The Penrith Panthers delivered one of the most stirring performances of the NRL season, stunning the New Zealand Warriors 28-18 despite being heavily depleted by State of Origin absences.
Coach Ivan Cleary’s side entered the Round 16 clash without five key representatives—Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, and Liam Martin—yet produced a gritty and composed display to claim a shock win in Auckland.
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Amid rising calls to pause the NRL during the Origin window due to unfair team imbalances, the Panthers turned adversity into inspiration. Fielding a significantly understrength team, Cleary’s men bounced back from their earlier thrashing by the Knights, proving their depth and resilience.
Young playmaker Blaize Talagi was the breakout star, stepping up in the absence of Cleary to command the game with maturity beyond his years. The 20-year-old scored a brilliant solo try and assisted another, showcasing the potential Penrith hoped for when signing him from Parramatta. His performance alongside two-try hero and standout leader Scott Sorensen earned plaudits from both fans and pundits alike.
Coach Cleary, visibly emotional post-match, praised the character of his players.
“I’m just really proud of the group. The leadership was outstanding. Everyone stepped up,” he said. He acknowledged the previous Knights loss as a motivating factor: “That was the starting point. The boys had a point to prove—and they delivered.”
The result left Warriors coach Andrew Webster visibly frustrated, acknowledging his team had underperformed despite entering as favourites.
“The Panthers were very good, but we didn’t play our game tonight. We beat ourselves,” he lamented.
Adding to the Warriors’ woes were injuries to key players including Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (ankle), Marata Niukore (HIA), and Luke Metcalf (quad).
The win not only bolsters Penrith’s finals hopes but also renews debate over the fairness of continuing regular-season play during the Origin period. Still, Cleary emphasized the team will “finish where we deserve,” insisting they’re finding form just in time.
For Panthers fans, this could be the most satisfying win of the year—a gritty, courageous reminder of their club’s culture and depth, even without its biggest stars.
