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Panthers v Warriors: Luai, JFH back; Egan, Montoya, Aitken out

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While top spot on the Telstra Premiership ladder is already guaranteed for the Panthers, they’ll be eager to put on a good performance on Friday night ahead of being presented with the J.J. Giltinan Shield as minor premiers at BlueBet Stadium, while the Warriors are preparing to face a top-two side for the second week in a row.

Penrith made a statement in defeating the in-form Rabbitohs 26-22 last week and established an unassailable lead at the top of the table in the process, and will now need to find a balance over the next fortnight between keeping their powder dry for the finals and ensuring they remain in form for the arrival of sudden death footy.

Warriors coach Stacey Jones said as much as half of his team showed poor attitudes when the going got tough in last week’s 48-4 loss to the Cowboys, and he'll know they'll face a similar outcome this week if they don’t improve drastically.

Penrith were 40-6 winners the last time they met in round 15, and the Warriors have lost their last five meetings with the Panthers dating back to 2019.

The Rundown

Team news

Panthers: Liam Martin is a late withdrawal an hour before kick-off so Chris Smith comes into the starting side. J'maine Hopgood was added to the 17 on Thursday and Charlie Staines dropped out. Five-eighth Jarome Luai returns a week ahead of schedule from a knee injury and James Fisher-Harris is also back from suspension. Jaeman Salmon drops out of the squad and Matt Eisenhuth moves to the bench. Scott Sorensen will miss one more game due to a calf strain.

Warriors: A late change an hour before kick-off with hooker Wayde Egan dropping out due to injury. Freddy Lussick comes into the starting side and Taniela Otukolo joins the bench. Dunamis Lui has been promoted to start at lock and Bunty Afoa moves to the bench.

Adam Pompey came into the centres on Thursday in place of Marcelo Montoya, who has withdrawn due to injury. Euan Aitken will miss the game for personal reasons. Chanel Harris-Tavita returns from a knee injury and takes over at five-eighth from Daejarn Asi while Josh Curran moves into the second row in place of Jack Murchie (hip). Mate Ma’a Tonga forward Ben Murdoch-Masila has been named on the bench to return from the elbow injury that has kept him out since Round 14.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards
    Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
  • Winger for Panthers is number 2 Taylan May
    Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 
  • Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago
    Centre for Warriors is number 3 Viliami Vailea
  • Centre for Panthers is number 4 Stephen Crichton
    Centre for Warriors is number 18 Adam Pompey
  • Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o
    Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi
  • Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jarome Luai
    Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita 
  • Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Sean O'Sullivan
    Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson

Forwards

  • Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota
    Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake 
  • Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
    Hooker for Warriors is number 14 Freddy Lussick
  • Prop for Panthers is number 10 James Fisher-Harris
    Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tohu Harris
  • 2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Viliame Kikau
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Josh Curran
  • 2nd Row for Panthers is number 20 Chris Smith
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 16 Eliesa Katoa
  • Lock for Panthers is number 13 Isaah Yeo
    Lock for Warriors is number 15 Dunamis Lui

Interchange

  • Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Mitch Kenny
    Interchange for Warriors is number 13 Bunty Afoa
  • Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Matthew Eisenhuth
    Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Tom Ale
  • Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Spencer Leniu
    Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Ben Murdoch-Masila
  • Interchange for Panthers is number 19 J'maine Hopgood
    Interchange for Warriors is number 23 Taniela Otukolo

Reserves

  • Replacement for Panthers is number 18 Sunia Turuva
    Replacement for Warriors is number 24 Jackson Frei

Match Officials

  • Referee: Chris Butler
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
  • Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated:

Key match-up

Isaah Yeo v Tohu Harris: They will wear different jersey numbers, but on the field they are playing the same role. Yeo was as busy as ever in round 23, making 45 tackles to go with his 173 run metres, and his role for the Panthers has become even more important in the absence of Nathan Cleary. Since returning from an ACL injury in round 10 Harris has been a pillar of strength for the Warriors, and is on track to claim his third-straight Player of the Year gong at the club. With 60 receptions of the ball in his past two games, the veteran is the key organiser for his side alongside Shaun Johnson.

Stat Attack

It has been almost four months since the Warriors last won a match on Australian soil, with their only two wins since round 8 coming back at Mount Smart Stadium. This week they take on the NRL’s equal-best home team, with the Panthers having won nine of 11 games at BlueBet Stadium this season.

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