PANTHERS: 1.Tyrone MAY 2.Christian CRICHTON 3.Brent NADEN 4.Robert JENNINGS 5.Josh JAY 6.Jarrod BRACKENHOFER 7.Soni LUKE 8.Andy SAUNDERS 9.Sione KATOA 10.Oliver CLARK 11.Peter TIA TIA 12.Corey HARAWIRA 13.Brendan ATTWOOD
INTERCHANGE: 14. Jordan HALL, 15. Moses LEOTA, 16. James FISHER-HARRIS, 17. Josh TANGITAU, 20. Jack NELSON
WARRIORS: 1. Brad ABBEY 2. Ngataua HUKATAI 3. Ken MAUMALO 4. Solomone KATA 5. Metia LISATI 6. Mikaere BEATTIE 7. Mason LINO (C) 8. Sam LISONE (C) 9. Kurt ROBINSON 10. Kouma SAMSON 11. Marata NIUKORE 12. Adam TUIMAVAVE GERRARD 13. Jazz TEVAGA
INTERCHANGE: 14. Ofahiki OGDEN 15. Toafofoa SIPLEY 16. Iulio AFOA 17. Nathaniel ROACHE 18.Paul ULBERG
After 25 rounds of the NYC competition, both of these teams find themselves in a must win game situation to keep their seasons alive. Sunday afternoon sees the 8th placed Warriors go up against the 9th placed Panthers in a match that will decide the season for both teams. This ensures that this clash will be an exciting one, with each throwing everything they have at the other.
The Panthers will be aiming to bounce back once again from a disappointing loss which saw them squander a late second half lead for the second week in a row, this time against the Manly Sea Eagles. In contrast, the Warriors head into this one on the back of a solid 28-12 victory over the Gold Coast Titans.
Making the task even harder for the Panthers is the absence of a couple of their best performers this year, namely Waqa Blake and Chris Smith. Both of these players have been rewarded for their good form and will take part in the NSW Cup team as they start their finals campaign. However, as has been the case all year, the depth in Trent Barrett’s side is again on display with the coach being able to call on the calibre of players such as Tyrone May and Corey Harawira-Naera to fill the void. These players, as with the other youngsters in the team will be sure out to take their opportunity and earn a finals spot.
Leading the Warriors around the park will be halfback and Captain Mason Lino, who has been in the Warriors NYC team since 2012. His experience and ability to steer his team around with his kicking and passing game will be pivotal for the Warriors side in this one.
Another player that the Panthers will have to contain is Sam Lisone. This big front rower has played a mixture of NYC and NSW Cup this year and was recently named in the front row for the NYC Team of the Year, alongside Panthers front rower Andy Saunders. Their battle on the field will be one to watch in this one.
The Panthers will be looking to improve on their last performance against the Warriors where they went down 30-13 on the Warriors home turf. To help them reverse this result, the boys will need as many fans as possible at the game early to cheer them on and take full advantage of the home ground.
