Round 24: Warriors v Panthers preview
Two teams with a point to prove look to get their premiership aspirations back on track
Losses to lowly opponents have seen both the Warriors and Panthers' premiership credentials scrutinised during the week and both will be determined to quickly bounce back as September approaches. Stephen Kearney's men found themselves in unfamiliar territory heading into last week's clash with the Bulldogs - they were being touted as genuine title contenders. Only a fortnight prior they had stood tall in defence to outlast the Dragons 18-12 and the week before they held the Knights to just one try, which was likely off a forward pass.
Their attacking brilliance had never been questioned. Rather it was their attitude and commitment in defence that had always held the Warriors back from fulfilling their true potential. Yet they had just built back-to-back win off the back of their defence, and it had experts tipping them as dark horses for the premiership. They should've known better then to tempt fate. Because, as they always do, the Warriors quickly re-established themselves as the competition's perennial underachievers.
They conceded 27 points against one of the worst attacking sides in the competition, 11 more than what they had let in their past two games combined. And the job is even tougher this week, with the Warriors forced to play without the calming influence of five-eighth Blake Green, who is out with a calf injury. Centre Gerard Beale may also join him on the sidelines, with Peta Hiku set to come in if he does succumb to his hamstring problem. It would be a big blow for the home side given that Hiku struggled defensively in his last game against Penrith and will need to contain the likes of Viliame Kikau and Waqa Blake on Penrith's left edge.
Green's absence is somewhat offset by the return of experienced forward Tohu Harris.
While the Warriors may be out of contention for a top four spot, a victory on Friday night will be crucial in securing the home ground advantage in the first week of finals.
A top four finish isn't out of reach for Cameron Ciraldo's Panthers though. And their interim coach is clearly not messing around either, dumping Sione Katoa to reserve grade after an ill-disciplined performance at hooker against Newcastle last week. He is replaced by Wayde Egan, who provided the Panthers with more go-forward out of dummy-half when he came on.
Ciraldo hasn't been afraid to switch up Penrith's backline either, after the mountain men struggled to post points against one of the worst defensive sides in the competition. Tyrone Peachey shifts from fullback to five-eighth after having trouble with his positioning. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak reverts back to the number one jersey, with Christian Crichton recalled on the wing. The focus for coach Ciraldo this week will be getting his side to focus on the basics after poor ball handling denied the Panthers any chance of victory last week.
He will also look for a more determined effort in defence given that finals football is won by what you do without the ball rather than with it. With Penrith's last three wins coming in miraculous circumstances, Ciraldo will be hoping for an 80-minute performance on Friday night. While the Panthers may be playing for a top four spot, they will also be looking to secure hosting rights in the first week of the finals. Otherwise, they are a genuine chance of finishing the season in eighth position off the back of three-straight losses. Hardly the form line that coach Ciraldo would be wanting heading into the pressure cooker that is September football.
Last Meeting: The second-string Panthers embarrassed the Warriors 36-4 at Panthers Stadium in Round 17 this year.
Who to watch: The battle of the halfbacks will decide this game. Without his regular halves partner, Johnson will need to provide the Warriors with direction and composure in attack. Green has 15 forced drop outs in 2018 and has added much-needed patience to the Warriors' attack. Johnson isn't the traditional playmaker that Green is, but with 15-game rookie Mason Lino beside him, he will need to adopt that role. Nathan Cleary hasn't been the same since returning from Origin. His combination with five-eighth James Maloney hasn't been seamless, with both struggling to grasp their specific roles in the team.
It's understandable given that both prefer to be the dominant playmaker. Now, without Maloney, Cleary has a chance to stand up. He will certainly need to improve on last week's effort. Penrith had numerous opportunities in Newcastle's red zone yet Cleary failed to provide them with any real creativity in attack. The injection of Peachey at five-eighth may offer this but Cleary only has to look back at his last effort against the Warriors for inspiration. The 20-year-old scored three tries off the back of his running game in the 34-22 win in New Zealand last year.
Favourite: The Warriors are backed to get revenge against the Panthers.
Tip: I simply cannot back either side with any confidence. Both are missing experience in the halves and will be equally desperate for the two points. It comes down to the battle of the halfbacks. And Cleary, despite his age, has proven himself to be more capable of stepping up in the big moments. Panthers by 7.
