Sunday has two NRL matches with the second game for Round 23 is between New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers with the opening kick to commence at 4:00PM local time. The game is to be played at Mt Smart Stadium with the favourite for the match being New Zealand Warriors. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between New Zealand Warriors and Penrith Panthers.

WHERE AND WHEN: Mt Smart Stadium, Sunday, 18/08, 4:00PM

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Opening odds comparison:

New Zealand Warriors	1.15	1.16	1.15	1.16	1.15	1.16
Penrith Panthers	5.40	5.25	5.75	5.25	5.40	5.40

Preview:

The first Sunday game is between the Warriors and the Panthers, kicking off at 2.00pm at Mt Smart Stadium. The Warriors will go into this game as big favourites at home, currently sitting just two points off the eight and keen to burst their way through the illusive barrier. While Penrith are also a slim chance of making the finals in 13th position, even the players must be wondering if this is likely. The Warriors look too strong at home, and will be keen to shake off their 27-12 loss against Manly last
round.

Teams:

New Zealand Warriors:
Kevin Locke, Ngani Laumape, Dane Nielsen, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering, Elijah Taylor. Interchange: Suaia Matagi, Jacob Lillyman, Todd Lowrie, Dominique Peyroux, Jerome Ropati

Penrith Panthers:
Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Lewis Brown, Dean Whare, Dave Simmons, Isaac John, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston, Tim Grant, Clint Newton, Sika Manu, Ryan Simpkins. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Lachlan Coote, Jeremy Latimore, Mose Masoe

Cowboys crush Panthers 36-4

It was a win that kept their season alive, but in reality North Queensland’s 36-4 pummeling of Penrith will likely end up another frustrating reminder of what might have been for the Cowboys in 2013.

The Cowboys backed up last week’s impressive win over South Sydney with another convincing display, co-captain Johnathan Thurston at his mesmerising best with a hand in five of his side’s six tries.

Three of those four-pointers were scored by hooker Ray Thompson – the back-to-back victories coming in the wake of coach Neil Henry being told he is unwanted at the end of the season.

But he may yet have a farewell to remember, with the Cowboys now on 20 competition points, four points behind eighth-paced Canberra.

The Cowboys have a relatively friendly run home with three of their remaining four games in Townsville, but they would need a stack of results to go their way in what would be a Steven Bradbury-like charge should they make the top eight.

It looked like being a good night for the Panthers as they welcomed back Lachlan Coote for the first time since tearing his pectoral muscle in round two, while Sam McKendry also made his return from a broken neck against Parramatta in round seven.

But it was the Cowboys who started strongest with Antonio Winterstein doing well to crash over out wide, before Coote made an immediate impact with the pass to set up David Simmons’ reply.

A Brent Tate try off a Thurston long ball just before the halftime and winger Kyle Feldt’s first NRL try eight minutes after the restart sunk the home side.

Thompson scored his hat-trick in the space of 11 minutes starting just before the hour mark, Penrith having now lost four games in a row as they remain marooned on 20 competition points.