As well as providing his best value bets every week, our NRL guru Steve Green also previews every NRL game for members. Each week on the blog we’ll feature some of his match previews from the eight games. Check out his Panthers v Manly preview below
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Panthers v Manly: NRL Round 1
The Panthers deserved their 2021 Premiership and with so many key players backing up again in 2022, I can understand why they head into this season as one of the competition favourites.
However, the Panthers will be missing both of their centres from last year’s Grand Final (Burton and Momiroski), as well Origin forward Kurt Capewell. With news that Cleary is now out for a few weeks as he recovers from shoulder surgery, the market has moved heavily and Manly are now favourite at all bookies.
Although Sean Sullivan is a handy replacement, Cleary has been the lynchpin of this team for the past few seasons and without their co-captain and goal kicker, Manly will fancy their chances.
Furthermore, the trial form of the Panthers was a bit of a worry. While I do not read too much into wins and losses in trials, the Eels tore their defence apart and it looks like the Panthers may be starting 2022 a little behind where they were at a similar time last year.
For Manly, the only reason I have not backed them to win this one is because I am concerned about the forwards injuries they have sustained in the pre-season. With Aloiai and Schuster both out for this one, and some doubts over the fitness of Taupau and Olakau’atu, the likes of Karl Lawton and Sean Keppie are going to have to step up against this hardened Panthers pack.
And although they got run down by the Raiders in their second trial, I thought Manly looked sharp across the board. Dylan Edwards is a great fullback but he does lack speed, so I expect Manly to try and use their speed advantage with an ambitious attacking kicking game.
The home ground advantage does have me a little concerned, as the Panthers will be keen to win in front of their home fans for the first time since they claimed the Premiership, but I think Manly with the 4.5 point head start we backed earlier is a good position to be in.
Panthers v Manly: Predicted score
Panthers 18
Manly 18
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