The New Zealand Warriors fell short to the Penrith Panthers in their NRL Magic Round clash at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday night. Despite a strong second-half comeback, the Warriors were unable to overcome the Panthers who secured their seventh win of the season.
Warriors Welcome Back Captain Tohu Harris and Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
The Warriors welcomed back captain Tohu Harris and fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for their clash against the Panthers. Harris had missed the last two games due to a head knock while Nicoll-Klokstad had been out for six weeks with a neck injury. The return of these two key players was a much-needed boost for the Warriors who were sitting in 10th place on the NRL ladder heading into the game.
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Panthers Take Early Lead
The Panthers started the game strongly, with Stephen Crichton scoring the opening try in the 5th minute. The Warriors were unable to respond and the Panthers went on to score two more tries in the first half through Edward Kosi and Brian To'o. At halftime, the Panthers led 18-0 and looked to be in complete control of the game.
Warriors Mount Second-Half Comeback
The Warriors came out firing in the second half and scored two quick tries through Peta Hiku and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to narrow the gap to 18-12. The Panthers responded with a try of their own through Apisai Koroisau, but the Warriors hit back again with a try to Kodi Nikorima. With 15 minutes left in the game, the score was 24-18 in favour of the Panthers and the Warriors were pressing hard for another try.
Panthers Hold On for Victory
Despite their best efforts, the Warriors were unable to find the crucial try they needed to level the scores. The Panthers held on for a hard-fought 24-18 victory, with Nathan Cleary once again playing a key role for his side. The win sees the Panthers remain in second place on the NRL ladder, behind the unbeaten Melbourne Storm.
The Warriors will be disappointed with their performance in the first half, but can take heart from their second-half comeback against one of the competition's top teams. The return of Tohu Harris and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was a positive sign for the Warriors, who will be looking to build on this performance as they head into the middle part of the NRL season.
Keywords: Warriors, Panthers, NRL, Magic Round, Tohu Harris, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Stephen Crichton, Nathan Cleary, Melbourne Storm.
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