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Warriors v Panthers: Egan back on deck; Origin stars rested
The Warriors have won seven of their past eight matches to sit comfortably in third spot but they will be wary of a Panthers side starting to find its mojo after a disastrous 1-5 start to the season.
The premiers have posted three wins and a draw in their past five matches to haul themselves from last on the ladder to ninth and breathing down the neck of the top eight.
Ivan Cleary's men still have four more weeks of the Origin period to navigate and they face the table-topping Bulldogs twice in the run home but they know what it takes to win big games and they look poised for a late rally.
A trip to Go Media to confront a hostile crowd and an in-form Warriors outfit provides the perfect litmus test for the four-time champions and it's one they'll have to tackle without their Origin stars due to the long flights and time it would take to get from Perth to Auckland.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Round 16 -
home Team
Warriors
4th Position
away Team
Panthers
8th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Team News
Warriors: The Warriors are 1-17 with no late changes. Centre Moala Graham-Taufa will play his first NRL game since Round 22 last year coming in for Kurt Capewell, who will be rested after Origin. Wayde Egan returns from a hip injury at hooker so Sam Healey moves to 18th man. Centres Rocco Berry (hamstring) and Ali Leiataua (ankle) remain sidelined.
Panthers: Luke Garner will start the game in the back row and Matt Eisenhuth goes to the bench in a late switch. The club's five NSW players will not back up on Saturday with coach Ivan Cleary citing the lack of flights from Perth to Auckland and the toll of travel for the decision. Blues' 19th man Lindsay Smith has been named in the starting side and is on track to play on Saturday. The resting of the Origin players will see Daine Laurie line up at fullback, Paul Alamoti come in on the wing, Brad Schneider at halfback and Isaiah Papali'i in the back row. Jack Cole is 18th man.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Round 16 -
home Team
Warriors
4th Position
away Team
Panthers
8th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Stat Attack
- The Warriors are chasing consecutive wins against the Panthers for the first time since 2011-12.
- The Panthers have not played in Auckland since Round 15, 2019.
- The Panthers have won eight of their past nine games against the Warriors.
- The Warriors have won four of their five games played in New Zealand this season.
- Warriors utility Te Maire Martin will play his 100th NRL game.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
