Sunday, June 29
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Kickoff: 1.45pm (NZ). 11.45am (AEST)
PANTHERS: 1.Corey HARAWIRA-NAERA, 2.Joshua JAY, 3.Robert JENNINGS, 4.Peter TIA TIA, 5.Brent NADEN, 6.Jarrod BRACKENHOFER, 7.Sam SCARLETT, 8.Andy SAUNDERS, 9.Kierran MOSELEY, 10.Atonio PELESASA, 11.Chris SMITH, 12.Dave COWHAN, 13.Brendan ATTWOOD
INTERCHANGE: 14. Moses LEOTA, 15. Myles TAUELI, 16. Jordan HALL, 17. Josh TANGITAU, 18. Sione KATOA
WARRIORS: 1 Brad ABBEY, 2 Paul ULBERG, 3 Semisi TYRELL, 4 Nathaniel ROACHE, 5 Metia LISATI, 6 Mafoa’aeata HINGANO, 7 Mason LINO (c), 8 Iulio AFOA , 9 Kurt ROBINSON, 10 Sam LISONE (c), 11 Toafofoa SIPLEY, 12 Ofahiki OGDEN, 13 James BELL
Interchange: 14 Jazz TEVAGA, 15 Kouma SAMSON, 16 Paul TULI, 17 Marata NIUKORE
Sunday’s clash of the Under 20’s will be a re-match of the 2013 Grand Finalists and promises to be a very close game, with the in-form 7th placed Panthers up against the 8th placed Warriors in Auckland.
Trent Barrett’s boys have found their feet of late, winning their last three matches and turning in some very impressive performances. While the New Zealand youngsters have struggled a bit over the last few weeks and are coming off back to back losses.
There are a few changes to Penrith’s side this week with Robert Jennings named in the centres after overcoming an elbow injury, and hooker Kierran Moseley returning to the side after a long stint in the NSW Cup.
Baz is hoping the new additions will add a bit more depth to our side and will encourage the extra spark we’ll need to play well against the powerful Kiwi outfit.
The Warriors will be without three of their regulars this week, with Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Ken Maumalo and Matiu Love-Henry all out with injury. But they will have experienced prop Sam Lisone back, and Semisi Tyrell, who scored a hat-trick in the space of 16 minutes last week has been named again.
There’s been a bit of a shuffle to their back row and bench as well which makes this side very unpredictable and hard to read. The Panthers will have to put in a solid defensive effort if they’re to hold this team out, as well as being crafty in attack to utilise our speed and agility on the wings.
