The also-rans have shown how to beat Penrith Panthers. But who has the courage to try it?

In the past three weeks, Penrith’s also-ran opponents were either playing for their season or pride alone, and with tinkered tactics, troubled one of the best defensive systems in the history of the game.

Manly, captain Daly Cherry-Evans and coach Anthony Seibold pushed the boundaries in round 24, even if the infamous kicking duel proved pivotal and best left to another era.

“If you try and play an arm wrestle [game] against Penrith, they’re the best at it in the competition,” Seibold…