Sunday’s first NRL Round 16 match is between New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers with the opening kick to commence at 14:00 local time. The game is to be played at Mt Smart Stadium which see’s home team New Zealand Warriors hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers.

Where and when: 14:00 | Sunday 29/06/2014 @ Mt Smart Stadium

Preview:

The Warriors recorded their fifth win from their past seven matches with a 19 – 10 victory over the Broncos last weekend.

Coming off a bye, the Warriors started slowly and found themselves behind early as the Broncos clearly had the best of the first quarter of the game and it wasn’t until ten minutes before the break, that the Warriors registered their first points through replacement forward Ben Henry.

As the game entered the second half, the Warriors started to get the upper hand as the Broncos, who were missing some key personal and operating with a three man bench, starting to feel the pinch.

It wasn’t a dominate victory by the Warriors but one the probably would’ve let slipt earlier in the year and being over a top eight side, the win will give them a good deal of confidence for this match, the second of three consecutive home games.

The only change to last week’s winning team is Dane Nielsen replacing the suspended Ngani Laumape.

PANTHERS

Penrith recorded their fifth straight win with a hard fought victory over the Dragons in 14, 18 – 14, ironically off of the boot of former Dragon Jamie Soward who potted three goals from as many attempts.

The Panthers started well with Dean Whare scoring twice in the first twenty-five minutes of the match, giving the impression that the Panthers were headed for a comfortable victory but they couldn’t shake an improving Dragons side that scored five minutes either side of the break.

The Dragons blew another chance in the second half whilst the Panthers took theirs and held an eight point margin until the final minute of the match.

It was strong defensive effort by the Panthers who turned the Dragons away on numerous occasions however; the Warriors attack packs a lot more punch than that of the Dragons.

The Warriors will be only the second top eight side the Panthers have faced in the past six weeks and the first away from home since the Panthers lost to Parramatta back in round 4.

This will be a testing match for the Panthers and provide a yard stick on just how well they are travelling.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Pathers will hold no fears travelling to New Zealand, having won their past three matches against the Warriors, twice when playing at Mt. Smart Stadium however, in each of those victories, the Warriors were in poor form and losing games at much more regular rate than what they have been recently.

Warriors can turn the table here in what should be a great clash.

Tips: Warriors 1 – 12.

Penrith Winger Josh Mansour is the top try-scoring for the Panthers this year, bagging ten thus far and last time these two sides met, he claimed a double.

Teams:

WARRIORS: Sam Tomkins, David Fusitua, Konrad Hurrell, Dane Nielsen, Manu Vatuvei, Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman, Nathan Friend, Sam Rapira, Jayson Bukuya, Simon Mannering, Sebastine Ikahihifo. Interchange: Feleti Mateo, Suaia Matagi, Ben Henry, Charlie Gubb.

PANTHERS: Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Dean Whare, Isaah Yeo, Kevin Naiqama, Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace, Sam McKendry, James Segeyaro, Brent Kite, Sika Manu, Elijah Taylor, Adam Docker. Interchange: Tyrone Peachey, Jeremy Latimore, Nigel Plum, Lewis Brown, Bryce Cartwright.

News:

Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway has revealed his concern for close friend Liam Fulton after the forward sustained his fourth concussion of the season earlier this month.

Fulton was knocked out against Newcastle in round 12 following a tackle by David Fa’alogo and the club have ordered him to spend time on the sidelines until tests determine if there is a problem.

Last week the back-rower underwent brain scans and the results – which are due within the next few days – could determine whether he is able to continue his career.

Galloway said on Monday he’d urged Fulton to think about life away from the NRL after the latest incident and told him his long-term health outweighs anything that happens on the field.

“Health comes before footy and he’s got a young family and hopefully everything is good and he can play footy again,” Galloway said.

“He’s been here just walking around watching everyone and he’s still making jokes.

“Hopefully he gets the good news tomorrow or whenever the results come out.”

Fulton is renowned as the joker in the pack at the Tigers and earlier this season was spoken to by chief executive Grant Mayer after casually dismissing the long-term affects of dementia following the head injuries he’s sustained.

Galloway believes Fulton is aware of how serious his situation could be but said the 2005 premiership-winning forward doesn’t appear to be too concerned by the prospect of having to potentially end his 11-year career early.

“He’s a joker at the worst of times and if he does know the seriousness of it all he’s not letting it on,” Galloway said.

“He’s got a young daughter and a wife and people to look after so he knows his health has to be good.

“He’s one of my best mates at the club and I spoke to him after his fourth concussion and said ‘mate, just take a rest and see what’s going on’.

“Footy is important but your future is more important than keep getting head knocks.”

Galloway also backed the decision of club officials to stand Fulton down until they get the results of the scans.

“The club is putting his welfare first,” he said.

“If they didn’t then they’d be throwing him out there and not worrying about what he’d be like in the future.

“They’ve been good in that respect.”

Young Tigers star Curtis Sironen, who left the field following a knock to the head in the same game as Fulton at Hunter Stadium, said he understood how difficult it would be if the 29-year-old had to miss more of the season.

“It would be tough because he feels probably the same as he did last year and OK,” Sironen said.

“But the knock he copped against the Knights wasn’t very heavy.

“To be concussed from that is a bit scary. But he’s a veteran and knows his body better than anyone so I am sure he’ll know if there’s a problem.”