Preview
This is a massive match for both sides.
The Warriors (10th) and the Panthers (9th) are both currently four points out of the eight, with the winner of this fixture staying in touch with a finals position, while the loser will be forced to make up more ground.
New Zealand’s loss to Manly last time out ended a mini two-match winning streak for the Warriors, while the Panthers will enter this match on the back of a 16-8 win over the Sea Eagles last weekend.
The Warriors will lose Albert Vete (arm) and Nathaniel Roache (hamstring) for Friday’s game, although they have regained Issac Luke at hooker and Solomone Kata in the backline.
Penrith has added James Fisher-Harris to the bench and dropped Sitaleki Akauola to the reserves in their only change.
New Zealand will be out for revenge on the Panthers after the reverse fixture earlier in this season, which saw Penrith score the last 30 points in the match to overrun the Warriors 36-28.
It will be another close game this time around, although it’s hard to go past home ground advantage.
Warriors by 8.
Team Lists
Team Lists
| Fullback |
| Wing |
| Centre |
| Centre |
| Wing |
| Five-eighth |
| Halfback |
| Prop |
| Hooker |
| Prop |
| Second Row |
| Second Row |
| Lock |
| Interchange |
| Interchange |
| Interchange |
| Interchange |
Team Stats
Scoring Plays
| 4 | Tries | 6 |
| 3 | Conversions | 5 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Attack
| 170 | All Runs | 164 |
| 1,414 | All Run Metres | 1,545 |
| 6 | Line Breaks | 4 |
| 11 | Offloads | 5 |
Defense
| 535 | Kick Metres | 496 |
| 0 | 40/20 | 0 |
| 352 | Tackles | 298 |
| 30 | Missed Tackles | 24 |
Discipline
| 3 | Penalties Conceded | 4 |
| 9 | Errors | 9 |
| 0 | Sin Bin | 1 |
| 0 | Send Offs | 0 |
Player Stats
Top Point Scorer
 | Nathan Cleary | 22 |
| Solomone Kata | 8 | |
| Bodene Thompson | 4 | |
| Shaun Johnson | 4 | |
| Waqa Blake | 4 |
Top Goal Kicker
| Nathan Cleary | 5 |
| Shaun Johnson | 2 | |
| Issac Luke | 1 | |
| Sam Lisone | 0 | |
| Tyrone Peachey | 0 |
Top Try Scorer
| Nathan Cleary | 3 |
| Solomone Kata | 2 | |
| Bodene Thompson | 1 | |
| Waqa Blake | 1 | |
| Tyrone May | 1 |
Top Try Assists
| Nathan Cleary | 2 |
| Dylan Edwards | 1 | |
| Trent Merrin | 1 | |
| Shaun Johnson | 1 | |
| Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | 1 |
Top Run Metres
 | Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 180 |
| Solomone Kata | 160 | |
| Dylan Edwards | 157 | |
| Josh Mansour | 153 | |
| Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | 151 |
Top Linebreaks
 | Shaun Johnson | 2 |
| Solomone Kata | 2 | |
| Nathan Cleary | 2 | |
| Dylan Edwards | 1 | |
| Bodene Thompson | 1 |
Top Tackles
 | Simon Mannering | 53 |
| Bodene Thompson | 38 | |
| Bunty Afoa | 38 | |
| Issac Luke | 38 | |
| Mitch Rein | 37 |
Top Missed Tackles
| Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 5 |
| Bunty Afoa | 5 | |
| Issac Luke | 5 | |
| Waqa Blake | 3 | |
| Ben Matulino | 3 |
Top Tackle Breaks
 | Solomone Kata | 6 |
| Josh Mansour | 6 | |
| Nathan Cleary | 5 | |
| James Gavet | 4 | |
| Dylan Edwards | 3 |
Top Linebreak Assists
| Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 1 |
| Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | 1 | |
| Blake Ayshford | 1 | |
| Nathan Cleary | 1 | |
| Sam Lisone | 0 |
Top Kick Metres
| Nathan Cleary | 496 |
| Shaun Johnson | 418 | |
| Kieran Foran | 92 | |
| Issac Luke | 19 | |
| Ata Hingano | 5 |
Top Penalties
 | Corey Harawira-Naera | 2 |
| Ben Matulino | 1 | |
| Bunty Afoa | 1 | |
| Mitch Rein | 1 | |
| Simon Mannering | 1 |
Summary
Warriors are so frustrating to watch, I’m sure Vatuvei will be disappointed in the result. Farewell the beast and good luck in the future.