earlier, the head to head match ups ain’t that uneven when you look through the lists. That is if those lists actually stay that way and the players (Turbo, Bully in particular) are actually fit! I give us some chance after a decent rest from last Thursday.

 

[Waz13]

Hence why Tommy Talau is on the bench. It doesn't say a lot about the confidence in Turbo actually finishing the game in good health if we basically have to sacrifice a bench spot against a resurgent Penrith in order to be able to effectively cover for him in case he breaks down again.

Must admit this was my thought as well. Instead tho I’ll go with the “he’s picked the best 17 players and will find a spot for them”. Also not uncommon to carry back cover and I like Faulalo I think Talau offers a lot more versatility.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Hence why Tommy Talau is on the bench. It doesn't say a lot about the confidence in Turbo actually finishing the game in good health if we basically have to sacrifice a bench spot against a resurgent Penrith in order to be able to effectively cover for him in case he breaks down again.

I hate that I have to keep bringing this up, but can we ever have much confidence in Turbo finishing any game, at any time? We are at the point where we simply have to have cover for him whenever he starts a match because there's a pretty high chance he won't finish it. It's why Lehi has to be in the team somewhere, and why we have to be prepared to shuffle the backline around to accomodate a change in the middle of a game.

For any other player, it probably wouldn't be worth it. But Tommy is that good, and that important to the functioning of this team, that playing him is almost always a better option than not playing him.

 

[Jethro]

Do we have enough data on Belinda Sharpe yet to know how much we hate her?

If I get time, I will do a little bit of research before Saturday, and get back to you on that one.

 

[rj90]

Do we have enough data on Belinda Sharpe yet to know how much we hate her?

100% win percentage with her reffing our games

 

[mickqld]

Rain forecast, wet track and we're going to play Turbo in a game we are 1000s to win. Absolute insanity but whose surprised.

 

[Bearfax]

Point is, which Manly side is playing this weekend. I don't mean personnel, I mean attitude.

 

[Eagle 1]

Rain forecast, wet track and we're going to play Turbo in a game we are 1000s to win. Absolute insanity but whose surprised.

Not sure which one I'm more nervous about, the team or Tommy.

 

[Eagle 1]

I hate that I have to keep bringing this up, but can we ever have much confidence in Turbo finishing any game, at any time? We are at the point where we simply have to have cover for him whenever he starts a match because there's a pretty high chance he won't finish it. It's why Lehi has to be in the team somewhere, and why we have to be prepared to shuffle the backline around to accomodate a change in the middle of a game.

For any other player, it probably wouldn't be worth it. But Tommy is that good, and that important to the functioning of thi s team, that playing him is almost always a better option than not playing him.

Agree REG, Tom's like an addictive drug, he's hard to give up. We know the kind of high we get watching him play and when he's not playing we've got bad withdrawal symptoms. Anyway, he's back, and we can finally have our fix even if it's probably only for a short while.

 

[Rafferty]

100% win percentage with her reffing our games

View attachment 29993

Interesting, Saturday’s game will be her 10th NRL game as the sole referee and the second time in charge of one of our games, 2020 was under the dual referee set up.

Her first solo game was the one above with the blow out score against the Tig’s and from memory wasn’t a very good showing, we won so who really cares.

She didn’t get a single game in 24, her last game was Aug 23 and this is her first game this year rd 8, 2025, been away from the whistle for a while.

Interesting to see the punters are jumping on Manly, not saying there’s anything fishy going on, but its hard to follow on the basis of form, our injuries and especially given we’re away from home, can’t just be Tom, especially after the Riff bounced back last week, anyway interesting as I said, I’ll be watching her performance with added interest.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Interesting to see the punters are jumping on Manly, not saying there’s anything fishy going on, but its hard to follow on the basis of form, our injuries and especially given we’re away from home, can’t just be Tom, especially after the Riff bounced back last week, anyway interesting as I said, I’ll be watching her performance with added interest.

I reckon it's just Tom.
Not even his fullback play but his leadership and confidence he'll bring to the other Manly players.
We may not win but after a longer prep and with Turbo there I'm certainly expecting a good performance.

 

[Rafferty]

I reckon it's just Tom.
Not even his fullback play but his leadership and confidence he'll bring to the other Manly players.
We may not win but after a longer prep and with Turbo there I'm certainly expecting a good performance.

You may be right, just read somewhere else our record without Tom is 16 from our last 50, so it’s definitely a big swing when he plays, I realise what he brings to the side not just as a player but to the side in general, thing is he’ll have to bringing plenty of it this Saturday, here’s hoping as going 4 straight will…………

 

[Sheikheagle]

Im hearing saab is out

 

[manly al]

Certainly would like Bully to be definitely declared fit .
Looks like some showers hanging around for the game but should not be the determining factor whether Manly can have a good night or not
Wish it was a bit more certain that Turbo and Aloioa can come into the game in fairly good shape but even if it is a bit of the roll of the dice , must be reasonably calculated one would assume .
Not too sure how it is going to go with Jazz playing at 13 for any extended time and could also see Waddell playing some time as a middle
if Simpkin does need a bit of a breather at 9, ,maybe Gordy is a late inclusion instead of Talau on the bench however not ideal but probably do need some backs cover again for this one .
Could be any number of forward interchange outcomes and that could even be more pronounced if Bully or Brown are not available and Navale comes into the frame
Whole side as a unit obviously has to lift somehow even allowing for a disrupted [ or part ] preparation .
Sure that they are aware of that , commitment in defense was largely there last week and didn 't cope too bad with the injury disruptions so if they can get their act together better in attack for the 80 , opportunity should be there to break the losing run

 

[JakeyB789]

Saab out. I imagine Talau replaces him and Faulalo comes onto the bench to bring 9 minutes of action like last week. Interested to see if Bully and/or Brown are out and who else Seibold can bring in to avoid giving Navale a run.