Roar Guru
Warriors
18
84
Panthers
19
84 | J. Maloney | |||
P. Herbert | 79 | |||
78 | J. Maloney | |||
76 | B. Naden | |||
53 | J. Maloney | |||
51 | B. Naden | |||
D. Fusitu'a | 42 | |||
P. Herbert | 37 | |||
B. Afoa | 36 | |||
P. Herbert | 31 | |||
19 | J. Maloney | |||
18 | J. Tamou | |||
P. Hiku | 5 |
3 | Tries | 3 | ||
1 | Conversions | 3 | ||
2 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
0 | Field Goals | 1 |
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The penultimate match of Round 15 sees the New Zealand Warriors come up against the Penrith Panthers for the second time this season. Join The Roar from 2pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage.
The start of the season looked promising for The Warriors, yet they find themselves down in tenth heading into the round after some patchy form. They are however coming off the back of a four-point win over the Titans before the Origin break.
Penrith meanwhile were turning a corner winning their last four matches in a row before the Origin break. Including a pair of single point giant-killings against both The Roosters and The Rabbitohs. Those wins though saw Nathan Cleary feature heavily, who will miss this clash.
Last time these teams met was in round 10. It was also the last time Penrith lost, with the Warriors running away 30-10 victors at Panthers Stadium on that occasion, with young centre Patrick Herbert finishing with an impressive 7/7 kicking record and a try of his own.
Both sides have been forced into making changes. The Wariors will be without second rower Tohu Harris, who came off late in the win against The Titans, and will be replaced with Jazz Tevaga. Nathaniel Roache returns from injury and Leivaha Pulu joins the squad at the expense of Isaac Luke and Lachlan Burr.
Penrith will be without Nathan Cleary after he injured his ankle in NSW’s Origin win. Cleary has been cleared of syndesmosis damage, but he will still miss a few weeks. Cleary’s omission calls for a mini re-shuffle, with James Maloney moving from 5/8th to halfback, Jarome Luai coming into the 58th, and Hame Sele returning to the squad on the bench.
Prediction
Panthers are in form, but they are missing Cleary. Warriors are at home, but they are missing Harris. This is really tough to predict. A lot of Penrith’s success will depend on how Maloney has pulled up after Origin, and if he can play as well in the 7 as he has in the 6. Either way, it should be close.
Warriors by 4.
Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 2pm (AEST) and don’t forget to leave a comment below.
Game information
Where: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
When: Sunday, 30th June. 2:00pm (AEST) 4:00pm (NZST)
TV: Fox League, NRL Live Pass
NZ Warriors
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2 David Fusitu’a
3 Peta Hiku
4 Patrick Herbert
5 Ken Maumalo
6 Kodi Nikorima
7 Blake Green
8 Agnatius Paasi
9 Karl Lawton
10 Leeson Ah Mau
11 Adam Blair
12 Isaiah Papali’i
13 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange
14 Nathaniel
15 Bunty Afoa
16 Sam Lisone
17 Leivaha Pulu
Penrith Panthers
1 Dylan Edwards
2 Josh Mansour
3 Isaah Yeo
4 Brent Naden
5 Brian To’o
6 Jarome Luai
7 James Maloney
8 James Tamou
9 Mitchell Kenny
10 James Fisher-Harris
11 Viliame Kikau
12 Frank Winterstein
13 Liam Martin
Interchange
14 Wayde Egan
15 Reagan Campbell-Gillard
16 Moses Leota
17 Hame Sele
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