NRL 2020: Wounded Sea Eagles set to lose key players for NZ Warriors clash

The Manly Sea Eagles will be forced to make at least three injury-enforced changes for Friday's NRL match against the NZ Warriors after a brutal defeat to the Penrith Panthers. 

On Saturday, Sea Eagles slumped to a 42-12 defeat to the table-topping Panthers, their equal-worst loss of the season.

Already hit hard by injuries, the hosts lost five-eighth Dylan Walker (foot), Brad Parker (concussion) and Curtis Sironen (knee) and coach Des Hasler expects the trio will miss their next match against the Warriors at Lottoland.

Walker left the field early in the first half in what was his first match in six weeks, having just recovered from an ankle injury. 

Asked if they will have enough fit players to face the Warriors, Hasler said: "We have some players... we've got obviously Cade Cust who can come back in and Tevita Funa has been playing, so we'll manage.

"Dylan has a fracture, Brad has a serious concussion and will probably have to miss a week and Siro re-injured his knee.

"Tomorrow we'll assess how we are fitness wise and we'll need to see what we come up with."

Panthers star Nathan Cleary.
Panthers star Nathan Cleary. Photo credit: Getty

For the Panthers, it was their 10th win of the season and their seventh-straight with their last loss coming back in June. 

Meanwhile the North Queensland Cowboys' losing woes continued as they slumped to a 14-12 defeat to the Canberra Raiders. 

Interim coach Josh Hannay is now 0-2 since taking over from Paul Green. 

Elsewhere, the Sydney Roosters solidified their spot inside the NRL's top four with a hard fought 18-12 win over the Gold Coast Titans. 

Join us at 8pm Friday for live updates of the Warriors v Sea Eagles NRL clash