Panthers Secure Top Four Spot

The Penrith Panthers have capped off a brilliant regular season campaign by securing a top four spot with a dominant 22-6 victory over the New Zealand Warriors.

The win also means that the Warriors miss out on a top eight spot, with the Broncos finishing eighth due to a superior for and against to that of the Warriors.

Matt Moylan and Jamie Soward did the majority of the damage for the home side, who kicked out to an early lead thanks to a James Segeyaro try in the sixth minute. The lead was extended ten minutes later when Dallin Watene Zelezniak scored out wide.

The Panthers went into the break with a well deserved 16-0 lead after a further try to Matt Moylan just before the halftime whistle.

Knowing their season was on the line in the second half, most expected the Warriors to produce something special, and in the 42nd minute when winger Manu Vatuvei went 95 metres from a Jamie Soward kick to post the Warriors first points. Johnson added the two, which unfortunately for fans across the Tasman was the end of their scoring for the night, and season.

The second half continued to be a graft for both sides, until Jamie Soward iced the game with a 63rd minute penalty goal thanks to a ridiculous tackle from Ben Matulino.

DWZ wrapped up the game for the Panthers in the 73rd minute with a beautifully worked try after a kick from LU Man of The Match Matt Moylan.

The Panthers will travel to Allianz next weekend to face the table-topping Roosters, while for the Warriors, it's time to plan their Mad Monday celebrations. Although judging by their performance tonight, they may have had plans already.

Match Details
Penrith Panthers 22 New Zealand Warriors 6
Venue: Sportingbet Stadium
Crowd: 13551
Halftime Score: Penrith Panthers 16 New Zealand Warriors 0

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Matt Moylan
2 points - Jamie Soward
1 point - Dallin Watene Zelezniak

PENRITH PANTHERS (22)
Tries: James Segeyaro, Dallin Watene Zelezniak (2), Matt Moylan
Field Goals: Matt Moylan (0/1)
Conversions: Jamie Soward (2/4)
Penalty Goals: Jamie Soward (1/1)

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (6)
Tries: Manu Vatuvei
Field Goals:
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (1/1)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

LATE MAIL: Penrith Panthers - Brent Kite returns on the bench, replacing Kierran Moseley. Otherwise unchanged

LATE MAIL: NZ Warriors - One bench change which sees Sebastine Ikahihifo drops off out extended squad.

After 26 rounds, for the visiting Warriors it all comes down to the next 80 minutes. A win, or loss by less than three will see them qualify for the finals. A loss by three or four sees the Broncos finish 8th. A win for the Panthers means they finish fourth,a loss and they finish 6th

Results have gone the way of the Warriors so far this week, but it will all be in vein unless they can do their part. A win would cap off a massive season for the Panthers, and despite calls that they had an "easy draw" I believe a fourth place spot is well deserved.

UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Sam McKendry makes an unforced error.
Lost ball from the first tackle of the tackle. Big chance Warriors

2: Great defense from the home side. DWZ difuses the bomb

4: Much better set from the Panthers although the Warriors will start with good field position

4: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Nathan Friend makes an unforced error.
Friend throws a simple forward pass. Turning the ball over. Penrith with their first chance here

5: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
James Segeyaro makes an unforced error.
Forward pass from the Panthers number nine. Lazy stuff. Both hookers guilty of turning the ball over

6: Johnson puts up a towering bomb but Matt Moylan handled it very well. Panthers rucking it away from their own line.

6: Penalty Panther. MOYLAN'S AWAY

6: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by James Segeyaro. Kick to come.
Segeyaro goes over from dummy half after an amazing play from Matt Moylan who took a quick tap and made a break before finding Smith who was pulled down three metres out. First blood Panthers

7: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
6-0 ... right down the middle. Great try that

8: Live ladder: Panthers into fourth, Warriors out of the 8. This is that tight

9: Great set after the try. Warriors have it in their own half after a great kick from Soward

9: Possibly Try Warriors; they'll check everything tho. On field is try. Looked like a collision with a Panthers player who was trying to take a high kick

9: Mansour looks as though he was denied a shot at the contested ball.

9: NO TRY. Penalty Panthers. Mansour denied a shot

11: Scrappy last tackle play sees Tomkins end up with the ball from his own 10. Dangerous play from Penrith but it looked promising

12: DWE almost gathers a clever kick from Segeyaro but his knee is on the line. Decent start here from the Panthers

13: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Ben Henry makes an unforced error.
Henry loses the ball in the tackle. Chance Panthers

15: Sika Manu is over the line but held up by a group of Warriors

16: Laumapa bats the kick into touch as it looks like Mansour might score in the corner. Soward with a clever cross-field kick. Laumape had to play at that

16: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dallin Watene Zelezniak. Kick to come.
The Panthers shift it right and DWZ is in out wide. Beautiful play. Simply draw and pass and DWZ runs to the line untouched

17: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Soward pushes the kick wide. 10-0

18: False start as the ball falls off the tee. Strange

19: Penalty Warriors: Good set from the home side but they're in front of the kicker.

20: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Shaun Johnson makes an unforced error.
Johnson makes a break but passes it forward.

22: Warriors start from their own 20. Soward kicking the Panthers into good territory thus far

23: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Matt Robinson makes an unforced error.
Robinson drops a simple pass. Had a look before he caught the ball. Pressure off

24: Much better set from the Warriors but it ends in a 20 metre tap after a poor last tackle option

25: Soward with a clever kick and chase. Drop out. Well earned. Warriors holding on

27: Warriors survive. Good defense. Back to the 20 with a fresh set of 7

29: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Konrad Hurrell makes an unforced error.
Great shift from the Warriors but Hurrell can't drag it in. if he takes that pass, it's possibly try time. Warriors are well in this

29: Will Smith with ALMOST a 40/20. That missed by less than a few cms. Great kick

31: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Ben Henry makes an unforced error.
Warriors shifting the ball again but again ends with a drop ball.

32: Soward dictating field position with the boot again, Warriors away from their own line

33: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Matt Robinson makes an unforced error.
Robinson falls on a lose ball from Johnson but loses control. Warriors in good attacking space here

34: Brilliant defense from Mansour who bundles Laumape into touch.

35: Penalty Panthers. They'll attack from the 30

36: Drop out Warriors.. Well worked from Segeyaro

38: Video Ref: Possibly try to the Panthers through. Moylan. Looks the goods

38: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Matt Moylan. Kick to come.
T R Y!!!! Moylan in out wide.

39: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Ripper from the side line.

40: Halftime: The Warriors with it ALL to do after a huge first half by the home side

40: Although it's a handy lead for the Panthers, there have been bigger comebacks ... today. The Titans came from 18 down, the Warriors only have 14 to make up to make the finals (if Penrith dont score again) HUGE half of footy coming up

41: Mansour makes 26 metres from the kick return. Warriors need to find some grunt and soon

42: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Manu Vatuvei. Kick to come.
MANU VATUVEI GOES 95 METRES!!! Soward puts in a kick, but Vatuvei picks it up and bursts straight through. He wins the foot race against the two Penrith wingers. They're back in this

44: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Great kick from almost the sideline. Game on

45: This game has turned slightly. Moylan pinned in goal. Drop out. Kick was on the third. Brilliant play

46: Possibly Try Warriors: on field says NO TRY!!! May be held up. Mateo looked in but the defense may have held him up

46: No Try!!! Try saver from Idris. Brilliant defense.

47: Penalty Warriors: Penrith scramble and knock the ball down to a player in an off side position. Big chance here

47: Soward falls on the lose ball. Super read from Soward

49: Great run Brent Kite. Panthers on the attack

50: Penalty Warriors: too much work in the tackle. Warriors on the attack

52: Poor kick from the Warrior. Panthers back to the 20

52: Kite ANOTHER huge run

53: Some huge defense here from the Warriors. The Panther sound effects in full force after each tackle

55: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Dominique Peyroux makes an unforced error.
Peyroux knocks the ball on trying for a one on one strip. Risky play

56: Goal loan drop out. Nice kick and chase. Segeyaro with the kick. DWZ with the tackle

58: Great defense Warriors. Idris the wrecking ball hits the line but is well contained. Warriors from their own line

59: Penalty Panthers: Warriors inside the 10 from the kick. Good scramble. Warriors playing with far more intent now

60: Laumape with an amazing tackle from the grasp of Idris. Fair game this

60: Laumape down injured after a great take and run.

61: Lewis Brown reacts quickest and pounces on a loose ball. Bad last tackle option from the Warriors

62: Lewis Brown down injured. Not sure what happened there

62: Ohh swinging arm from Matulino ... Horrible that

63: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL PENRITH PANTHERS
Penalty goal attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Soward accepts the gift two points. That wasn't a smart tackle from Matulino. Every point counts tonight

64: Warriors start from their own 30 after a great take from Tomkins

65: IDRIS!!! Big hit! Ben Henry up slowly. Horrible kick goes dead after the big hit. Maybe he rattled the entire side?

66: DWZ great chase. Warriors pinned on their own line. Good set

67: The Warriors have 12 minutes plus change to save their season

68: Panthers and Broncos fans sitting pretty atm but if there's one side who can pile on the points quickly is the Warriors. They're grafting atm. Time to throw it around

69: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Jayson Bukuya makes an unforced error.
Bukuya loses the ball. Bad error from the back rower.

70: Tomkins and Idris colide and both are down. Idris looks in trouble, hip on head. Tomkins up thankfully. Penalty Warriors but the worry is with Idris here

70: Idris looks dazed. He's sitting up but he does not look great

70: Idris back in the line. Looked bad for a minute or two. He'll stay on the park

71: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Nathan Friend makes an unforced error.
knock on Friend. Good tackle from Segeyaro but Friend lose carry

72: BRILLIANT pick up Manu. Horrible pass from dummy half. Manu takes a ripper of a slips catch

73: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL PENRITH PANTHERS
Field goal attempt by Matt Moylan unsuccessful.
Moylan's attempted field goal is touches. Laumape runs it out, but is hammered into touch

73: Lewis Brown, great tackle. Laumape ends up in row three. Field goal here will ice it

73: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Dallin Watene Zelezniak. Kick to come.
TRY TIME!!! Moylan with the kick, DWZ wraps up a top four spot for the Panthers

74: Broncos fans cheer just as much as the Panthers fans. All but over now

75: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward unsuccessful.
Soward's kick goes wide

75: Short kick off taken by Moylan

76: Warriors shut down in attack. Going nowhere

77: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Thomas Leuluai makes an unforced error.
Forward pass. Bit better from the Warriors but the ball goes forward.

78: Broncos fans celebrating on social media. Panthers fans should be very proud tonight. Warriors, an up and down season ends with a down

78: The Warriors, Eels and Broncs had it all to play for this weekend and none could come up with the goods.

80: Drop out Warriors. Great kick from Soward.

80: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Lewis Brown makes an unforced error.
Knock on Brown, but this game is over. Panthers win. Warriors out. Broncos in