Warriors tame Panthers
Kearney’s side impress in first win at Panthers Stadium for seven years
The Warriors’ season is back on track after an emphatic 30-10 win over the struggling Panthers.
There’s a long way to go in 2019 but the manner of this performance will warm hearts around Mt Smart way.
They were almost perfect on defence, repelling a staggering amount of Penrith pressure at their own end, and attacked with precision and power.
The Panthers didn’t help themselves, with their lack of confidence evident in a ton of errors, including some you probably won’t see again in the NRL this season.
It was a strong all-round performance from the Warriors, led by the men in the engine room.
Kodi Nikorima showed his value with another eye-catching display, while Blake Green had his best game of the season.
Penrith has always been a tough trip for the Warriors, who have had a bleak run at the foot of the Blue Mountains.
Not one of the Warriors 17 who took the field last night were present the last time the Auckland club tasted success at Panthers Stadium, in 2012.
It’s been mostly misery the past seven years: the 62-6 humiliation in 2013, the 22-6 loss in 2014 to miss the top eight on points differential and the damaging 36-4 thumping last year against the ‘Baby Panthers’.
Issac Luke was a late change for the Warriors, as Nathaniel Roache failed to recover from a back injury, while veteran Adam Blair missed the cut.
Penrith were desperate. One of the pre-season title favourites, they held a series of crisis meetings during the week, but to no avail, as the Warriors made an impressive start.
After defending their line for four consecutive sets, the visitors made the most of their first opportunity, with the mercurial Luke showing his value with a strong solo try.
They extended their lead on the following set, after a 50m burst from dummy half by Nikorima, underlining the value of his pace.
That stretched the Panthers, and Herbert powered over after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had held up the defensive line.
After a positive beginning, the Panthers looked in disarray, with 22 missed tackles in the first quarter alone, and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak dropped the ball cold with the line open, summing up their plight.
After going ahead, the Warriors then slightly lost their way. They forced their hand, pushed things, instead of earning the right to play.
Penrith still looked out of sorts, with a collision between two players as they tried to field a Green kick demonstrating their confusion.
The highlight of the night was Nikorima’s try in the 57th minute, as he dummied and stepped through for his first four-pointer in Warriors colours.
Peta Hiku left with a suspected concussion early in the final quarter, but it didn’t impact on the outcome, as the result was already sealed.
The Warriors had repelled more than 40 tackles before Liam Martin finally crossed in the 71st minute.
Agnatius Paasi had the final say, bulldozing over for his second try in two weeks, before Viliame Kikau’s late consolation for Penrith. Warriors 30 (Issac Luke, Patrick Herbert, Kodi Nikorima, Agnatius Paasi tries; Herbert 7 goals) Panthers 10 (Liam Martin, Viliame Kikau tries; Nathan Cleary goal) Halftime: 14-0.
● The Brisbane Broncos turned over the Sydney Roosters 15-10 at Suncorp Stadium last night. Like the Warriors, the victory was Brisbane’s fourth in 10 games this season and ended the Roosters’ eight-match winning run which included a 36-4 pummelling of the Broncos in round four. The defending NRL champions had been unbeaten since an opening-round loss to the Rabbitohs.