The Penrith Panthers have ended their two-game losing streak with an 18-6 victory over a determined New Zealand Warriors side to kickstart Super Saturday at Magic Round.
The Warriors crossed for the first try of the game inside the first 10 minutes of play. Following a penalty, they went close a play before after DWZ was taken metres short of the line. From the ensuing play, it was great ball-playing from Tohu Harris which saw Addin Fonua-Blake charge through a gaping hole and the Warriors led 6-0.
Penrith began to build some possession down the other end, despite some brutal Warriors defence which included a bone-crunching shot by Ed Kosi on Stephen Crichton. However, the Panthers continued to own possession and Dylan Edwards stepped his way through some would-be tacklers to score and get the score back level.
The match was turning into a big shot simulator with both sides turning on the explosiveness in defence which included Crichton getting retribution with a monster shot on Dylan Walker. However, Penrith began taking their momentum and was rewarded with their second try. Isaah Yeo and Cleary combined which allowed Edwards to draw in the Warriors defence and Brian To'o crossed out wide for a 12-6 lead. The rest of the first half left a lot to be desired with both sides trying and ultimately unsuccessful in finding the line. This left us with a narrow 12-6 half-time lead for the visitors.
The second half started in favour of the Panthers. Jackson Ford was pinned for a ‘hip-drop' tackle on Spencer Leniu and was quickly dispatched to the sin bin. Cleary didn't hesitate to elect to take a shot at goal and Penrith led 14-6. The rest of their attack in the sin-bin period can only be described as diabolical with the Panthers struggling for their attacking shape.
Much of the second half was what could've been for both sides. These sides had more scoring chances than a game of bowling and the execution was at a low level, but that's a testament to the way that both sides defended. It appeared that Penrith would ice the game after a brain explosion from young forward Demitric Sifakula who was determined to have struck Nathan Cleary and was sent to the sin-bin. However, the Warriors wouldn't give up without a fight and kept the Panthers at bay for a prolonged period.
The match was sealed right on full-time. A great offload from Cleary found Edwards who broke open before kicking to Hosking who was taken metres from the line. From the ensuing play, the rampaging Spencer Leniu crashed over to score the game-sealing try.