The Penrith Panthers have recorded a four-point victory over the New Zealand Warriors in very tough conditions at AMI Stadium in Christchurch, running away during the second half.
REPORT: PANTHERS BLOW AWAY WARRIORS
The Warriors would have the breeze behind them in the first half, and after suffering an early deficit made it count to take the lead into the halftime break.
Shaun Johnson controlled his kicking game well, while Solomone Kata provided plenty on the left edge in both attack and defence. Their hooker rotation of Jazz Tevaga and Isaac Luke was also fantastic.
From a Panthers point of view, Jamie Soward put in a complete 80-minute performance in terms of his kicking game. He controlled the Panthers all night, and managed to keep the Panthers either in the contest or in the lead.
Tyrone Peachey was in a perfect position to finish a couple of times on the left edge, and it showed on the scoresheet. Matt Moylan also added plenty of creativity, while Peter Wallace was good – particularly from hooker.
After the forwards were fairly even throughout the first half, Penrith – on the back of Trent Merrin, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Bryce Cartwright who injected himself into the game well managed to take over.
Leilani Latu also added plenty from the bench while James Segeyaro complemented the Soward and Moylan combination well.
The scoring opened in the fifth minute with a try to Solomone Kata after Shaun Johnson threw on a lovely little tap pass. Kata danced the defence, going right and left before finding a hole.
At the other end, with the Warriors under all sorts of pressure off a great Soward kick, Johnson had it in a tackle and tried to prevent a goal line drop out with a pass, but it hit the ground and Soward was able to dive on it and score.
It took eight minutes for the Panthers to extend their lead beyond 2 points after a penalty goal, with Tyrone Peachey being the next to score off a lovely executed play through Soward and Matt Moylan.
The Warriors hit back with a pair of tries. Jonathan Wright was the man with the second try after a long pass from Tuimoala Lolohea, with Shaun Johnson setting him up from inside.
Blake Ayshford then scored the last try of the first half after a great run from Shaun Johnson who stepped through the line, then passed to Bodene Thompson who threw on a wild ball for Ayshford.
The second half, as mentioned saw the Panthers take over but it wasn’t without ease. The Warriors were very strong early on but couldn’t convert it into points at any points with their execution lacking.
It would take 20 minutes for any scoring in the second half as the arm wrestle took over, with Tyrone Peachey crossing for his second try off a nice Matt Moylan pass.
Dallin Watene Zelezniak would then cross out on the right edge, flying outside the field of play to score in the corner.
Penrith would complete the deal with yet another try for Tyrone Peachey. The Warriors, only a converted try behind were on the attack, but a poor offload from Kata would see Zelezniak streak away 70 metres. They then quickly shifted to the left where Peachey would benefit from a Josh Mansour pass.
In the end, a great win for the Panthers at ‘home’, and they have two in a row for the first time this season, moving well inside the top eight.
Final Score
Penrith Panthers 30
New Zealand Warriors 18
The Penrith Panthers take a home game across the Tasman to AMI Stadium in Christchurch, with what shapes as a massively important match against the New Zealand Warriors. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 3pm (AEST).
Both sides come into this match – expected to be a sell-out – on the back of last start victories. Neither team would have been overly impressed with the nature those victories came in, but at this point in the season, sitting outside the top eight two points are two points.
For Penrith, it is their second home game in a row that isn’t at Pepper Stadium. They played the Canberra Raiders in Bathurst during Round 9 – which seems like an eternity ago thanks to the Representative Round – and managed to come away with a single-point victory.
Peter Wallace would kick a field goal in some rather controversial circumstances as a potential obstruction was eventually ignored by the bunker after the on-field referees had referred it.
The Warriors on the other hand, coming into a match against the St George Illawarra Dragons on the back of a 42-point flogging at the hands of the Melbourne Storm, had dropped a huge amount of players, and looked to be right up against it.
However, with debutants all over the park they managed to put in an inspired performance to take a 16-point victory – one that was unexpected at best.
Many of the Warriors youngsters stood up with lock John Palavi and young hooker Jazz Tevaga particularly impressive. Interestingly, only Ben Matulino and Bodene Thompson make their return out of the suspended six, while Tuimoala Lolohea and Thomas Leuluai also are back from injury. Jeff Robson, Matthew Allwood, Sione Lousi and Toafofoa Sipley all sit out.
Penrith have added Waqa Blake to their squad, with Suaia Matagi going to 18th man and Issah Yeo into the second row.
A very intriguing battle here is that of the hookers for each side. Isaac Luke had his best game of the season coming off the bench against the Dragons, and will do the same here – while James Segeyaro has the ability to flip a game on its head in a matter of minutes.
Kicking games, and control will also be important. Both of these teams can put points on in a hurry so prolonged pressure on the defence is important.
Prediction
The Warriors whole performance almost comes down to Shaun Johnson, although Isaac Luke provides a lot of the bench. If Jamie Soward gets his kicking game right though, the Panthers outmatch the Warriors across the park.
Panthers by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this important Round 10 match from 3pm (AEST) and don’t forget you can get involved by leaving a comment.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
The eye
Guest
It's nice that the Jamie Soward bandwaggon knockers can have the week off..
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2016 NRL season as the Penrith Panthers managed to record a victory over the New Zealand Warriors. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage this afternoon. Our attention now turns to the double header at Suncorp Stadium. It will be the Melbourne Storm taking on the North Queensland Cowboys from 5:30pm (AEST) - John Coomer will take you through that one, and then i'll be back from 7:55pm (AEST) as the Manly Sea Eagles take on the Brisbane Broncos. Be sure to follow The Roar for all the best NRL coverage this evening! Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match Results: The Penrith Panthers have recorded a four point victory over the New Zealand Warriors in very tough conditions at AMI Stadium in Christchurch, running away during the second half. The Warriors would have the breeze behind them in the first half, and after suffering an early deficit made it count to take the lead into the half time break. Shaun Johnson controlled his kicking game well, while Solomone Kata provided plenty on the left edge in both attack and defence. Their hooker rotation of Jazz Tevaga and Isaac Luke was also fantastic. From a Panthers point of view, Jamie Soward put in a complete 80 minute performance in terms of his kicking game. He controlled the Panthers all night, and managed to keep the Panthers either in the contest or in the lead. Tyrone Peachey was in a perfect position to finish a couple of times on the left edge, and it showed on the scoresheet. Matt Moylan also added plenty of creativity, while Peter Wallace was good - particularly from hooker. After the forwards were fairly even throughout the first half, Penrith - on the back of Trent Merrin, Regan Campbell Gillard and Bryce Cartwright who injected himself into the game well managed to take over. Leilani Latu also added plenty from the bench while James Segeyaro complemented the Soward and Moylan combination well. The scoring opened in the fifth minute with a try to Solomone Kata after Shaun Johnson threw on a lovely little tap pass. Kata danced the defence, going right and left before finding a hole. At the other end, with the Warriors under all sorts of pressure off a great Soward kick, Johnson had it in a tackle and tried to prevent a goal line drop out with a pass, but it hit the ground and Soward was able to dive on it and score. It took eight minutes for the Panthers to extend their lead beyond 2 points after a penalty goal, with Tyrone Peachey being the next to score off a lovely executed play through Soward and Matt Moylan. The Warriors have since hit back with a pair of tries. Jonathan Wright was the man with the second try after a long pass from Tuimoala Lolohea, with Shaun Johnson setting him up from inside. Blake Ayshford then scored the last try of the first half after a great run from Shaun Johnson who stepped through the line, then passes to Bodene Thompson who threw on a wild ball for Ayshford. The second half, as mentioned saw the Panthers take over but it wasn't without ease. The Warriors were very strong early on but couldn't convert it into points at any points with their execution lacking. It would take 20 minutes for any scoring in the second half as the arm wrestle took over, with Tyrone Peachey crossing for his second try off a nice Matt Moylan pass. Dallin Watene Zelezniak would then cross out on the right edge, flying outside the field of play to score in the corner. Penrith would complete the deal with yet another try for Tyrone Peachey. The Warriors, only a converted try behind were on the attack, but a poor offload from Kata would see Zelezniak streak away 70 metres. They then quickly shifted to the left where Peachey would benefit from a Josh Mansour pass. In the end, a great win for the Panthers at 'home', and they have two in a row for the first time this season, moving well inside the top eight. Final Score Penrith Panthers 30 New Zealand Warriors 18
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Cartwright almost seems better at 5/8th than in the forwards to me, his size sees him pigeon holed out of the position a lot.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Roar's NRL MVP 3 - Jamie Soward 2 - Trent Merrin 1 - Solomone Kata
Scott Pryde
Expert
STATS: Tries: Panthers (5), Warriors (3) Goals: Panthers (4/5), Warriors (3/3) Penalty Goals: Panthers (1/1), Warriors (0) Possession: Panthers (52%), Warriors (48%) Completions: Panthers (26/34), Warriors (23/32) Tackles: Panthers (317), Warriors (308) Missed Tackles: Panthers (23), Warriors (19) Penalties: Panthers (9), Warriors (7) Errors: Panthers (7), Warriors (9) All Runs: Panthers (160), Warriors (159) All Run Metres: Panthers (1382), Warriors (1315) Line Breaks: Panthers (5), Warriors (3) Offloads: Panthers (19), Warriors (8)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stats, MVP and report to come. Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME No time for a restart here in Christchurch. What a win for the Panthers. Penrith Panthers 30 New Zealand Warriors 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - The Warriors start this set - probably their last of the match from 20 short of halfway and immediately come to the left from Lolohea to Kata who makes a break. Now Lolohea out of dummy half to Wright who is tackled, and then they come backinto the middle from Leulali, out the back to Johnson and then a kick into the corner with the ball going dead off the hands of Thompson. Panthers 30 Warriors 18
Stu
Guest
Hasnt impacted the result. Panthers deserved victors.
Scott Pryde
Expert
79' - The Warriors now pick up a penalty with the ball coming lose. Panthers 30 Warriors 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - The Panthers come away through the middle from a short restart and Hiku has a run before a ball is turned inside for Cartwright. left they come as Soward runs it again, going away to Yeo who is held out there. Back int the middle and Mansour has a run before Soward runs on the last, turning it back in for Moylan who finds space and kicks for the corner where Wright gains possession and is cut down. Panthers 30 Warriors 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by JAMIE SOWARD Oh wow! What a kick from the sideline. Panthers 30 Warriors 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
Will agree with that. Not sure about all of the last 3, but certainly 1 or 2 of them.
263748
Guest
Wow
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Geeez Kata, that's a last minute of the game type offload.
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - TRY PANTHERS, TYRONE PEACHEY Short kick off here and the Warriors have got the ball back! Up the middle comes Lillyman. They continue up the middle before Leulali goes left for Kata who passes blind and Watene Zelezniak takes it with the ball going to ground, running 70 metres before Johnson pulls him down. Back into the middle come Penrith before they go left through Soward and then Yeo who offloads to Mansour, then a pass into the corner for Peachey and he scores a hatrick! Panthers 28 Warriors 18
Stu
Guest
Agree but last 3 have been poor.
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION MISSED by JAMIE SOWARD Panthers 24 Warriors 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
It's only 9-6 - not exactly an outrage.