Warriors v Panthers: Taine train on track; Tago in for McLean
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.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Round 23 -
home Team
Warriors
3rd Position
away Team
Panthers
1st Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Warriors: No changes to Andrew Webster's starting side after an impressive win over the Titans. Fullback Taine Tuaupiki has been named on the interchange bench as he looks to return from a foot injury. Demitric Vaimauga remains sidelined with a rib complaint that caused him to be a late withdrawal last week against the Titans. Morgan Gannon joins the bench while Riley Price and Adam Pompey move to the reserves.
Panthers: 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.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Panthers is number 1 Jaxen Edgar
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakWinger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali LeiatauaCentre for Panthers is number 3 Paul Alamoti
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Leka HalasimaCentre for Panthers is number 4 Izack Tago
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jack Cogger
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire MartinHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde EganHooker for Panthers is number 9 Freddy Lussick
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell BarnettProp for Panthers is number 10 Lindsay Smith
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin ClarkLock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam HealeyInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Billy Scott
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-SmithInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Morgan GannonInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Liam Henry
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Billy Phillips
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Luke MetcalfInterchange for Panthers is number 18 Jack Cole
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Taine TuaupikiInterchange for Panthers is number 19 Blaize Talagi
Reserves
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Riley PriceReserve for Panthers is number 20 Jesse McLean
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Makaia TafuaReserve for Panthers is number 21 Luron Patea
-
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Adam PompeyReserve for Panthers is number 22 Kalani Leuluai-Going
Warriors Ins
- Makaia Tafua
- Morgan Gannon
- Taine Tuaupiki
Panthers Ins
- Blaize Talagi
- Jesse McLean
- Kalani Leuluai-Going
- Luron Patea
Warriors Outs
Panthers Ins
- Casey McLean
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
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.
