Undermanned Panthers Stun Warriors with a Second-Half Comeback Victory in Auckland
By Tom Smith | 21 June 2025 | Go Media Stadium
Full-Time: New Zealand Warriors 18 – Penrith Panthers 28
Despite being without their State of Origin stars, the Penrith Panthers produced an inspiring performance in Auckland on Saturday to defeat the in-form New Zealand Warriors 28–18. Making their first trip to New Zealand since 2019, the Panthers dug deep and staged a remarkable second-half turnaround to claim the victory, led by a powerful double from backrower Scott Sorensen.
Penrith traveled across the Tasman missing a host of key players due to Origin duties. Yet, their depth and determination shone through, especially in the final 30 minutes of the match. Trailing 12–8 with half an hour to play, the visitors, under the guidance of coach Ivan Cleary, launched a stunning late surge to secure the win and climb into the NRL’s top eight – a remarkable feat considering their rocky start to the season.
The Warriors entered the game on a high, having won seven of their previous eight matches and enjoying a bye the previous week. Confidence was running high, and the home crowd of over 25,000 at Go Media Stadium expected another strong performance. However, their momentum was halted not only by Penrith’s resilience but also by untimely injuries. Key players Marata Niukore and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak were both forced off before halftime, the former with a concussion and the latter due to an ankle injury.
Much of the pre-game buzz centered around the matchup between James Fisher-Harris and his former Panthers teammates. But it was Moses Leota, his old front-row partner, who outperformed him with a massive effort in the middle of the field – running for 176 metres and setting the platform for Penrith’s dominance. Sorensen and Isaiah Papali’i were also immense in the forward pack, stepping up in the absence of their representative teammates.
Ivan Cleary made the strategic decision to rest his Origin players – Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, and Isaah Yeo – rather than rushing them across the country just days after the intense Queensland–New South Wales clash. That opened the door for emerging talents, including fullback Daine Laurie and halfback Brad Schneider, to assume key roles in a reshuffled spine.
The Warriors also managed their roster carefully, with coach Andrew Webster opting to give Origin representative Kurt Capewell the weekend off. His replacement in the centers was Moala Graham-Taufa, while Wayde Egan returned from a hip injury to take his place at hooker. In a special milestone, former Panther Te Maire Martin celebrated his 100th NRL appearance coming off the bench for New Zealand.
The scoring began when Casey McLean set up Thomas Jenkins for a slick finish in the left corner, giving Penrith an early lead. But the Warriors quickly responded through Jackson Ford, who capitalized on a fumbled Luke Metcalf bomb to touch down.
Moses Leota was denied a try under the posts thanks to desperate Warriors defense, but Scott Sorensen crashed over just before halftime, taking a short ball from Blaize Talagi to give the Panthers an 8–6 lead at the break.
After halftime, the see-sawing nature of the contest continued. The Warriors struck first, with Jacob Laban muscling over close to the line to reclaim the lead. But that was the last time they would be in front.
From there, Penrith took control. Sorensen leapt highest to catch a towering Schneider bomb and score his second try of the day, reclaiming the lead for Penrith at 14–12. Then, after Jenkins intercepted a stray pass and gave Penrith vital field position, young gun Talagi danced through several defenders to add another four-pointer.
The Panthers’ dominance continued when Paul Alamoti pounced on another high ball, capitalizing on a misjudgment by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to extend the lead further. Alamoti then added a penalty goal just five minutes from full-time, stretching the margin to 16 points and putting the result beyond doubt.
The Warriors grabbed a late consolation try through Graham-Taufa in the final minute, but it wasn’t enough to alter the result.
Star Performers and Key Moments
Scott Sorensen was the standout for Penrith, notching up 161 running metres and two tries in a commanding display. His physical presence and timing in attack were crucial to Penrith’s revival in the second half.
The game-breaking moment came in the 75th minute when Paul Alamoti slotted a penalty goal, pushing the Panthers’ lead to 28–12 and sealing the upset.
Match Summary:
Tries (Panthers): Jenkins (17’), Sorensen (38’, 56’), Talagi (63’), Alamoti (70’)
Goals (Panthers): Alamoti 4/6
Tries (Warriors): Ford (20’), Laban (48’), Graham-Taufa (79’)
Goals (Warriors): Metcalf 1/1, Pompey 2/2
Half-Time Score: Panthers 8 – Warriors 6
Final Score: Panthers 28 – Warriors 18
Team Lineups:
Warriors: Nicoll-Klokstad, Watene-Zelezniak, Pompey, Graham-Taufa, Tuivasa-Sheck, Harris-Tavita, Metcalf, Fisher-Harris, Egan, Niukore, Halasima, Laban, Clark. Bench: Martin, Ford, Vaimauga, Stowers-Smith.
Panthers: Laurie, Jenkins, Tago, McLean, Alamoti, Talagi, Schneider, Leota, Kenny, Smith, Sorensen, Garner, Papali’i. Bench: Eisenhuth, Henry, Patea, Toelau (unused).
Other Details:
Attendance: 25,012
Referee: Todd Smith
Penalty Count: Warriors 6 – Panthers 5
Men of the Match: Warriors – Erin Clark | Panthers – Scott Sorensen
Despite fielding a heavily rotated side, the Panthers showed heart, depth, and composure. This win not only defied expectations but also reignited their push for a top-eight finish. Meanwhile, the Warriors will need to regroup
and find consistency if they’re to maintain their finals ambitions.
