Penrith outlast Manly and heat to claim NYC title

The Penrith Panthers are the 2015 Holden Cup Under 20's Premiers after a 34-18 win over fourth placed Manly-Warringah in the first of today's Grand Finals at ANZ Stadium.

Penrith started the stronger of the two sides, claiming the first two tries - first through hooker Soni Luke then five-eighth Tyrone May.

Manly looked to even the keel and wrestled back some momentum not long after - star fullback Tom Trbojevic ensured Manly stayed in the arm-wrestle long enough with a try of his own, seemingly untouched on the way to the tryline.

The Panthers hit back shortly after through Robert Jennings, who sadly wouldn't complete the game after leaving the field injured mid-way through the second half. Manly scored a vital late try in the first half to bring the scoreline to 16-12 at the change of ends.

With the afternoon heat searing, both sides came back out for the second half - Manly looking fresher - but they couldn't convert it into points. 52 minutes in Maliko Filino broke the Eagles' hearts when the Panthers crossed for their fourth try, and the black & teal (wearing white, oddly enough) went further ahead at the three-quarter mark of the game when Jarome Luai crossed for a special Grand Final try to put the Mountain Men sixteen points clear.

Manly pushed hard to make it a contest in the final ten minutes, including a 72nd minute rampaging try to Liam Knight but it was in vain as the next set they spilled the ball and the ten point margin became too much - enough so that Penrith extended their lead in the final minutes through Fuiamanu Enese, giving us the final 34-18 scoreline.

The premiership is Penrith's second at Under 20's level, becoming only the second club alongisde the Warriors to claim multiple titles in Holden Cup since it's 2008 inception. Manly will need to wait another year, but it will be a positive thought for their fans that they are among the competitions best as these players move into first grade in coming years.

Match Details

Penrith Panthers 34 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Halftime Score: Penrith Panthers 16 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12

PENRITH PANTHERS (34)
Tries: Soni Luke, Tyrone May, Robert Jennings, Maliko Filino, Jarome Luai, Fuimanu Enise
Conversions: Dylan Edwards (5/6)

MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (18)
Tries: Tom Trbojevic, Luke Garner, Liam Knight
Conversions: Hugh Pratt (3/3)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Brent Naden
2 points - Tyrone May
1 point - Soni Luke

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Grand Final Day ladies and gentlemen! We're here to cover all three deciders on the game's day of days... and it all starts at 1:35pm with the Holden Cup Grand Final! Minor Premiers Penrith take on challengers from 4th place the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

There's nothing to speak of in the way of late changes - both lineups are 1-17 as named by coaches Cameron Ciraldo & Dave Heath! Kickoff is 1:35pm - check back with us just before then for all the action!

Gates OPEN. The fans are starting to trickle in to NRL Headquarters, kickoff in the NYC decider now just over ten minutes away.

Teams on the park and we're underway! Penrith in their white alternate strip, Manly wearing their Maroon jersey. Penrith have the ball first up.

1: Manly with the better of the opening sets, gaining plenty more metres up the park.

2: PENALTY | Penrith with the first of the afternoon, they'll attack from here.

3: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Soni Luke. Kick to come.
Young Soni dummies from just inside 10m out from the play the ball and fools the Manly defence!

4: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Dylan Edwards successful.
No issues near the posts for Edwards. Penrith the early leaders.

5: Tyrone May launches a mid-field bomb which is fielded by Dylan Edwards near the touchline, and he fumbles it over the sideline. Handover for Manly on their own 30m.

7: Pearsall weaves his way through near the line for Manly but his offload goes to Penrith and they're out of trouble.

10: Jesse Bogle goes for the corner for Manly, but the Panthers defence is too good. Dylan Edwards puts him into touch. Penrith scrum on their own 10m.

14: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Tyrone May. Kick to come.
May benefits from a great run by Brent Naden and the Panthers extend their early lead.

15: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Dylan Edwards successful.
A bit further out this time for Edwards but no dramas. Penrith lead by twelve.

17: UNFORCED ERROR MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Jesse Bogle makes an unforced error.
Bogle spills a Penrith bomb on his own 10m! Manly under plenty of pressure now...

20: Manly manage a penalty after preventing Penrith scoring and then Tom Trbojevic finds himself within inches of the line but can't score on the last. Penrith handover.

23: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Tom Trbojevic. Kick to come.
Trboejvic finds plenty of space and Manly open their account for the afternoon!

24: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Hugh Pratt successful.
Pratt makes no mistake from beside the posts and the margin reduces to six.

27: Awkward error by Mitch Thomas contesting a bomb, he fumbles it then takes it out. Penrith scrum.

28: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Robert Jennings. Kick to come.
Robert Jennings scores from quick hands off the scrum feed. Great try by the Panthers.

29: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Dylan Edwards unsuccessful.
Edwards from his hardest angle yet... it misses.

32: Will Pearsall held up over the line for Manly on tackle five, their next play is to put it high to the opposite corner, where Enese for Penrith fields it on the full. 20m restart Panthers.

34: Superb break by Penrith and they get a penalty after Manly laid all over Harawira-Naera. A second Penrith penalty... but then they lose it.

34: Wait on, we have a CAPTAINS CHALLENGE. Penrith have lost it, although they're alleging a strip. We go upstairs...

34: Challenge dismissed. Penrith have none remaining this half. Manly get the scrum feed.

37: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Luke Garner. Kick to come.
Garner finds his way to the tryline for Manly to narrow the gap just before the break!

38: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Hugh Pratt successful.
The margin closes to just four prior to halftime. Big moment in the decider! Pratt adds the extras.

40: Halftime at ANZ Stadium in the first, very warm, Grand Final of the day. Penrith are up by four but Manly aren't lying down. 16-12 at the break and whoever manages the heat better will be crowned premiers - simple as that!

44: We are back underway, both sides driving some good kicking deep since the resumption.

47: Ordinary set from Manly with a last tackle grubber going dead before they concede a penalty... then Penrith lose it. Manly work it out of their own half.

48: Tom Trbojevic crosses for a... nope! Not a try for Manly! Mitch Thomas was away down the sideline but his foot grazed the white chalk. Penrith scrum 15m from their own line.

50: Time off with Robert Jennings OFF INJURED. His ankle's been crushed under a tackle. Oliver Clark is on.

50: Manly lose it inside Penrith territory after the resumption, Penrith hot on the attack... and get a penalty!

52: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Maliko Filino. Kick to come.
Numbers to the left after a jinking run from Jerome Luai... and Filino SCORES! Penrith looking shaky after the last few minutes but that Manly error and conceded penalty give Penrith the shot in the arm they need!

53: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Dylan Edwards successful.
Edwards with a lovely curling kick from the touchline. Margin jumps back out to ten!

55: Manly with a very handy penalty which has them attacking from 12m out...

57: Nothing doing for Manly after Naden cleverly picks up their last tackle grubber. Penrith work it out from their own end.

60: VIDEO REFEREE | Checking a bunch of things including a contest and obstruction for a Jerome Luai TRY. Looks good...

60: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Jarome Luai. Kick to come.
Luai's try is awarded! Penrith now with a comfortable lead...

61: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Dylan Edwards successful.
Edwards makes it sixteen for Penrith who are inching closer to another Holden Cup premiership!

64: Manly are on the attack... and Nicho Hynes spills it. Feeling like the heat has sapped them at the moment, they'll need something special to come back.

67: Manly pick up a handy six-more call after Penrith get a hand to it late in the set. The Panthers' bench is struggling too, just one fresh forward left on it. They'll need to strike here to make it a contest the Eagles...

70: Ten left, Manly get a penalty on their own goal-line. This is their season here...

72: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Liam Knight. Kick to come.
Knight goes through the middle and the big prop SCORES!

72: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Conversion attempt by Hugh Pratt successful.
Pratt wastes no time. Margin reduces to ten!

74: Awful stuff, Manly spill it inside their own 30m and Penrith now will attack and attempt to seal the premiership here!

76: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Fuimanu Enise. Kick to come.
Enese scores for Penrith and that will seal the title!

77: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Dylan Edwards successful.
Edwards makes no mistake again.

79: We have a captains challenge again - Manly looks to have a late try, ref calls knock on Manly, but it's a Manly feed instead... which doesn't pack.

80: The scrum fails to pack and it's FULLTIME at ANZ Stadium in the Under 20's Grand Final - Penrith have taken out the 2015 Holden Cup - the best side all year claims the season's greatest prize!