Sunday first NRL Round 26 match is between Manly Sea Eagles and Penrith Panthers with the opening kick to commence at 2pm local time. The game is to be played at Brookvale Oval which see’s home team Manly Sea Eagles hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Manly Sea Eagles and Penrith Panthers.

WHERE AND WHEN: Brookvale Oval, 2pm (EST) Sunday

Opening odds comparison:

Manly Sea Eagles	1.18	1.16	1.19	1.16	1.18	N/A
Penrith Panthers	4.85	5.25	4.85	5.25	4.85	N/A

Preview:

The first Sunday game is between Manly and Penrith, 2.00pm at Brookvale Oval. With only one week to go before the finals, this game is a bit ‘who cares’. Even if Penrith somehow manage to win here, all it would mean for Manly is fourth ladder position rather than third. While it might not mean much for finals positions, however, the Sea Eagles will be keen for a big win here in their lead up to the finals, especially because it will be the last home game for club legend Brent Kite.

Teams:

Manly Sea Eagles:
Peta Hiku, Tom Symonds, Jamie Lyon (c), Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Brenton Lawrence, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, David Gower, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Richie Fa’aoso, James Hasson, Jesse Sene-Lefao, George Rose.

Penrith Panthers:
Lachlan Coote, Josh Mansour, Brad Tighe, Dean Whare, David Simmons, Isaac John, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston (c), Nigel Plum, Lewis Brown, Sika Manu, Ryan Simpkins. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Clint Newton, Jeremy Latimore, Mose Masoe, Nathan Smith (one to be omitted).

Referees: Adam Devcich, Phil Haines.

Manly’s four-day prep unacceptable: Ballin

Manly hooker Matt Ballin has branded as unacceptable a possible four-day preparation for the Sea Eagles’ first NRL final.

Depending on last-round results, Manly could be forced to play on Friday week, giving them little time to rest and back up from Sunday’s clash with Penrith.

The scenario could eventuate if they slip from third to fourth by losing to the Panthers and Melbourne beat Gold Coast, while the availability of ANZ Stadium with the Swans expected to play an AFL preliminary final there that weekend is another variable.

Asked if it was a little unfair, especially since a a lower-placed side like Canterbury could enjoy a nine-day turnaround after playing their final-round match on Thursday, Ballin said “the short answer is yes.

“Four days is not a great turnaround leading into a a big finals match, so I don’t know what the answer is to it.

“But I think someone was saying the Bulldogs might get nine days and less than half the time for us, so I think that should be looked at.

“Coming off a team like Penrith, who have got a big pack of forwards, and after 26 rounds of pretty hard footy, I don’t think that (a four-day preparation) is acceptable.”

Winger David Williams said Manly had been used to short turnarounds this year, but wasn’t looking beyond this weekend.

“I’m happy to play round 26. I haven’t played that in four years (due to injuries),” Williams said.

He has yet to commit to Manly for next season.

“Staying here would be good for me, but that’s football. Sometimes you might have to go other places to keep in the game,” Williams said.

Sunday’s game represents a farewell to Brookvale Oval for dual premiership-winning prop Brent Kite, who will join the Panthers next year after nine seasons at Manly.

“I’ve said for a little while we’re potentially a multi-premiership-winning team and it’s good that we’ve won two and I think all the guys think we’ve got one more in us,” said Kite.

Coach Geoff Toovey said Jamie Buhrer’s rib cartilage injury wasn’t as bad as initially feared and he might play again this season while Brett Stewart and Anthony Watmough could both return for the first finals game.