Dominic BrockUpdated August 7, 2026 — 6:46pm,first published 5:31pmYour say: Warriors or Panthers?By Latest Posts6.46pmWatch: Halasima’s monster runBy 6.45pmWatch: Metcalf scores the Warriors’ secondBy 6.44pmWatch: Erin Clark’s opening tryBy 6.42pmPotential massive injury blow for Penrith with Yeo sidelinedBy This game is now adding injury to insult for Penrith, with captain Isaah Yeo heading up to the sheds. The workhorse lock seems to have a potential pec injury, which could be terrible news for the Panthers’ premiership chances.Warriors 18, Panthers 0 after 35 minutes6.39pmTRY: Two sensational Halasima runs set up Warriors’ thirdBy A monstrous run from Leka Halasima in his own half – shrugging off Isaah Yeo, splitting through two defenders, then bumping off Nathan Cleary and charging upfield before eventually being dragged down – gets the Warriors on the attack out of nowhere.The hosts send it left to Halasima again, and he slides around Billy Phillips, holds off Cleary and throws a great left-arm offload back to his inside for Chanel Harris-Tavita to score.What a couple of plays from a terrific player. Luke Metcalf converts from out wide on the left and the Panthers trail 18-0 for the first time this season.Warriors 18, Panthers 0 after 32 minutes6.32pmAlamoti sin-binned as pressure mounts on PenrithBy Drama for Penrith now as Paul Alamoti is called over by referee Gerard Sutton for making a lifting tackle and the Panthers centre is sent to the sin bin. It’s a bit of a tough call – Alamoti has gone low in a tackle on Leka Halasima, who threw a late pass with both feet off the ground and tipped over the top of Alamoti. The play was actually allowed to continue when the tackle happened, and the game continued for two more tackles afterwards, but the bunker alerted Sutton to the incident and made the sin bin call.But the home fans aren’t complaining as their team launches into Penrith territory again, then earns a repeat set – but the play fizzles out when Chanel Harris-Tavita knocks on after being pressured out wide by a rushing Brian To’o.Warriors 12, Panthers 0 after 25 minutes6.25pmFierce Warriors dominating earlyBy The Warriors have completed their first 10 sets, are really pressuring the Panthers in defence and have enjoyed a little more than 60% of possession in the early part of this game.But now their perfect start comes to an end – Leka Halasima fumbling a play-the-ball inside his own half to give Penrith the ball in a dangerous position. The Panthers earn a six-again, then another, for ruck infringements, but then Liam Martin drops a Nathan Cleary pass and the Warriors come away with it again.The hosts quickly go down the other end and Halasima pulls of an incredible one-handed catch from a bomb before being tackle a couple of metres short of the Penrith try line on the last tackle. Then some savage, swarming Warriors defence keeps the Panthers inside their own 15 metres after four tackles. The premiership favourites are really on the back foot so far tonight.Warriors 12, Panthers 0 after 20 minutes6.18pmTRY: Metcalf scores classy try in Warriors returnBy Luke Metcalf has had a strange career of late – after last year’s breakout season he dropped behind Tanah Boyd and then Te Maire Martin in the pecking order, before being recruited by the Dragons for next season.But now he’s back and showing he’s still a quality player, setting up and scoring the Warriors’ second try. The halfback pops a well-timed (and very flat) pass to Kurt Capewell who breezes through a gap in the Penrith defence, and the second-rower returns the favour with a pass inside to Metcalf who scores beside the posts.Warriors 12, Panthers 0 after 13 minutesLuke Metcalf scores for the Warriors against Penrith.Getty Images6.10pmTRY: Clark scores to cap Warriors’ super startBy It’s been all Warriors in these early stages, and after a set restart the home side scores through a terrific solo run from lock Erin Clark, who beats one defender with a right-foot step then holds off another couple to score.Luke Metcalf converts and the Kiwis have made a dream start.Warriors 6, Panthers 0 after six minutesErin Clark celebrates the Warriors’ opening try.Getty Images6.07pmKick-off timeBy And we’re off. Referee Gerard Sutton blows the whistle and the Warriors kick off – and there’s almost a disaster for Penrith who allow the ball to bounce perilously close to the sideline. They regain the ball just in time before the Warriors defence swarms, but it saps any momentum out of their opening set and they barely get beyond the 20-metre line before Nathan Cleary’s clearing kick.The Warriors have a strong first set with the packed crowd behind them, and they gain another set when Wayde Egan’s loose offload is knocked on by a Penrith defender.There’s a scare for Penrith when Luke Metcalf’s last-tackle bomb finds the turf, the Warriors regaining possession before Metcalf puts in another kick that is defused by Izack Tago in front of his own goal posts.Warriors 0, Panthers 0 after three minutes1 of 2