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4.26pm
Nathan Cleary, you genius.
After another Penrith error (mix-up between Casey McLean and Dylan Edwards under the nigh ball), their skipper delivers.
A forced goal-line dropout following an average attacking set from New Zealand, and Cleary comes up with a huge play.
In the slippery conditions, Cleary sends the ball skidding across the turf and across the touch line.
Huge play, Panthers ball.
Warriors 2, Panthers 0 after 14 minutes
4.22pm
A very un-Penrith start to this match so far.
We’ll have some stats for you at the 20-minute mark, but the Panthers have already given away three penalties and made three errors.
The Warriors have had 65 per cent of possession. Wild.
Warriors 2, Panthers 0 after 10 minutes
Kurt Capewell carries the ball for the Warriors.Credit: Getty Images
4.19pm
New Zealand have done nothing with this set, but another Penrith errors hands them another opportunity.
It’s a Warriors scrum, but the Panthers break too early and New Zealand are given a penalty.
Things are getting heated, because former teammates Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris make a grab at each other and exchange words.
Tensions are high, and the Warriors use the penalty to nudge ahead with a kick.
Warriors 2, Panthers 0 after eight minutes
4.15pm
First an error from the Warriors, and now it’s Paul Alamoti who drops the ball in the wet.
Well done from Jackson Ford, who put Alamoti under pressure with the catch.
In other news, Penrith hooker Brad Schneider is off for a head injury assessment, which brings Luke Sommerton into the game.
Warriors 0, Panthers 0 after six minutes
4.13pm
The Panthers force a goal line drop out, and they set up to go again.
On the last play, Nathan Cleary holds the ball up beautifully, before Blaize Talagi sends it out to Casey McLean.
But McLean can’t get a clean grab at the ball, and he knocks it on after being rushed by Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
The Warriors survive that early test from Penrith.
Warriors 0, Panthers 0 after four minutes
4.09pm
Early chance for the Warriors, with a penalty for holding down to help them up field in the first set, but they choke.
Warriors halfback Tanah Boyd tries to bite off too much with his kick, and the ball doesn’t make it into touch. Paul Alamoti catches it in field, and the game is already flipped on its head as the Penrith winger take a strong carry.
Warriors 0, Panthers 0 after one minute
4.07pm
Here we go.
The rain is heavy, the stakes are high.
Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo lead the Panthers out to a chorus of boos, while James Fisher-Harris and his Warriors are treated like heroes.
It’s the Warriors who have first use of the ball, with Fisher-Harris taking the first carry for his team.
At the end of this match, the winner of this will take on the Bulldogs next week. The loser...better luck next season.
3.57pm
Penrith has redefined what is possible in the salary cap era, and now the four-peat premiers have another chance to create history. No team has ever won a grand final outside of the top four in the NRL era, but if anyone’s capable of doing it, this is the side.
They’ll have to do it away from home, in front of a huge Warriors crowd.
So many intriguing storylines; James Fisher-Harris against his former club, Jett Cleary reprised the role of big brother Nathan at Warriors opposed sessions, and apprentice Andrew Webster against the master, Ivan Cleary.
Game on!
3.55pm
Warriors fans on Friday afternoon.Credit: Getty Images
Liam Henry warms up ahead of kick-off.Credit: Getty Images
Warriors captain James Fisher-Harris.Credit: Getty Images
3.52pm
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has shuffled his team around a little for this afternoon’s elimination final. Here’s how they line up.
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 11. Leka Halasima, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson FOrd, 4. Kurt Capewell, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 20. Samuel Healey
Warriors captain James Fisher-Harris.Credit: Getty Images
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