The Panthers clawed into the top 8 with an outstanding 28-18 win over the Warriors at Go Media Stadium, Auckland on Saturday.
In a high-octane encounter, the Panthers overcame the absence of their State of Origin contingent to score an emphatic victory over the in-form Warriors in New Zealand.
Scott Sorensen scored a crucial double for the Panthers, while big performances by Tom Jenkins, Blaize Talagi and Paul Alamoti were rewarded with tries.
Meeting premiership-winning hero James Fisher-Harris for the first time since his departure to the Warriors, the Panthers forward pack produced a monster display led by Moses Leota.
Highlights: Panthers v Warriors
The fiery contest ignited at kick-off, as Leota and Fisher-Harris catapulted into one another from the opening hit-up.
With each side aiming up in defence, try-scoring opportunities were few and far between.
A slick shift from right to left in the 16th minute saw the Panthers grab the opening try, as Blaize Talagi and Casey McLean crafted space for Tom Jenkins to slide over.
Left edge link to perfection
With Paul Alamoti unable to convert from the sideline, the Panthers lead was short-lived.
The Warriors hit the front in the 20th minute when a cross-field kick fell kindly for Jackson Ford next to the uprights, and Luke Metcalf converted for 6-4.
With the Warriors building momentum, the Panthers’ defence was put to the test – a string of crucial plays saw Daine Laurie deny Jacob Laban and Tom Jenkins thwart both Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Chanel Harris-Tavita, before Blaize Talagi claimed a short dropout.
Daine Laurie's desperate try-saver
The Panthers were duly rewarded for their efforts, as the visitors snatched the lead when Talagi unleashed Scott Sorensen late in the first half.
Sorensen surges to score
Another sideline conversion attempt was waved away, but the Panthers hit the sheds with a hard-fought 8-6 lead.
The Warriors struck first in the second half when Jacob Laban sliced through in the 47th minute, putting the hosts back ahead 12-8.
With the match sitting on a knife’s edge midway through the second half, three consecutive clutch plays propelled the Panthers to an unassailable lead.
Scott Sorensen stood tall in both stature and spirit to reclaim the lead for the Panthers in the 55th minute, soaring onto Brad Schneider’s cross-field kick to score next to the uprights. A routine conversion for Paul Alamoti made it 14-12 to the Panthers.
Soaring Sorensen snatches lead
Down by two but with wind in their sails, the Warriors set their sights on the Panthers try line and looked set to score before Tom Jenkins made a crucial intercept and set sail.
Jenkins makes match-defining intercept
The break put the Panthers on the front foot, inviting Blaize Talagi to burst through the backpedalling defence for an enormous try. With Alamoti adding the extras, the Panthers had victory in their sights at 20-12 with 15 minutes to play.
Blaize Talagi blitzes Warriors
Alamoti went on to seal the Warriors fate with a try of his own and two more goals.
The returning Panthers winger pounced on a bouncing Brad Schneider bomb to score the decisive try in the 69th minute, before converting from out wide and then kicking a penalty goal.
Alamoti seals it
Moala Graham-Taufa scored a late try for the Warriors, but it was mere consolation as the Panthers prevailed 28-18.
The Panthers will set their sights on a fourth consecutive victory in Round 17 when they host the ladder-leading Bulldogs in a CommBank Stadium blockbuster on Thursday 26 June.
