Manly halfback Matt Orford has guided the NRL premiers to a 20-6 victory over Penrith at CUA Stadium on Saturday night.

The Sea Eagles scored three tries to one in a scrappy match in front of 15,806 spectators, with Orford creating two of the visitor's four-pointers.

Up just 8-6 at halftime, the Sea Eagles raced away to a dominant lead early in the second half, Ben Farrar and Anthony Watmough scoring inside the first ten minutes of the second term.

Farrar, playing his first game for Manly since his move from North Queensland earlier this month after NSW centre Jamie Lyon was a late withdrawal, scored in the 46th minute when Michael Robertson's grubber deflected into his hands.

Watmough then crashed over in the 49th minute to seal the win when Orford freed his arms and sent the Test backrower into a gaping hole.

The crunch moment of the game then came in the 66th minute when Lachlan Coote was sent clear after an intercept by Nathan Smith.

The young Panther sprinted 50m and appeared to have evaded Manly winger David Williams but the NSW Origin hopeful fought back to drag Coote over the corner flag with the tryline begging.

The Panthers were their own worst enemy, guilty of several basic errors when in possession to stop them putting any pressure on the Sea Eagles.

The first half was a real arm-wrestle, Manly opening the scoring in the eighth minute when Orford created space for giant winger Tony Williams, who smashed through Panthers fullback Jarrod Sammut on his way to the tryline.

A penalty extended Manly's lead before the Panthers narrowed the gap to just two at the break when Trent Waterhouse broke through Steve Matai's tackle to send Smith over, but that would be the only points of the night for the Panthers.

Despite his try-saving heroics, Williams played down his chances of winning a NSW jersey when the Blues team is named on Monday night.

"In regards to Origin, I don't know about that mate," he said.

"I think there are better wingers out there, I think (Joel) Monaghan was unlucky not to get the first spot ... if I get it I'll be shocked and surprised and eager as anyone else."

Williams even played down his chase of Coote, saying he should have hauled down the Panthers flier earlier than he did.

"I should have had him on the 40 mate, I don't know what everyone is raving about," he said.

Disappointed Penrith coach Matt Elliott said his young team should use their error-riddled performance as a learning experience.

"You can't give a side that has as much strike (power) as Manly the amount of ball we gave so cheaply," Elliott said.

"If they rattle the ball out of you, well you just salute them, but we just surrendered the ball on too many early plays and they were patient and made us pay eventually."

Manly coach Des Hasler said a hand injury to Matai was not serious, while Elliott delivered the same prognosis on big forward Frank Pritchard despite the backrower struggling with a shin injury for most of the match.

Elliott said Blues centre Michael Jennings will be "sweet" for Origin II despite missing Saturday's match, while Sea Eagle Lyon said he "should be right" for the Sydney match if he is picked.

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