Chanel Harris-Tavita in action for the Warriors against Manly. Photo: Jeremy Ng/www.photosport.nz
The Warriors season is over.
Having just squeaked into the top eight, the Warriors were no match for the four-time reigning premier Panthers on a sodden Auckland evening, outclassed 24-8 to as Penrtih keep their hopes of a five-peat alive.
The Warriors meanwhile end another disappointing season, as a maiden title eludes them for a 30th year.
It was an intense opening period, with Tannah Boyd opening the scoring with a penalty as a number of scuffles broke out.
After a sustained period on attack without much purchase, Nathan Cleary deceived Adam Pompey with a line drop out to halt the assault.
The momentum was swung and on the back of a powerful break by Brian To'o, Cleary sent a deft ball across to former Warrior Isaiah Papali'i who split the defence and powered his way over for the first try.
The Panthers held the advantage through halftime and then extended their lead shortly after the break as Brad Schneider snuck his way over the chalk from dummy half.
However, the pendulum swung again as Cleary made his first kick error of the evening, sending one dead and gifting the Warriors a seven tackles.
They took full advantage with a storming set up field, capped off by rookie sensation Leka Halasima busting two tackles and wrestling the ball to the grass as the Warriors closed the gap to four.
With the clock ticking under 15 minutes, the Panther's produced a piece of magic to put the game beyond doubt.
A Cleary kick bounced favourably for the defending champions, finding the arms of To'o who raced upfield before sending the final pass to Jesse McLean to cap off a stunning try.
To'o iced the cake in the 70th minute as he swooped on a wayward Warriors pass and streaked 50 metres to officially kill any waning Warrior's hope.
See how the match unfolded below:
Teams
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Kurt Capewell, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd. 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Eddie Ieremoa-Toeava, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith
Reserves: 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Sam Healey, 21. Kalani Going, 22. Bunty Afoa, 23. Ed Kosi
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Paul Alamoti, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Brian To'o, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Moses Leota, 9. Luke Sommerton, 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Scott Sorenson, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider, 15. Liam Henry, 16. Isaiah Papali'i, 17. Luke Garner
Reserves: 18. Thomas Jenkins, 19. Matt Eisenhuth, 20. Daine Laurie, 21. Mavrik Geyer, 22. Trent Toelau
