Round 25: Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors

[Queenslander]

Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors
CUA Stadium; Saturday 1st September, 7:30PM


http://www.tictechnologies.com/media/Case%20Studies/Penrith/PANTHERSnrl.jpgvshttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/StewyO/nzw.jpg


Referee: Sean Hampstead

Team Notes:

Panthers

- Geoff Daniela returns to the starting line up on the wing

- Matthew Cross plays his last game for the club on a 5 man bench. The game also signals farewells to Craig Gower and Peter Wallace.


Warriors

- Wairangi Koopu comes into the side in the centres.


Teams:
http://rebelsport.com.au/data/pages/categories/images/NRL_09.gif

1. Jarrod Sammut
2. Geoff Daniela
3. Michael Jennings
4. Maurice Blair
5. Michael Gordon
6. Luke Lewis
7. Craig Gower (c)
8. Frank Puletua
9. Luke Priddis
10. Bryan Norrie
11. Frank Pritchard
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Nathan Smith

Interchange:

14. Matthew Cross
15. Tony Puletua
16. Matthew Bell
17. Paul Aiton
18. Luke Rooney (one to be omitted)


http://rebelsport.com.au/data/pages/categories/images/NRL_18.gif

1. Wade McKinnon
2. Michael Crockett
3. Wairangi Koopu
4. Simon Mannering
5. Manu Vatuvei
6. Michael Witt
7. Grant Rovelli
8. Sam Rapira
9. Nathan Fien
10. Steve Price (c)
11. Ruben Wiki (vc)
12. Logan Swann
13. Micheal Luck

Interchange:

14. Todd Byrne
15. Evarn Tuimavave
16. Epalahame Lauaki
17. Louis Anderson
18. George Gatis (one to be omitted)

[Queenslander]

Wiki adds to Warriors' woes

August 31, 2007

NEW Zealand Warriors prop Ruben Wiki has been ruled out of tomorrow's finals-defining NRL game with Penrith at CUA Stadium.

Wiki, 34, couldn't train this morning after damaging his ribs in last night's training session.

It's the second injury setback for the Warriors this week, with centre Jerome Ropati sidelined for the rest of the season with a fractured shoulder blade, sustained during last Sunday's win over Manly.

The Warriors can guarantee themselves a fourth-place finish and a home final with victory over the Panthers, but coach Ivan Cleary said Wiki's injury is another major blow.

"It's shattering to go into a match like this without Ruben," he said.

"We were really disappointed to lose Jerome earlier this week and to be without Ruben as well makes the task even more challenging than it already was for this match against the Panthers.

"We're hopeful Ruben will be ready for the play-offs next week."

Cleary said Wiki will still travel to Sydney with the other 17 players originally named earlier this week, while Sonny Fai is added to the bench.

AAP

[Titanium_BD1103]

FINAL SCORE


Penrith Panthers 20
Tries: Smith x2, Pritchard
Goals: Gordon (4/4)

New Zealand Warriors 24
Tries: Byrne x2, Rapira, Rovelli
Goals: Witt (4/4)


Overall a good game for the Panthers, the Warriors were brilliant at times but fell asleep on others, they were good enough though when they needed to be to do the job though... and they have their home semifinal next Friday night... will be interesting to see how they go.

Panthers have the spoon sadly... but it was a good game overall and a nice way for Gower, Wallace and the rest to say farewell even if they didn't win. In addition to this, there is plenty to look forward to in seasons ahead, including Sammut's rise to fortune, he will be chasing for a back line spot next season and the rise of the likes of Gordon and Jennings... if their forwards can fire next season there is light at the end of the tunnel... :)

[DIEHARD]

Awesome!

See ya later Gower! Don't forget to pack your spoon.

How you like that Steve?!

Go Warriors! Dark horse for the Premiership!