The New Zealand Warriors host the Penrith Panthers at Mt Smart Stadium. Join us for live scores and commentary from 12.00pm AEST.
Both teams have had a miserable 2012 and there will be little other than pride (and match payments) to play for when 13th (Warriors) takes on 15th (Panthers). There’s more chance of Julian Assange getting a ticker tape parade down George St than there is of either of these teams making the semis.
Penrith could argue they have been in a rebuilding phase this season, though when coach Ivan Cleary signed on from the Warriors, his and the Penrith board’s expectations would surely have been higher than 15th place.
This will be Cleary’s first game back in Auckland since he walked from the club and he will doubtless be out to prove a point. The question is whether he can get his team go with him.
As losing grand finalists in 2011, the Warriors have no such excuses. New coach Brian McLennan is already coming under pressure to justify his position but he appears safe to start the 2013 season in charge. Injuries have played a part but that is no different to any club at this stage of the season and some home truths will surely have to be spelt out over the summer months.
The Warriors have slumped to five straight losses after being in finals contention at the beginning of July. That a total of 97 points have been conceded in their last two outings is more than mildly disturbing. A sixth straight loss would equal the Warriors’ worst run since 2007, a year where they amazingly still made the semis under Cleary.
In team news, Manu Vatuvei again captains the Warriors in Simon Mannering’s absence (high ankle sprain). The enigmatic winger will be looking for his first win as skipper. Impressive youngster Carlos Tuimavave gets a start at fullback to cover for the equally impressive, but slightly older, youngster Kevin Locke. He is also out with a high ankle sprain.
Lewis Brown lines up in the centres for the Warriors against the team he will play for next year, while Elijah Taylor returns after missing last week’s drubbing at the hands of the Cowboys due to personal reasons. Meanwhile, Pita Godinet has been included on a five-man bench.
For the Panthers, looking for only their second win at Mt Smart since 2005, Travis Robinson comes in for his first run-on start replacing the suspended Michael Jennings. Leeds-bound Mitch Achurch will play at the expense of Ryan Simpkins off the interchange bench, while injury prone forward Danny Galea is a late withdrawal, giving Adam Docker his debut in the top grade.
Will Cleary have enough tools in his box to motivate his underperforming troops on the road or will the Warriors frustrate their fans once again and put on a rugby league clinic just when everyone had put a line through them?
Find out from 12.00pm AEST as we cover the action with live scores and commentary. If you’re watching or following along, feel free to leave a comment in the space below.
QLD KIWI
Guest
My god, how much longer do i have to put up with this incompetent football team. Sort it out or you can forget anyone following you Warriors..........
Junior
Roar Guru
FULL TIME THOUGHTS: Panthers 18 Warriors 16 An ugly first half was followed by a lacklustre second half. Warriors were pipped in the end in a game that you can guarantee won't be talked about beyond tomorrow's papers. Penrith did enough, just enough, to get the points. Coach Cleary will be happy with that but not much else. Walsh and Coote, while far from outstanding, overshadowed the NZ halves pairing. The Panthers pack, a combination of hardened pros, players in their prime years and raw youngsters stood up in the second half and laid the platform for the backs to use the space. That said, the Warriors look a shadow of the 2012 vintage and despite leading for much of the match, rarely looked good. The less said about the game the better. Little wonder these teams are out of finals contention. That's it for today's action from Mt Smart (did he say action?). Hope you enjoyed our live blog and commentary. Be sure to flick over for more live NRL coverage on The Roar this afternoon and again tomorrow night.
Junior
Roar Guru
FULL TIME: Panthers 18 def Warriors 16 Coote drags down Maloney looking to shift it wide to Tupou. All over. Six straight losses for McClenna and the Warriors.
Junior
Roar Guru
80' Panthers 18 Warriors 16 Warriors rush to scrum and will get one more shot despite hooter having sounded. Panthers players will be livid if they concede here.
Junior
Roar Guru
80' Panthers 18 Warriors 16 NZ have one set to get it back. Here we go!
Junior
Roar Guru
78' Panthers 18 Warriors 16 Massive second half from the veteran Clint Newton. Terrific chrages pulling in two and three defenders each time. McKendry very good too.
Junior
Roar Guru
77' Panthers 18 Warriors 16 TRY PANTHERS: Travis the man goes in after McKendy ran over two defenders and charged downfield. Support player was dragged down. Walsh got the ball on the last, darted back to the blind where an overlap had been created. Kick successful.
Junior
Roar Guru
75' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Johnson finds touch professionally. Scrum Panthers 10m from their own line.
Junior
Roar Guru
73' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Travis Robinson loses the ball trying to stand up to play it. Travis is the brother of Reece (from the Raiders) by the way and has looked OK today.
Junior
Roar Guru
73' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Maloney pass ruled forward. Right call. Penrith scrum 40m out. Yet another chance for Penrith. Haven't been in front the whole game.
Junior
Roar Guru
72' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Luck back on for Warriors to add some defensive starch. Coach McClennan looking to ice the game and post his first victory in six weeks.
Junior
Roar Guru
71' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Line bust from Mateo! Yes, a line bust! Dragged down sure, but we got a line bust.
Junior
Roar Guru
70' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Knock on Penrith. Scrum Warriors. My keyboard needs a "knock on" button.
Junior
Roar Guru
68' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Maloney dives bravely on Walsh's grubber and stays in field of play despite pressure from Tim Grant. Warriors have to work it out again.
Junior
Roar Guru
67' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 [Insert name here] knock on for Warriors. Scrum Penrith.
Junior
Roar Guru
66' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Johnson's head strapped up like a mummy and back out there for the Warriors.
Junior
Roar Guru
66' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Lillyman knocks on. Scrum Panthers. Luck groggily back to his feet after latish hit from McKendry. Nothing in it, play on.
Junior
Roar Guru
65' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Again, Penrith look to get on roll but Walsh gets it, runs across the field and throws a forward pass to a teammate who knocks it on. Penrith running out of chances. Warriors bring it away. Game stopped for friendly fire blow from Packer to Johnson head.
Junior
Roar Guru
64' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Tuimavave knocks on. Turnover to Penrith.
Junior
Roar Guru
62' Warriors 16 Panthers 12 Strong runs by McKendry and Grant but Docker loses it and releases the pressure. A stronger team would have at least got to their kick there.