FULLTIME: WARRIORS 4 - 36 PANTHERS
80mins: Warriors look to get on the board once more but the pass to Kata was forward. Panthers will have the final say as they look to crack 40 points. They're keeping it alive, offloading before winning the penalty. They take the tap as Tomau charges. Egan goes over but he's held up as the hooter sounds!
76mins: WARRIORS TRY - MAUMALO: Warriors with a rare chance with the ball as Fusitu'a has a crack down the right wing. Green gets on the the outside of May, finds Kata and he draws in the last defender to send Maumalo over for the try. Finally, something to cheer about...not really.
74mins: PANTHERS TRY - HARAWIRA-NAERAl: Panthers right on the Warriors try line once again. Whare accelerates into contact and they're just five out. Merrin has a crack, offloads to Watene-Zelezniak and he fires it to a charging Harawira-Naera and he reaches to score the try.
70mins: PANTHERS TRY - LUAI: Luai gets it in the pocket, steps Beale, beats Gavet and puts the foot down to accelerate from a couple of other Warriors players to run in for his second try. He's been sensational. Warriors well and truly smashed here tonight.
68mins: Papali'i spins out of one tackle before RTS offloads to Sao to have a charge. Mannering offloads for Luke to grubber through but Watene-Zelezniak is there to tap it into touch.
66mins: Yeo busts the Warriors defence open and he's away! He links up with May before he's dragged down. They go right through Blake but his pass is intercepted by Luke.
66mins: Warriors looking to offload more now as Blair links up with Johnson. Gavet steps one and they're just five out before Green goes close but the Panthers keep him out and force the hand over.
64mins: Panthers up inside the Warriors half before they kick for Fusitu'a to return. Some relief for the Warriors as they're awarded the penalty. They just haven't had the ball.
62mins: PANTHERS TRY - KIKAU: Fisher-Harris spins out of one tackle and takes the Panthers up over halfway before Harawira-Naera makes a nice run down the right. Luai switches direction to May, he finds contact, offloads to Kikau and he steps inside for the try.
58mins: Panthers piling the pressure on now and they're just a metre out. They launch a wide ball to Crichton and he dives for the corner but the pass was forward. Penrith playing with real confidence.
56mins: PANTHERS TRY - BLAKE: Kikau slows the play down, beats the tackle of Hiku and offloads to Phillips and he's away! The winger's in acres of space, goes left to draw RTS before linking up with Blake on the inside and he goes in for the try.
54mins: Luke has a fast dart from dummy but he's well looked after. The shift right to RTS and he finds Hiku on his outside but he's dragged down. They now go left but there's nothing on and they're forced to kick.
52mins: Leota somehow gets the ball away as the Panthers chip away at the Warriors defence. Harawira-Naera makes one of his many promising runs but it's a loose carry and he knocks on.
50mins: Panthers playing hot potato on the fourth as Luai somehow gets the ball away for Phillips to have a crack. Luai puts the grubber through on the last but RTS is there to fall onto the loose ball. Johnson steps on and offloads to put Blair in space, he gives it to Hiku but his final pass to Fusitu'a can only find the sideline.
47mins: Harawira-Naera makes another strong run as the Panthers make their way up to halfway. Luai kicks late and RTS is well looked after on the return. Green throws the dummy and has the Warriors up to the 30m. Johnson fires the pass but it's behind everybody and goes into touch.
45mins: Warriors piling the pressure on and win another penalty and they tap. Satae has another run. They go wide, Blair shows a great touch to catch and release just as quickly to Fusitu'a! The winger looks certain to score in the corner but he's tackeld into touch.
43mins: Papali'i is tackled high and loses the ball! Ref calls it a penalty after it seemed as if he lost it before the hit. Rare bit of fortune for the Warriors. They're just five metres out as Blair goes close and they win the penalty.
41mins: Luke gets the second half underway. Warriors defence showing nice shape in the first set before May's kick is rushed and bounces into the hands of Luai! But he's tackled and it's a hand over.
HALFTIME: WARRIORS 0 - 12 PANTHERS
40mins: Leota takes it up from the restart. Hetherington breaks through the Warriors line! He's put the foot down and is up over the Warriors half before finding a support player. They switch right and the Warriors concede the penalty for being offside. Luai botches the easy shot at goal and it's halftime.
38mins: Kata smashes May but he does well to hang on. Whare almost goes through but is eventually dragged down. They put the grubber through and once again, RTS is caught in goal for the drop out. Warriors concede the penalty and Luai knocks over the easy goal.
36mins: Green steps one, he's in a bit of space and tries to find his support player but just can't quite link up as the ball travels forward along the groud. He fell awkwardly in the tackle but is back up.
34mins: Mannering and Blair combine to take the Warriors up over halfway before the switch direction for Kata to have a charge. Green puts the bomb up cross field and Phillips gets up to take it.
32mins: PANTHERS TRY - LUAI: Panthers are just five metres out from the try line, Luai gets the ball deep in the pocket, steps Satae, goes on the outside of Blair and he's in for the try! What gas. Penrith all over the Warriors right now.
30mins: Warriors go high with the restart and the Panthers forwards go to work up the middle. Warriors concede another penalty and the Panthers have a fresh set on the visitors' 30m.
28mins: PANTHERS TRY - PHILLIPS: Warriors defence holding nicely, but concede another penalty. Tamou has a crack and they're just a metre out. Luai gets it, beats one tackle and puts the grubber through for Phillips and the winger collects it on the bounce and goes over for the try.
26mins: Watene-Zelezniak fends one from the drop out and Fisher-Harris delivers a beautiful offload to Leota and he's tackled JUST short of the try line. Panthers try the grubber through to the left wing, comes to nothing but they get the penalty.
24mins: Merrin takes the hit up from the drop out. Panthers just 10 out and Watene-Zelezniak has a dart up the middle. Katoa kicks through from dummy and again, RTS is tackled to force the drop out.
22mins: Warriors can't do much with that set and Johnson kicks long for Watene-Zelezniak to again find contact. Panthers making good metrs up the middle before Luai's kick forces a line drop out.
20mins: Gavet makes another strong run, brushing off a couple. Johnson puts the kick through and Phillips does well on the return, beating one before being tackled. Tamou makes a strong run up the middle, followed by Merrin.
18mins: This time Watene-Zelezniak is smashed by Luke! He's had a rough go of it early on. Been a really forward-dominated tussle in the first 20 minutes.
16mins: Warriors undone by yet another forward pass as RTS tries to put Kata away but the ref calls them back. Watene-Zelezniak shows the hips and he's through! He's in space but Maumalo grabs him and puts him down forcefully!
14mins: Kikau proving a handful for the Warriors defence, beating a couple before almost putting Tamou through but he can't quite hang on. Strong run from Kikau.
12mins: Panthers putting it through the hands but can't find that final pass before they put the kick through for Green to return. Johnson kicks down field and Watene-Zelezniak is smashed by Paasi!
11mins: Gavet makes a strong charge from the drop out. Johson weaves and tries to find Hiku with the pass but it's an awkward one and he loses it. Warriors concede the penalty shortly after.
9mins: Warriors win the penalty and Luke goes quickly. Warriors just 10 out as Paasi has a surge. Crichton makes a great spot tackle to prevent the Warriors from going wide. Green puts the grubber through and forces the drop out.
7mins: Green throws the dummy and almost goes through. Johnson puts the bomb up and Phillips takes it nicely with Fusitu'a putting the pressure on. Warriors defence fronting once more, keeping the Panthers well inside their own half.
5mins: Luke concedes the penalty at the play of the ball and Penrith start just outside the Warriors 20m. They try and go left but some good Warriors defence forces the error. Promising set from the Panthers.
3mins: Hiku has a run down the right wing before the Warriors go back in field. Green decides to run on the last, finds Johnson and he puts Maumalo free down the left wing but the ref calls it forward.
1mins: Penrith go shallow with the kick-off and it's Paasi who takes the first hit up. Gavet and Mannering have a run each before Luke darts from dummy. Blair is CRUNCHED by a gang-tackle before Johnson kicks.
9:58pm: Excited to see Fusitu'a back in action after missing last week's game against the Sharks. Players making their way out now. Just moments away from kick-off.
9:45pm: Thank you for joining us tonight as the Warriors travel across the ditch to take on the Panthers! Here's hoping the refs have little to do as possible.
Kia ora and welcome to live updates of the New Zealand Warriors up against the Penrith Panthers at Pepper Stadium.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, (BE SURE TO REFRESH YOUR BROWSER), and all the action.
Commentary will start from around 9:45pm.
Lineups
Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 David Fusitu'a, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Isaiah Papali'i, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Adam Blair
Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Tevita Satae, 16 Ligi Sao, 17 Gerard Beale
Reserves: 18 Joseph Vuna, 20 Karl Lawton
Panthers: 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 2 Christian Crichton, 3 Waqa Blake, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Tyrone Phillips, 6 Tyrone May, 7 Jarome Luai, 8 Trent Merrin, 9 Sione Katoa, 10 James Tamou, 11 Viliame Kikau, 12 Isaah Yeo (c), 13 James Fisher-Harris
Interchange: 14 Wayde Egan, 15 Corey Harawira-Naera, 16 Jack Hetherington, 17 Moses Leota
Reserves: 18 Caleb Aekins, 19 Kaide Ellis
Match officials
Referees: Ben Cummins, Chris Sutton
Sideline Officials: Nick Beashel, Rickey McFarlane
Video Referees: Luke Patten, Jared Maxwell
Previous results
Played 39; Panthers 22 wins, Warriors 16 wins, 1 draw
Last meeting
Round 19 2017 - Warriors 22 Panthers 34
Head to head
Warriors $1.50 Panthers $2.45
Pre-match banter: Warriors forward Simon Mannering wary of understrength Panthers
Veteran forward Simon Mannering knows how tough the Panthers are in Penrith and admits the Warriors can't take them lightly on Friday night, even without their Origin stars.
The Warriors and Panthers are fourth and fifth respectively on the NRL ladder on 22 competition points each, and a loss could see either side fall into the bottom half of the top eight.
The Panthers have recent history on their side, winning five of their last six encounters against the Warriors and their previous five encounters in the Blue Mountains. Their most recent triumph was a famous 36-28 win last season, after they trailed by 22 points at the break.
But this time around, the Panthers are without three players on Origin duty - halves pairing Nathan Cleary and, James Maloney, along with Tyrone Peachy.
You would think that would give the Warriors an advantage, but not according to 31-year-old Mannering, who believes their opponents are even more dangerous without their Origin trio.
Veteran forward Simon Mannering knows how tough the Panthers are in Penrith and admits the Warriors can't take them lightly on Friday night, even without their Origin stars.
The Warriors and Panthers are fourth and fifth respectively on the NRL ladder on 22 competition points each, and a loss could see either side fall into the bottom half of the top eight.
The Panthers have recent history on their side, winning five of their last six encounters against the Warriors and their previous five encounters in the Blue Mountains. Their most recent triumph was a famous 36-28 win last season, after they trailed by 22 points at the break.
But this time around, the Panthers are without three players on Origin duty - halves pairing Nathan Cleary and, James Maloney, along with Tyrone Peachy.
You would think that would give the Warriors an advantage, but not according to 31-year-old Mannering, who believes their opponents are even more dangerous without their Origin trio.
"It's going to be a hard game, no matter what," the 291-game veteran says.
"I think it makes the Panthers more dangerous.
"They are already a side that love to play second-phase football with an offload and a lot of ad-lib.
"So with their halves playing Origin, it will give them [replacements Tyrone May and Jarome Luai] even more license to do so, and that's a harder team to defend than someone who is really structured."
The Warriors are at near full strength for the Round 17 clash, but will miss forwards Tohu Harris (knee) and Bunty Afoa (elbow) who are sidelined for at least a month with their respective injuries.
"It isn't ideal [losing Harris and Afoa], but you can't do anything about it," Mannering said.
"Those two guys have been a big part of our performances this year, and they will be missed.
"We had it throughout the year with many guys, and everyone that has come in to replace the injured guys have done an outstanding job, so I expect much the same this Friday."
The Warriors will be determined to end their Penrith hoodoo and also bounce back from last week's disappointing loss to the Sharks in Auckland.
"This weekend, we're just concentrating on us being better from last Friday – tidying up a few areas.
"No team likes back-to-back loses, so we have to take our best game over there.
"We've prepared really well, so there no reason why we can't win."
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