LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The New Zealand Warriors faced elimination from their season after a loss to the Penrith Panthers in Auckland on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers, who have claimed the championship title four years in a row, displayed their prowess in a tough match against the Warriors, ultimately widening their lead by scoring late tries.
Leading the charge for Penrith was Nathan Cleary, whose exceptional kicking and overall gameplay controlled the match. He received strong support from Blaize Talagi while the back five consistently generated significant yardage. Isaiah Papali'l also shone off the bench, earning high praise as one of the standout performers.
For the Warriors, Leka Halasima was a top performer despite committing errors toward the end. These mistakes marred what could have been an even more impressive showing. Teammates Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Jackson Ford, who excelled in tackles, also contributed strongly, but the overall performance was inconsistent, with many players having subdued outings.
Warriors Player Ratings:
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad - 8
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - 6
Adam Pompey - 5.5
Leka Halasima - 8
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - 7
Chanel Harris-Tavita - 5
Tanah Boyd - 6
James Fisher-Harris - 6.5
Wayde Egan - 6
Jackson Ford - 8
Kurt Capewell - 5.5
Marata Niukore - 6
Erin Clark - 7
Te Maire Martin - 6
Demitric Vaimauga - 5
Tanner Stowers-Smith - 5
Samuel Healey - 5
Panthers Player Ratings:
Dylan Edwards - 7
Paul Alamoti - 8
Izack Tago - 7
Casey McLean - 7
Brian To'o - 8.5
Blaize Talagi - 7.5
Nathan Cleary - 9
Moses Leota - 6.5
Brad Schneider - 6
Lindsay Smith - 7
Scott Sorensen - 6
Liam Martin - 6.5
Isaah Yeo - 8
Luke Sommerton - 5
Liam Henry - 6
Isaiah Papalii - 8.5
Luke Garner - 6