With halfbacks Shaun Johnson and Nathan Cleary both sidelined by injury, the call to arms has gone out to their understudies for today's Magic Round clash between the One New Zealand Warriors and Penrith.
The loss of Cleary is certainly a blow for Penrith but the premiers have a knack of dealing with adversity and still finding a way to win games without their main man.
Currently sitting second on the ladder, the Panthers have manufactured three of their seven victories with Cleary out of the side and they'll need to manage without him for the next eight weeks after scans confirmed a grade two hamstring tear.
With Brad Schneider also injured the keys to the side will be handed to youngster Jack Cole in just his fourth NRL game.
The Warriors have lost four in a row since a draw against Manly in Round six and must turn things around quickly before their season slips away completely.
After downing the Dragons in the inaugural Magic Round in 2019 the Warriors have lost their past three matches at the festival of football so history isn't in their favour as they confront the defending champions.
It's a momentous day for winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who makes his 200th NRL appearance against his original club.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Round 11 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine TuaupikiFullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Panthers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam PompeyCentre for Panthers is number 18 Paul Alamoti
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jack Cole
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Jarome Luai
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-BlakeProp for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Panthers is number 9 Mitch Kenny
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Bunty AfoaProp for Panthers is number 15 Lindsay Smith
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Jackson Ford2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Luke Garner
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Mitchell Barnett2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
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Lock for Warriors is number 14 Dylan WalkerLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom AleInterchange for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jazz TevagaInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Matthew Eisenhuth
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jacob LabanInterchange for Panthers is number 20 Tyrone Peachey
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Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Paul RoacheInterchange for Panthers is number 22 Scott Sorensen
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Zyon Maiu'uReplacement for Panthers is number 17 Mavrik Geyer
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Team news
One New Zealand Warriors: The mass changes for Andrew Webster continued when the squad was trimmed to 19 players on Saturday with captain Tohu Harris (finger) ruled out and replaced by Dylan Walker at loose forward. Paul Roache is the new face on the interchange. With Shaun Johnson (pectoral), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) and Freddy Lussick (concussion protocols) all missing, Taine Tuaupiki joins the side at fullback, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad shifts to standoff and Te Maire Martin moves to halfback. A change in the centres with Ali Leiataua replacing Rocco Berry, who is set to miss two games with a fractured hand.
Panthers: Paul Alamoti is set to start in the centres after Taylan May was omitted on Saturday. Jarome Luai will take over at halfback in the absence of Nathan Cleary (hamstring) and youngster Jack Cole comes in at standoff. Izack Tago returns from a one-game suspension. Daine Laurie dropped out when the squad was cut to 19 players after originally being named on the bench. Scott Sorensen and Tyrone Peachey were the new additions to the interchange.
Stat attack
- The Warriors have lost their last five games at Suncorp Stadium.
- The Panthers have won their last eight games against the Warriors.
- The Warriors have lost their last three Magic Round games.
- Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored seven tries in his past five games against the Warriors.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will play his 200th NRL game.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
