Penrith ended the One New Zealand Warriors’ finals hopes scoring three tries in an 11-minute burst en route to a 24-12 win in Saturday’s New South Wales Cup elimination playoff at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.
With a triple strike from Daine Laurie (51 minutes), Jesse McLean (57 minutes) and Casey McLean (61 minutes) the Panthers broke free from a tense arm wrestle to take what proved to be an unassailable 24-6 lead.
While there was still plenty of time left the Warriors couldn’t find a way back quickly enough to give themselves a glimmer of hope.
Second rower Jacob Laban scored in the 75th minute but by then it was too late.
Penrith dominated possession and field position in the first half opening the scoring in just the fourth minute though left winger Asu Kepaoa before doubling their lead when right winger Jesse McLean went over in the 28th minute.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Warriors
4th Position
away Team
Panthers
5th Position
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Neither try was converted, the Warriors playing tough and holding firm to restrict the score to 8-0 at the break.
And just six minutes into the second half they were right in it when Ali Leiataua gathered a nicely weighted Luke Hanson grubber to score wide out with Taine Tuaupiki converting superbly to leave the Warriors just 6-8 adrift.
Having grabbed the momentum they couldn’t hold onto it, immediately conceding possession from the restart, an error they couldn’t defend as the light-stepping Laurie left them clutching when he scored near the posts.
It opened the door and the Panthers didn’t need a second invitation as the McLeans benefited to enable Penrith to seize the day and end the Warriors’ solid season on a disappointing note.
They weren’t helped on the injury front losing inspirational captain Kalani Going with what looked like a pectoral injury in the first half and also having Laban and hard-running prop Zyon Maiu’u forced off the field after head knocks within a matter of minutes early in the second half.
