BlueBet Stadium will play host to Saturday's NRL game between Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors. The game kicks off at 4:00 pm with Penrith Panthers heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Penrith Panthers vs. New Zealand Warriors game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday September 9, 2023 at 4:00 pm

Where: BlueBet Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors Odds

Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors Preview

The Penrith Panthers are set to commence their Premiership defense in the 2023 Finals Series, and their first challenge awaits as they face the resurgent New Zealand Warriors at Bluebet Stadium on a Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers, boasting heavy favorites at odds of just 2.40 to clinch the title, are expected to be a formidable force. While the Warriors may put up a valiant fight, it’s likely that they will come to terms with the fact that they will be hosting a finals game in New Zealand next weekend.

I anticipate that the Panthers will maintain relentless pressure throughout the game, ultimately breaking it open towards the end and securing a victory by a margin of 13 points or more. However, the match is expected to kick off slowly, which may keep the total score under the 40.5 point game total.

Stephen Crichton, with five tries in his last five games, is poised to capitalize on the weaker side of the Warriors’ defense, making it highly probable that the Panthers’ center will cross the try line in this week’s encounter.

Key Statistics:

• The Panthers have triumphed in their last five games at Bluebet Stadium with a margin of 13 points or more.
• In the last six games played against top-8 teams, the match total has remained under 40.4 points when the Panthers were involved.
• In six of the last seven matches between the Panthers and Warriors, the game total stayed under the specified total points.
• The Warriors concede 41% of their tries on their left side.

Head to Head:

The Penrith Panthers have asserted dominance by winning their last seven encounters against the New Zealand Warriors. This includes an 18-6 victory in 2023 during the Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium. While the scoreline may not have been high-scoring, it was an exciting game for fans, featuring 15 linebreaks and strong goal-line defense.

Penrith Panthers Form:

The Panthers finished the 2023 home-and-away season on a high note, winning nine of their last 10 games. Their only setback was a surprising 18-32 loss to the Parramatta Eels, their 2022 Grand Final opponents. Remarkably, Penrith boasted the best defensive record in the competition, allowing an average of just 13 points against them in 2023 and 12.4 points when playing at home. They also led the league in attack, scoring 645 points throughout the season.

Penrith Panthers Team News:

The Panthers are expected to be at full strength, with the exception of five-eighth Jarome Luai.

New Zealand Warriors Form:

The Warriors entered the finals series on the back of a seven-game winning streak, a remarkable feat. Their key players were rested in the final round of the season, and they appear as formidable as any team in the NRL Finals Series. Additionally, they had won their last five games in Australia before the final round of the season, addressing a historical Achilles heel for the Kiwi club.

Interestingly, the Warriors average just under 10 points per game more in attack when playing away from home compared to their performances in New Zealand.

New Zealand Warriors Team News:

Warriors captain Tohu Harris is dealing with an injury concern heading into the first week of the finals, but he has been named to start at lock.

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