While top spot on the Telstra Premiership ladder is already guaranteed for the Panthers, they’ll be eager to put on a good performance on Friday night ahead of being presented with the J.J. Giltinan Shield as minor premiers at BlueBet Stadium, while the Warriors are preparing to face a top-two side for the second week in a row.
Penrith made a statement in defeating the in-form Rabbitohs 26-22 last week and established an unassailable lead at the top of the table in the process, and will now need to find a balance over the next fortnight between keeping their powder dry for the finals and ensuring they remain in form for the arrival of sudden death footy.
Warriors coach Stacey Jones said as much as half of his team showed poor attitudes when the going got tough in last week’s 48-4 loss to the Cowboys, and he'll know they'll face a similar outcome this week if they don’t improve drastically.
Penrith were 40-6 winners the last time they met in round 15, and the Warriors have lost their last five meetings with the Panthers dating back to 2019.
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The Rundown
Team news
Panthers: Liam Martin is a late withdrawal an hour before kick-off so Chris Smith comes into the starting side. J'maine Hopgood was added to the 17 on Thursday and Charlie Staines dropped out. Five-eighth Jarome Luai returns a week ahead of schedule from a knee injury and James Fisher-Harris is also back from suspension. Jaeman Salmon drops out of the squad and Matt Eisenhuth moves to the bench. Scott Sorensen will miss one more game due to a calf strain.
Warriors: A late change an hour before kick-off with hooker Wayde Egan dropping out due to injury. Freddy Lussick comes into the starting side and Taniela Otukolo joins the bench. Dunamis Lui has been promoted to start at lock and Bunty Afoa moves to the bench.
Adam Pompey came into the centres on Thursday in place of Marcelo Montoya, who has withdrawn due to injury. Euan Aitken will miss the game for personal reasons. Chanel Harris-Tavita returns from a knee injury and takes over at five-eighth from Daejarn Asi while Josh Curran moves into the second row in place of Jack Murchie (hip). Mate Ma’a Tonga forward Ben Murdoch-Masila has been named on the bench to return from the elbow injury that has kept him out since Round 14.
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Key match-up
Isaah Yeo v Tohu Harris: They will wear different jersey numbers, but on the field they are playing the same role. Yeo was as busy as ever in round 23, making 45 tackles to go with his 173 run metres, and his role for the Panthers has become even more important in the absence of Nathan Cleary. Since returning from an ACL injury in round 10 Harris has been a pillar of strength for the Warriors, and is on track to claim his third-straight Player of the Year gong at the club. With 60 receptions of the ball in his past two games, the veteran is the key organiser for his side alongside Shaun Johnson.
Stat Attack
It has been almost four months since the Warriors last won a match on Australian soil, with their only two wins since round 8 coming back at Mount Smart Stadium. This week they take on the NRL’s equal-best home team, with the Panthers having won nine of 11 games at BlueBet Stadium this season.
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