Mateo back to take on Panthers

The Warriors have made just one change to their team for a must-win match against the Panthers which could see the Auckland-based club in the finals for the first time since 2011.

The change sees forward Feleti Mateo, who was last week relegated to reserve grade, return to make up an extended bench for the match to be held at Penrith on Sunday.

Five of the team – Nathan Friend, Sam Tomkins, captain Simon Mannering, Jacob Lillyman and Suaia Matagi – are also poised to finish the NRL regular season having played in every match.

The Warriors go into the last round in ninth position with a win over the Panthers enough to secure a spot in the top eight. The Ivan Cleary-coached Panthers come into the round in fourth, having already secured a playoffs berth.

The Warriors will be looking to continue the form that saw them beat the Titans 42-0 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, on Sunday, and hoping to steer well away from poor performances which had dogged them for the three weeks prior.

Coach Andrew McFadden was particularly pleased with his side’s dominant forward performance against the Titans and will be looking for similar against the Panthers.

McFadden said Mateo, who has been criticised for being hot and cold with form, was included after he impressed in the reserve grade game against the North Sydney Bears on Sunday.

‘‘He really made a statement there, and that’s what he needed to do. He went back, he took it in the right way and he performed. So he’s certainly someone we can use on the weekend,’’ McFadden said.

HOW THEY LINE UP

Sam Tomkins, Ngani Laumape, Konrad Hurrell, Dominique Peyroux, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Ben Henry, Simon Mannering (c), Sione Lousi. Interchange: Sam Rapira, Suaia Matagi, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Jayson Bukuya, Feleti Mateo.