NRL Match Preview: Classic Friday night lights encounter

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Thu 6 Aug 2026, 06:12 PM

Buckle up for one of the games of the season when the Warriors and Panthers collide in front of a heaving Go Media Stadium crowd on Friday night.

The Panthers are within touching distance of a fourth minor premiership in seven years but the Warriors can close the gap to just two points if they can salute in Auckland.

The Warriors' only minor premiership came in 2002, when they went on to play in the grand final against the Roosters, losing 30-8 to Brad Fittler's men.

They have played in only one other grand final, in 2011, whereas the Panthers played in five straight deciders between 2020-24 before going out in the preliminary final last year.

When these two sides met in Round 13 they produced a classic contest that went down to the wire at CommBank Stadium, the Panthers leading 16-6 at the break before surviving a Warriors fightback to win 20-18.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Friday 7 Aug

8:00 am

Warriors

Panthers

Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland

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Team Lists Get Tickets

Team News

Warriors: Halfback Te Maire Martin picked up a hamstring strain at training on Wednesday and has been replaced in the starting side by Luke Metcalf, who will play his first NRL game since Round 5. Taine Tuaupiki has been named on the interchange bench as he looks to return from a foot injury that kept him out last week while Adam Pompey joins the bench in No.23. Demitric Vaimauga remains sidelined with a rib complaint that caused him to be a late withdrawal against the Titans. Morgan Gannon has been added to the interchange for just his second NRL appearance of the season.

Panthers: Blaize Talagi is back in the starting side with Jack Cogger staying in Sydney due to the impending birth of his child. Luron Patea has been added to the six-man bench. The loss of centre Casey McLean to a hand injury sees three-time premiership winner Izack Tago promoted to the starting side. That opens up a spot on the bench for Blaize Talagi to return after a week in NSW Cup.

Round 23 - Round 23 - Friday 7 Aug

8:00 am

Warriors

Panthers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Jaxen Edgar
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Panthers is number 3 Paul Alamoti
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Leka Halasima

Centre for Panthers is number 4 Izack Tago
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 19 Blaize Talagi
Halfback for Warriors is number 18 Luke Metcalf

Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Freddy Lussick
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett

Prop for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell

2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban

2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Billy Scott
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Morgan Gannon

Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Billy Phillips
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Taine Tuaupiki

Interchange for Panthers is number 18 Jack Cole
Interchange for Warriors is number 23 Adam Pompey

Interchange for Panthers is number 21 Luron Patea

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Riley Price

Reserve for Panthers is number 20 Jesse McLean

Morgan Gannon
Taine Tuaupiki

Blaize Talagi
Jesse McLean
Luron Patea

Te Maire Martin

Casey McLean
Jack Cogger

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated: 8/7/2026 1:46:04 AM

Stat Attack

The Warriors have not defeated the Panthers in Auckland since 2018.
The Panthers have won 11 of their last 12 games against the Warriors.
Warriors winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored 13 tries in 12 appearances in 2026.
Panthers prop Lindsay Smith will make his 100th NRL appearance.
The Warriors have conceded only 42 points in their last four games.

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