LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Penrith Panthers have secured their third minor premiership in four years, setting their sights on becoming the first team since Parramatta in the early 1980s to win three consecutive titles.
According to a report by warriors.kiwi, the Panthers head into the finals series with an impressive display in their round 27 victory over the Cowboys, exuding confidence and self-belief.
Despite the absence of Jarome Luai, the premiers smoothly integrated replacement player Jack Cogger, maintaining their winning form.
In contrast, the NZ Warriors rested several key players and suffered a defeat against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium, disrupting their seven-game winning streak.
As they enter their first finals match in five years, the Warriors will be optimistic about causing an upset.
However, they must overcome a concerning trend of losing their last seven encounters against Penrith.
With the weight of history and a hostile BlueBet Stadium atmosphere working against them, Andrew Webster's team will need to summon great resilience to derail the dominant Panthers.