Friday’s NRL 2018 Round 24 match is between New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers. The opening kick is set to commence at 18:00 local time with the game to be played at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland. The away team Penrith Panthers are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers.
When: 18:00 | Friday 24/08/2018
Where: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Preview:
Both teams are coming into this match on the back of under par performances last week.
The Panthers, inparticular, look to have really lost a gear since the departure of coach Anthony Griffin along with the injury to James Maloney.
His experience and guidance is invaluable within this side.
Last week they were beaten in every facet of the game.
They need to approach this encounter with a great deal more energy and urgency.
They were frustrated and let that get to them last week resulting in a brawl at the end.
The Warriors will be desperate back at home and will be looking to gain some momentum going into the finals.
They’ll be focused no doubt with their defence as it was weak at best last week.
KEY BATTLE: Nathan Cleary v Shaun Johnson
I again put the spotlight on Cleary and Johnson.
They are the keys for their side.
This battle will be a beauty and hopefully they provide that.
The Verdict
I like the Warriors back at home but this will be a close one I feel.
New Zealand has a 27-22 (55.1 percent) record playing as a home team after travelling more than 2000kms since 2013.
Unibet Odds:
New Zealand at $1.66
Penrith at $2.25
Odds:
Tip: Penrith Panthers at $2.20
Value Tip: First Try Scorer: Josh Mansour at $13.00
More Info:
Teams:
New Zealand Warriors:
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. David Fusitua 3. Gerard Beale 4. Solomone Kata 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Mason Lino 7. Shaun Johnson 8. James Gavet 9. Issac Luke 10. Agnatius Paasi 11. Isaiah Papalii 12. Adam Blair 13. Simon Mannering 14. Jazz Tevaga 15. Tohu Harris 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Peta Hiku 18. Leivaha Pulu 20. Anthony Gelling 21. Chris Satae 22. Karl Lawton.
Penrith Panthers: 
1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Josh Mansour 3. Waqa Blake 4. Dean Whare 5. Christian Crichton 6. Tyrone Peachey 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Trent Merrin 9. Wayde Egan 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Isaah Yeo 13. James Fisher-Harris 14. Tyrone May 15. Moses Leota 16. Corey Harawira-Naera 17. James Tamou 18. Sione Katoa 19. Kaide Ellis 20. Adam Keighran 21. Liam Martin.
NRL News:
Penrith captain Isaah Yeo has backed interim coach Cameron Ciraldo’s decision to swing the axe over his underperforming side just three weeks into his tenure.
Ciraldo has made four changes to the team upset by Newcastle last week, headlined by handing rookie hooker Wayde Egan his first NRL start to take on the Warriors on Friday.
The Tyrone Peachey experiment at fullback has seemingly ended, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak shifted back to the role and Christian Crichton getting a recall on the wing.
Peachey will instead play five-eighth, resulting in Tyrone May moving back to the bench.
“He came out of the press conference (last week) and said there’s going to be changes because what we’re doing isn’t working,” Yeo said on Wednesday.
“They’re the changes he thought would help the side. We’ll find out Friday night if that works or not. He obviously thought they needed to be made.
“We trust him and support him, he’s got the full backing of the players.”
Egan has made 10 appearances for the Panthers since making his debut in round four, however all of them have been off the bench.
Yeo believes the 21-year-old poses a different threat to axed rake Sione Katoa.
“Obviously he’s a little bit different. He’s more of a runner. That’s just what Cameron thought we needed at the moment,” Yeo said of Egan.
“He’s pretty cluey around there. I’m sure he’ll be tested out in defence for that 80 minutes and we’ll see how he goes there. But I think he’ll do a wonderful job.”
A win against the Warriors would keep the Panthers in the hunt for a top-four finish, while a loss could leave them vulnerable to a seventh or eighth-placed finish.
