The Penrith Panthers have sealed a remarkable victory over the New Zealand Warriors in a high quality thriller in Western Sydney on Sunday night.
Round 13 of the NRL clearly saved the best for last, with the Panthers overcoming the Warriors 20-18 in a game that featured some of the best attack seen all year.
Earlier the Dragons won their first NRL game in 295 days, ending a 15-game run of defeats by hanging on to beat a blundering Brisbane Broncos side 30-26, before Canberra wiped the floor with a lack-lustre Cowboys team 26-12 to snap a two game losing streak.
It was at Western Sydney stadium though that the NRL truly sparkled, with two evenly matched sides going hell for leather over 80 sensational minutes.
The Panthers rested Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o with the Warriors giving Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell a rest after their Origin exploits midweek.
But that made little difference to an extraordinary contest of the highest possibly quality.
Blues Origin debutant Casey McLean scored two tries and wing Paul Alamoti added two more for the Panthers, making up for a horror defensive error that gave the Warriors the lead late on.
McLean opened the scoring for the ladder leaders before Jacob Laban hit back for the Warriors in a tat-for-tat first half.
Laban scored a try after a stunning aerial efforts. (AAP Image: Dean Lewins)
The Warriors then had two tries disallowed — first for a marginal offside call and the second for a forward pass before the Panthers made them pay with a clinical spell before the half time break with McLean adding a second and Alamoti spectacularly putting down for his first.
The Warriors hit back with Taine Tuaupiki finishing a brilliant Wahs move before Alamoti’s horror slip handed Alofiana Khan-Pereira a try that put the visitors ahead.
However, Dylan Edwards, not selected for New South Wales mid-week, stepped up for the Panthers late, pulling off a terrific try-saving tackle on Laban to keep Penrith in the contest before setting up Alamoti in the corner with a beautifully-delayed pass in the 70th minute to put the Panthers four points clear at the top of the ladder.
‘BS’ Broncos fall to sensational defeat as Dragons end winning run
The Dragons snapped a 15-game losing streak against the Broncos. (Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
Earlier, St George Illawarra finally scored its first NRL win in 2026, weathering a late Broncos surge to triumph 30-26 at Lang Park and condemn the premiers to a fourth defeat in a row.
Valentine Holmes and Daniel Atkinson stunned the Broncos with two tries in the opening 10 minutes, as the Dragons led 14-2 at half time.
In the second half, Jesse Arthars displayed shoots of recovery with an intercept score, but the Broncos still didn’t look like scoring via their own enterprise.
And the Dragons were able to punish them further through Mathew Feagai, a second Holmes score and a try to Setu Tu all in the space of five minutes.
The Broncos hit back late with Josiah Karapani, Xavier Wilison and Arthars all scoring in the final 12 minutes to set up a thrilling conclusion and rattle the nerves of a Dragons side that had not won in its last 15 NRL games stretching back to the 2025 season.
But the Dragons held on and recorded a famous victory.
Valentine Holmes scored the opener. (Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
“We can build from this,” Valentine Holmes told on Fox Sports.
“It wasn’t just against any old team, it was against the premiers from last year so this will give us a lot of confidence.”
Another shambolic first half gave the Broncos a mountain to climb, and resulted in a fourth straight defeat.
Pat Carrigan left the field with an ankle injury and Payne Haas was seen limping at the end of the game.
However, Haas’s brutal summary of the Broncos efforts will hurt even more.
“We’re all talk at the moment,” Haas told ABC Sport after the game.
“We keep on saying we’re going to do all these important things on the field, but to be honest, we’re just BS-ing each other.”
Look back at how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 8:14pm
A brilliant game
By Simon Smale
Wow! What a game to finish the weekend – clearly the best game of the round and likely one of the most entertaining games of the year – thanks for blogging it Simon, see you next time.
– Mike
One of the best I’ve seen all year for certain – and by far and away the best of the weekend.
It does make me wonder about the relentless expansion and dilution of talent meaning that we’re unlikely to many matches like that over the course of a year.
But that’s a conversation way above my pay grade.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 8:12pm
FT: The Panthers claim a dramatic victory in a thriller
By Simon Smale
(Getty Images)
What a way to end a brilliant Sunday of football.
The Panthers have beaten the Warriors in a thriller – 20-18 in the game of the year so far.
Such high quality teams deserved a big stage, and prime time football delivered on Sunday night.
Casey McLean opened the scoring for the ladder leading Panthers before Jacob Laban hit back for the Warriors.
The Warriors then had two tries disallowed – first for a marginal offside call and the second for a forward pass before the Panthers made them pay with a clinical spell before the half time break.
McLean scored a second before Paul Alamoti acrobatically touched down in the corner.
The Warriors were not done, Taine Tuaupiki finishing a brilliant Wahs move before a horror Alamoti slip handing Alofiana Khan-Pereira a try that put the visitors ahead.
That sparked some real fire in the Panthers, who went up the field soon after, with Edwards saving a try at one end and setting one up at the other, Alamoti finishing one-handed with 10 minutes to go.
The Warriors pushed for a winner but the Panthers defence held out to go four points clear, but punters will already be circling the round 23 clash on Friday August 7 as must watch.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 8:05pm
80′ THE WARRIORS KNOCK ON!
By Simon Smale
AND THE PANTHERS ROAR IN DELIGHT!
They know how important that is.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 8:04pm
79′ Taine Tuaupiki knocks on!
By Simon Smale
The Warriors had the line at their mercy, challenging the Panthers defence right and left and right again.
He went to ground heavily under a McLean tackle with Jenkins in support.
That might do it for Penrith though.
What a game.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 8:02pm
76′ JENKINS BUTCHERS A CERTAIN TRY!
By Simon Smale
A FORWARD PASS AFTER A BREAK FROM JENKINS!
That is very, very poor from Thomas Jenkins.
He broke through after McLean put his nose through the line and offloaded wide to the winger.
There was one Warrior at the back with three Panthers bearing down on him.
Jenkins only had to draw the fullback and pass inside but tried to double pump.
Then when he passed it the ball was angled forward.
He can’t believe it but that’s a horror error.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:57pm
74′ The Warriors are over, but it’s sent up as no try!
By Simon Smale
Jackson Ford challenges Dylan Edwards for a bomb.
Did Ford’s hand touch the ball?
DID FORD’S HAND TOUCH THE BALL???!
Oh I think it did. JUST!
The Warriors fans are furious! But I think it’s the correct call.
What a game.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:51pm
70′ ALAMOTI SCORES IN THE CORNER! PENRITH ARE BACK IN FRONT!
By Simon Smale
Oh this game is extraordinary!
The Panthers gathered the short drop out.
Dylan Edwards got the ball in his hands, held up a pass as the Warriors swarmed him, delivered a magical pass for Paul Alamoti to race into the corner and do his one-handed put down special.
What a finish.
The crowd is roaring like it’s Origin and – arguably – it’s been as good if not better quality than that.
These are the two best teams in the competition and they are going at it hammer and tongs.
Incredible.
They kick is just missed across the face of goal.
It’s just a two-point game.
It’s Penrith leading 20-18.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:51pm
69′ Panthers force a goal line drop out!
By Simon Smale
The last tackle plays are extraordinary.
Offloads, spinning out of tackles – and then a front row forward kicking a grubber by Liam Henry who forced the goal line drop out.
The drop out goes short, the Warriors appeal for a player being taken out in the chase but there’s nothing doing!
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:49pm
67′ EDWARDS IS DENIED BY A TRY SAVER AT THE OTHER END!
By Simon Smale
THIS GAME IS OUT OF CONTROL!
Edwards supported the play as the Panthers moved the ball down the left side.
He was on the inside of the runner down the left and got the ball with the line at his mercy – but he is smashed from behind as the Warriors save a score!
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:48pm
65′ DYLAN EDWARDS HAS MADE THE TRY SAVER OF THE YEAR!
By Simon Smale
OH DYLAN EDWARDS IS INCREDIBLE!
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Jacob Laban burst into back play after a Harlem Globetrotter passage of play by the Warriors through the middle on the last.
He only had Dylan Edwards to beat and Edwards saved a certain try!
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:44pm
62′ Penrith penalty – and they’re taking it quickly!
By Simon Smale
Here we go! This has reached boiling point now!
That was just James Fisher-Harris with hands in the ruck but the atmosphere is electric now and the Panthers take advantage with a quick tap.
The crowd is screaming with every move, every run, every tackle.
This is extraordinary quality.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:37pm
59′ THE WARRIORS HAVE ANOTHER!
By Simon Smale
Alofiana Khan-Pereira has scored!
BUT IT IS ON IN BACK PLAY!
That was a horror mistake by Paul Alamoti, who slipped when attempting to field a wobbly looking kick, and the ball bounced past him and into the run of Khan-Pereira.
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James Fisher-Harris then clapped in the face of Alamoti which sparked a big push and shove.
There is nothing in that at all. The Panthers started the pushing and shoving – there is feeling out there, they are former teammates.
It’s nothing really.
But it adds to the drama.
Anyway, back to the footy.
The kick from Adam Pompey IS GOOD!
The Warriors lead 18-16!
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Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:36pm
55′ Izack Tago is on report
By Simon Smale
Perhaps it was a shoulder charge in the end? It did look like it live.
Seems like the Warriors would have rather had the penalty for that to be honest…
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:35pm
54′ THE WARRIORS ARE OVER!
By Simon Smale
Huge from the Wahs!
Wayde Egan released Te Maire
Martin down the right side and he burst through the tiring Panthers line.
Leota was caught out, Martin skipping past him and then, despite being tripped, he managed to offload while staggering forward to Taine Tuaupiki who scored.
Phenomenal.
Brilliant try from the Warriors.
The kick is good and the Warriors celebrate in front of their fans – who are here in their thousands.
It’s 16-12.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:32pm
52′ The Warriors now do the same!
By Simon Smale
The gaps are appearing and now it’s the Warriors exploring them!
The initial line break was by Taine Tuaupiki and then the Warriors powered forward.
However, a monster shot by Izack Tago that looked suspiciously shoulder-like smashed the Warriors backwards on the fourth.
This is a terrific game.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:29pm
49′ Panthers strike!
By Simon Smale
That is magic from the Panthers.
They have moved the ball the entire length of the field in a single set of six and the Warriors are out on their feet as a result – deep breaths and hands on knees from the desperately fatigued defence.
The Warriors do hold them out, but the set-for-set nature of this match so far has just about broken out there for the first time.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:23pm
44′ Warriors are over…
By Simon Smale
But it’s not grounded by Chanel Harris-Tavita.
It’s been sent upstairs as Harris-Tavita pushed the ball down towards the ground after a gang-tackle.
I think it was short and so does the bunker.
The Panthers gave up repeat ruck infringements there in that set but still hung on.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:20pm
42′ Penalty Warriors, Luke Garner on report
By Simon Smale
The Panthers ill-discipline hasn’t cost them yet, but that is a penalty against Luke Garner for a shoulder to the head.
Again, that’s a bit grubby to target the head of a player already wrapped up…
The Warriors will have a chance deep inside the Panthers defensive half.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:17pm
41′ We’re back underway in western Sydney
By Simon Smale
The Panthers were slower getting out the sheds than the Warriors, who have been standing in their mostly white jerseys like statues in the centre of the stadium for a little while.
They’re ready to kick off and now Penrith are ready to receive, bringing the kick off back into contact.
Sun 31 May 2026 at 7:03pm
HT: Clinical Panthers lead Warriors
By Simon Smale
(AAP Photo)
What a great half of football.
The Panthers lead the game 16-6 thanks to some superb, clinical play from the premiership favourites.
The Warriors have been good.
No, they’ve been really good.
But they haven’t been clinical and that is what’s costing them at the moment.
