FULLTIME: WARRIORS 36 - 16 PANTHERS
80mins: Panthers not quite sure what to do with the ball as Mansour finally straightens up and takes contact. Cleary shapes to kick, doesn't, finds Campbell-Gillard and his offload can only find a Warriors player and that's full time! Warriors have booked their spot in the NRL finals!
78mins: Kikau showing good strength in the the tackle, somehow gets the offload away to Mansour, almost freeing him up but he's forced to fling the ball back in field and Gavet tidies up for the Warriors.
74mins: PANTHERS TRY - MERRIN: Panthers making good ground up the middle. Merrin goes quickly from dummy half and crashes over for another Panthers try.
72mins: Cleary does really well to hold the ball up before getting the kick away for Crichton to chase but Kata wins the race and dives on the loose ball for a line drop out.
70mins: PANTHERS TRY - BLAKE: Harawira-Naera makes a strong run, committing a number of a Warriors players. Panthers go right to Campbell-Gillard, puts the fend on, finds Blake and sends Tuivasa-Sheck packing before crashing over for the try
68mins: WARRIORS TRY - KATA: Warriors showing good hands, attacking down the left, Pulu offloads to Tevega, he finds Papalii, gives it to Kata and he steps inside one before crashing over for another Warriors try.
64mins: Maumalo does really well to pressure the Panthers into making a mistake where it looked like they might break. He rushed in defence to force Watene-Zelezniak to rush his pass to an unmarked Peachey.
62mins: Panthers imploding now as Egan is penalised at the play of the ball as Gavet looked to get up. Lino puts the step on before Tevaga draws another Warriors penalty and Johnson extends the lead with a penalty goal.
58mins: WARRIORS TRY - FUSITU'A: Johnson decides against kicking, shows the ball, steps into space and he's away! He backs himself down the right, tries going around Watene-Zelezniak but the Panthers' fullback does well to grab him and pull him towards the sideline, Johnson fires the offload back in field and Fusitu'a picks up to dot down for his hat-trick!
54mins: Space opens up for the Panthers on the right, but the Warriors do well to track back and force Peachey back in field. Cleary puts up the bomb, Watene-Zelezniak gets up to claim it but JUST can't find the try line in his reach.
52mins: Kikau makes a good run and the Warriors are penalised again for not letting him play it fast enough. Warriors defence holds up and get the ball back from Cleary's kick through.
50mins: Warriors again go with the short line drop out but this time it doesn't go the 10 and the Panthers get the penalty, and they tap. Cleary's well wrapped up but the Warriors are offside and concede another penalty.
46mins: Tamou looks to be away up the middle after skipping out of the tackle of Tevaga but we'll come back for obstruction and it's a penalty to the Warriors.
44mins: Afoa makes a strong carry from the kick-off. Warriors up over halfway, Johnson puts the kick up and it's taken in nicely by Watene-Zelezniak with the ball always diving on him and the Warriors concede the penalty.
42mins: WARRIORS TRY - FUSITU'A: Luke makes a nice run from dummy, Lino puts the kick up, comes back for the Warriors, Lino picks up, fires it wide to Johnson, Warriors put it through the hands before Fusitu'a's in in the corner for his second!
40mins: We're back underway and the Panthers make a couple of nice runs before Cleary kicks for Tuivasa-Sheck returns it up near halfway.
HALFTIME: WARRIORS 18 - 4 PANTHERS
40mins: Peachey goes quickly from dummy and makes good metres. Cleary puts the kick through for his chasers, but it's a good bounce for the Warriors and Lino cleans up. Ball comes for Cleary somehow! He beats several defenders before Kata finally makes the tackle and that's halftime.
38mins: Cleary kicks on just the second tackle, Tuivasa-Sheck takes it easily and runs into contact. Really poor decision and execution.
36mins: PANTHERS TRY - MANSOUR: Kikau makes a strong run down the left, holding several players in contact. Ball comes for Blake on the wing, puts the grubber through, gets a fortunate bounce off of Hiku's boot and Mansour dives on the loose ball to score the try. Panthers on the board.
34mins: Play is really scrappy at the moment at the play of the ball as the Warriors get away with what looked like a knock on. Johnson kicks down field and the Panthers are quickly up over halfway.
32mins: Cleary does well to create space on the left, finds Peachey on the right wing but his kick is easily cleaned up by the Warriors cover defence. Just in, Whare won't return after breaking his arm.
29mins: WARRIORS TRY - LINO: Mannering holds the ball up in contact, gets the offload away to Lino, he gets ride of Campbell-Gillard, puts the foot down and dives over for the try. Warriors on fire!
27mins: Johnson's put into space after beating the rush Panthers defence out wide, he gives it to Fusitu'a and he's away down the right wing! He puts the kick in field, but Cleary's back and dives on the loose ball. We'll come back for a penalty on Peachey for holding a Warriors player back.
25mins: WARRIORS TRY - FUSITU'A: Mannering finds Johnson on the wrap around, he gives it to Hiku, he finds Fusitu'a with plenty of space ahead and he dives in the corner for the try. Easy as you like.
23mins: Tuivasa-Sheck runs back Cleary's kick, he's hit hard by Campbell-Gillard and he knocks on in contact but the ref rules he was stripped. RTS lucky to get away with that.
21mins: Johnson now goes up the middle and almost goes straight through, before the Panthers are penalised at the play of the ball.
19mins: Cleary attacks the line and almost goes over for the try. They put the kick through, Blake wins the race but can't bring it in and he knocks it on into Tuivasa-Sheck for a Warriors scrum.
17mins: Panthers get a fresh set after Crichton's kick on the last is played at by Luke. They go left through Kikau, he runs over the top of one and the Panthers get another penalty.
15mins: Warriors put the kick up, Crichton goes up to claim it, knocks it on and Blair picks up to score. But we're going upstairs. No try. Kata pushed Cleary in the back and it's a Panthers penalty.
14mins: Johnson's drop out is perfect, Panthers tap it back their side but Cleary knocks on as he attempted to dive on the loose ball. Warriors scrum.
12mins: Warriors this time penalised, Blair the guilty party. Panthers on attack inside the Warriors 30m with a fresh set, Cleary puts the grubber through, RTS covers and it'll be a line drop out.
9mins: Johnson shapes to kick, spots space, decides to run, goes right to Harris. He gets the offload away before play comes right for Maumalo, but his kick hits Crichton on its way over the sideline.
7mins: WARRIORS TRY - PAASI: Campbell-Gillard lucky not to be penalised for not getting off Luke quick enough. Paasi's has a crack from dummy, shows the ball and dives over for the game's opening try. Too easy!
5mins: Panthers concede their third penalty in five minutes, this time at the play of the ball. They've yet to have a set. Warriors with all the possession.
3mins: Lino throws the dummy, puts the fend on and ALMOST goes straight through. Panthers penalised for an early tackle and Johnson slots the easy penalty goal.
1mins: We're underway and it's Cleary that kicks-off for the Panthers, taken in by Johnson, gives it to Paasi and he's met hard first up! Great contact. Early penalty for the Warriors.
8:00pm: Players making their way out of the sheds. Just moments away from kick-off. All to play for for the Warriors!
7:55pm: The Warriors are boosted by the return of Tohu Harris, who'll come off the bench tonight. He's been out since June.
7:50pm: Simple equation tonight for the Warriors. Win and book their spot in the NRL playoffs, or lose and go through another week of playing the waiting game with the Wests Tigers hot on their heels.
Kia ora and welcome to live updates of the New Zealand Warriors taking on the Penrith Panthers at Mt Smart Stadium in round 24 of the NRL.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, (BE SURE TO REFRESH YOUR BROWSER), and all the action.
Commentary will start from around 7:50pm.
Lineups
Warriors
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. David Fusitua 17. Peta Hiku 4. Solomone Kata 5. Ken Maumalo 6.Mason Lino 7. Shaun Johnson 8. James Gavet 9. Issac Luke 10. Agnatius Paasi 11. Isaiah Papalii 12. Adam Blair 13. Simon Mannering
14. Jazz Tevaga 15. Tohu Harris 16. Bunty Afoa 18. Leivaha Pulu 20. Anthony Gelling 21. Chris Satae
Panthers
1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Josh Mansour 3. Waqa Blake 4. Dean Whare 5. Christian Crichton 6. Tyrone Peachey 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Trent Merrin 9. Wayde Egan 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Isaah Yeo 13. James Fisher-Harris
14. Tyrone May 15.Moses Leota 16. Corey Harawira-Naera 17. James Tamou 18. Sione Katoa 19. Kaide Ellis
Match officials
Referees: Ashley Klein, Chris Sutton
Sideline Officials: Kasey Badger, Nick Beashel
Video Referees: Steve Chiddy, Luke Patten
Previous results
Played 40; Panthers 23 wins, Warriors 16 wins, 1 draw
Last meeting
Round 17 2018 – Panthers 36 Warriors 4
Head to head:
Warriors $1.67 Panthers $2.10
Pre-match banter: Tohu Harris ready to lead Warriors' finals charge
Warriors forward Tohu Harris is ready to help lead the Warriors playoff push, after overcoming two separate knee injuries.
Harris last played for the Warriors in their 18-15 loss to the Sharks in June, where he tore his meniscus in his right knee. He was set to return against the Dragons earlier this month, but suffered a left-knee injury during training and returned home for 'minor surgery'.
But the New Zealand international is fit again and has been named on the bench for Friday's crucial clash against the Penrith Panthers in Auckland.
- Gerard Beale likely to miss crucial Panthers clash
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Harris' experience will be vital if the Warriors are to qualify for the playoffs and make a deep run, as he was a part of last year’s championships-winning Melbourne Storm side.
The last two months have been about rehab and recovery for Harris, and now he's excited to get out on the field and play some footy.
"There's nothing I could do about it,” said Harris. “I just had to make sure I get it right before I come back.
"I just have to make sure my legs are as strong and stable as possible, have it as part of my weekly routine and get on with it.
"It is always hard to watch, not being out on the field competing with everyone. It has been tough at times, but I've had to focus on rehabbing and getting back as early as possible."
Victory over the Panthers would guarantee a first playoff appearance for seven years for the Warriors, while a loss could leave their fate resting on the result of a final-round showdown with Canberra.
But if the ninth-placed Wests Tigers lose to Manly on Thursday, that will hand the Kiwi club a ticket to the post-season.
They had a chance to qualify on last Sunday, but a late Lachlan Lewis field goal delayed the Warriors celebrations for another week at least.
"We can't control results,” said Harris. “We can only control how we turn up and I think that's been the most frustrating part - that we haven't turned up with the right attitude and right effort at certain times.
"Teams in this competition, if you give them an inch, they'll tear you apart, so we just have to make sure that we cross those T's and work hard."
Before getting injured, Harris had been one of the Warriors best, forming a lethal right-edge combination with Peta Hiku and David Fusitu'a on his outside.
Even though Harris has been named on the bench, coach Stephen Kearney isn't ruling out starting the 131-game veteran.
"We'll see what we think is going to best work for him and the team, but there could be an opportunity for T [Tohu] to start,” said Kearney. “We'll just how it pans out over the next couple of days.
"If it's a real arm wrestle, then that is quite taxing energy-wise, but Tohu is a pretty experienced campaigner.
"He hasn't played in seven weeks and it's a big physical team we're playing against, so he might need a spell at some point. I'll rely on T to give me that call."
The fifth-placed Panthers have won eight of their last 10 games against the Warriors.
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