Saturday has three NRL matches with the second game for Round 10 being between Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors with the opening kick to commence at 7:30pm local time. The game is to be played at Centrebet Stadium with the favourite for the match being Penrith Panthers. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors.
WHERE AND WHEN: Centrebet Stadium, Saturday 18th May, 7:30pm
Preview:
The second match in Saturday’s triple header is the Panthers vs Warriors, kicking off at Centrebet Stadium at 7.30pm. Penrith will go into this game as slight favourites, after pulling off a big upset in last week’s win over Melbourne. The Warriors also looked good last week, but not good enough as they were unable to hold off the Dogs and bring home the points. While confidence will be high in the Penrith dressing room, they may struggle with two big matches in two weeks.
Teams:
Penrith Panthers:
Matt Moylan, Travis Robinson, Lewis Brown, Dean Whare, David Simmons, Isaac John, Luke Walsh, Nigel Plum, Kevin Kingston (c), Tim Grant, Sika Manu, Matt Robinson, Adam Docker. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Sam Anderson, Mose Masoe, Clint Newton
New Zealand Warriors:
Glen Fisiiahi, Bill Tupou, Ben Henry, Carlos Tuimavave, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Russell Packer, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (c), Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Ben Matulino, Jacob Lillyman, Elijah Taylor, Pita Godinet, Suaia Matagi
Mateo signs new Warriors NRL deal
Second-rower Feleti Mateo has signed a new three-year deal to stay with the Warriors until the end of the 2016 NRL season.
Mateo, 29, was off-contract at the end of the year and had attracted interest from other clubs.
But he says there is more he wants to achieve at the Warriors after joining at the start of the 2011 season.
“Making the move to this club has helped me to develop as a player and I know there’s a lot more room for improvement, too,” he said.
“I’ve also grown as a person since joining the club.”
Mateo said the fact that he and wife Michele were expecting their first child in September made the decision over his playing future a difficult one.
But he liked what coach Matt Elliott had put in place and he also wanted to help in developing the young talent coming through.
A two-time NRL All-Star, Mateo has played in all 61 matches since joining the Warriors, the only player at the club to do so.
On Saturday, when he runs out in the away clash with Penrith, he will bring up 150 career NRL appearances.
The last 92 of those have been in a row, going back to when he returned from injury late in Parramatta’s grand final season of 2009.
Mateo’s first season in Auckland brought a second grand final appearance, but it’s been difficult times for the Warriors since then.
As they prepare to face the Panthers, they sit second bottom with just two wins from nine matches.
Their past four defeats have come after giving up late leads, but Mateo said there was quiet confidence within the squad that their fortunes were about to turn.
“We’re playing good football, but it’s just having the polish on the end of some things and, the more we go along, the better we’re going to get at that,” he said.
“Obviously, our last 10 minutes have been a big factor and we’ve addressed that.”
Elliott described Mateo’s decision to stick with the Warriors as a significant statement.
“He’s a quality player and knows what we’re trying to achieve here.”
