Beating the highly-ranked St George Illawarra was cause for celebration last week but the One New Zealand Warriors have to do it all over again in their eighth-round Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) outing on Saturday.
They’re at North Harbour Stadium for the first time this season facing a formidable Penrith side sitting third on the ladder (10.00am kick-off).
After a tough re-entry to the competition, the Warriors have progressed steadily with improved displays against Newcastle and the Sea Eagles culminating in their impressive 28-22 win over the Dragons last week, their first success of the season.
They hung in well, going to halftime 10-6 ahead, falling behind 10-16 early in the second half but then surging into a 28-16 lead before holding on for victory.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Round 8 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Panthers
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Motu PasikalaFullback for Panthers is number 1 Jaxen Edgar
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Robin HerbertWinger for Panthers is number 2 Casey Mclean
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Nganaiaiafu VakeCentre for Panthers is number 3 Angelis Hotere-Papalii
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Salesi PiliuCentre for Panthers is number 4 Lachlan Blackburn
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Winger for Warriors is number 17 Phranklyn Mano-Le-MameaWinger for Panthers is number 5 Nick Murphy
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Cassius CowleyFive-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Joseph Nohra
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Caleb LaimanHalfback for Panthers is number 7 Blake Moore
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 rodney tuipulotuveaProp for Panthers is number 8 John Sagaga
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Jeriko Filipi-TalisauHooker for Panthers is number 9 Cooper Egan
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tobias CrosbyProp for Panthers is number 10 Ahmani Leilua
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Ieti Samuelu2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Francis Manuleleua
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Sialetili Faeamani2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Riley Wake
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Etuate FukofukaLock for Panthers is number 13 Billy Phillips
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Alvin Chong NeeInterchange for Panthers is number 14 Fletcher Haycock
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Kalani Peyroux-DonaldsonInterchange for Panthers is number 15 Jakeb Vailalo
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Ben PeniInterchange for Panthers is number 16 Hokafonu Lemoto
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Sefanaia Cowley-LupoInterchange for Panthers is number 17 Aston Warwick
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Mikaele ILAIUReplacement for Panthers is number 18 Jirah Liddiard
Last updated:
With winger Garry Tuilekutu scoring a hat-trick and hooker Makaia Tafua a double, the Warriors impressed in the grind, showing plenty of resilience in defence.
They had a decisive edge in key stats including more possession and a superior completion rate which translated into more metres made, more tackle breaks and a 10-4 advantage in line breaks.
Now the acid is on the players to back it up.
