Both sides boosted by returning players for Magic match-up

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 6 May 2023, 08:43 AM

After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in two years, the Panthers will be eyeing a bounce back against a One New Zealand Warriors side also without a win in the past fortnight.

Penrith was on the wrong end of the upset of the season in round nine in a loss to the Wests Tigers, coming after a narrow loss to the Rabbitohs a week earlier which has left the defending premiers two wins back from the top of the ladder.

They face a One New Zealand Warriors side playing their third game in the space of 11 days which has seen them take the field in Melbourne and Auckland ahead of travelling to Brisbane.

Andrew Webster’s side fought all the way against the Roosters in round nine but failed to turn large periods of possession into points in a 0-14, with the impact of their high injury toll on display.

It has been four years since the Warriors tasted victory against the Panthers with Penrith boasting a six-game winning streak against the Kiwi side while Ivan Cleary’s men have won 11 of their last 12 at Suncorp Stadium.

Round 10 - Round 10 - Saturday 6 May

Full Time

Warriors

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Marcelo Montoya

Centre for Panthers is number 3 Tyrone Peachey
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Dylan Walker

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
Hooker for Warriors is number 18 Freddy Lussick

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty Afoa

Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Scott Sorensen
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Zac Hosking
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Soni Luke
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Josh Curran

Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Sifakula

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Jaeman Salmon
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale

Interchange for Panthers is number 21 Spencer Leniu

Reserves

Replacement for Warriors is number 20 Taine Tuaupiki

Replacement for Panthers is number 19 Luke Garner

Match Officials

Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 12/8/2023 1:10:50 AM

Team news

One New Zealand Warriors: There's some relief for Andrew Webster on the injury front with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (concussion) and Tohu Harris (knee) both named to make their returns against the premiers. Josh Curran drops back to the bench with Freddy Lussick moving to 18th man. The Warriors were unchanged on Friday's team update and are expected to run out as per programme. A special feature is bound to be the clash of the halves, in-form Shaun Johnson facing Penrith mastermind Nathan Cleary

Panthers: A massive boost for Ivan Cleary's men with James Fisher-Harris back up front in a swap for Matt Eisenhuth, who is out with a shoulder injury. Spencer Leniu is listed in the reserves after he was ruled out last week with a calf complaint and will be given every chance to play. He remained in the squad in the 24-hour update and could be a late inclusion to the side on game day.

Stat attack

One New Zealand Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has scored six tries in six games against the Panthers.
The Panthers have won their past six games against the One New Zealand Warriors.
The One New Zealand Warriors have won only one of their past six games at Suncorp Stadium.
Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored five tries in his past three games against the One New Zealand Warriors.
One New Zealand Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya will make his 100th NRL appearance.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.