Free multi tips for Sea Eagles vs. Panthers on NRL Saturday

WHEN Manly Warringah bolted to the third on the NRL ladder back in round 17, a top-four finish seemed a genuine possibility.

Now, nine weeks later, there is a very real chance they could miss out on finals altogether.

With the exception of a barnstorming half against Sydney, the Sea Eagles have sucked mightily over the past six rounds.

They have lost four times in that stretch, even coughing up points to Wests Tigers and Canterbury Bulldogs.

The fact they needed a golden point to get past the woeful New Zealand Warriors last week says it all.

With that kind of form, it is little wonder Manly’s premiership odds have backed out to $21 at CrownBet.com.au.

Just ahead of them in that market are $19 hopes Penrith, whose late-season revival was halted by St George Illawarra last week.

That defeat ended a run of seven straight victories for the Panthers and set the scene for a tense final round of regular fixtures.

ROUND 26 #NRL MATCHUPS pic.twitter.com/fg1RE8Mrkv

— NRL (@NRL) August 29, 2017

Should North Queensland upset Brisbane on Thursday night, the loser of Manly and Penrith will miss the top eight if the Dragons beat the Bulldogs on Sunday.

Even if the Cowboys lose, the Panthers could slide out on points difference with a heavy defeat at Lottoland.

Should Anthony Griffin’s men triumph at Lottoland, anything but a Canterbury win the day after would see Manly miss out on finals.

Penrith are without the injured Dylan Edwards, while hamstrung captain Matt Moylan is listed in the reserves.

The Sea Eagles have made only one change to last week’s 17, promoting Curtis Sironen and dropping Shaun Lane.

NRL Same Game Multi tips for Manly vs. Penrith

• First try converted – $1.36
• Josh Mansour anytime tryscorer – $2.10
• Penrith Panthers to win by 1-12 points – $3.40

Multi pays $9.75 at Sportsbet.com.au

Tight match markets like these offer value no matter which side of the ledger you pick.

That Edwards is out and Moylan is no certainty to return will have plenty of people leaning towards the Sea Eagles.

But can you really trust a Manly side coming off three very ordinary efforts against very ordinary teams?

It could boil down to battle of the halves between Dale Cherry-Evans and Panther cub Nathan Cleary.

Despite their slip-up to a desperate Dragons outfit last week, we reckon Penrith can jag a win at Brookvale and keep their premiership dream alive.

The margin markets are well worth a go here, with very tasty $3.40 odds on offer for the visitors to salute by 12 points or fewer.

It would be no surprise if Josh Mansour got his name on the score sheet.

The winger has improved week on week since returning to the side in the middle of the year – around about the time the Panthers started to lift their game, as it happens.

We like him to find the line at some stage and make it four tries in as many games.

Those two legs alone will get you a respectable $6.50 at Sportsbet, but you can boost it significantly with a simple addition.

A successful conversion on the first try of the match is paying only $1.36 on its own – a short-priced favourite in anyone’s language.

When we stick it in our multi, however, it adds more than $3 to the total return, so it seems an obvious anchor for our three-legger.

Sea Eagles vs. Panthers NRL bet specials

• Any fullback to score a try – $1.80 at William Hill
• Dylan Walker anytime tryscorer and Manly win – $4.50 at Ladbrokes
• Tom Trbojevic ($2.75) vs. Dean Whare ($5) for most tries at William Hill
• Dallin Watene-Zelezniak anytime tryscorer and Penrith win – $4.50 at Ladbrokes
• Early payouts at Sportsbet if your team leads by 12 points or more at any time