NRL Round 10 Preview and Prediction - Penrith Panthers v New Zealand Warriors @ Pepper Stadium

Penrith Panthers v New Zealand Warriors @ Pepper Stadium
 
Preview - The Panthers will be under enormous pressure to get back into the winner’s circle when they host the Warriors at Pepper Stadium in Penrith on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers are on a horror 5-match losing streak which has seen them slump to 2nd last on the competition ladder after being equal Premiership favourites at the start of the season. Penrith were awful for the majority of their 32-18 loss to the Broncos in Brisbane in Round 9, before 3 late tries added some respectability to the scoreline. The Warriors have found some form in the last month which has coincided with the return to the side of Kieran Foran. Their last start 14-13 victory over the Roosters was as impressive and tough a win as I have seen from this Warriors side in over two years with the way they matched a strong side like the Roosters for 80 minutes. Traditionally this is a time of year when the Warriors get a bit of momentum going and they will be looking to cash in on the Panthers’ lack of confidence and poor form.
 
History - The Warriors have a shocking recent record over the Panthers having won just 2 from their past 8 encounters. However, they did win the last clash between the two sides with a Shaun Johnson try in golden point the difference.  The Panthers have been dominant in their past 3 encounters at Pepper Stadium, winning all 3 and scoring more than 22 points on each occasion. 
 
Penrith Panthers’ Scouting Report - James Fisher Harris is fit to resume in the back row, which bumps Corey Harawira-Naera back to the bench. One of the few positives for the Panthers in their loss to the Broncos was that Trent Merrin got back to somewhere near his best with a strong performance including a try. 
 
New Zealand Warriors’ Scouting Report - Outside back Solomone Kata is back from a hamstring injury which means Charnze Nicoll Kolstad drops back to Reserve Grade after making his debut against the Roosters. 
 
Verdict - Panthers by 4-12 in a high scoring game
 
Penrith desperately need to win this game and I think at home they might just do enough against a side I still don't trust away from home. The Warriors have lost all 3 matches they have played outside of New Zealand this year, so they have to prove to me first that they can win in Australia before I start tipping them over here. I think this is the type of game which will be very high scoring with lots of open and attacking football and plenty of tries scored. Both these teams traditionally are more known for their attack than their defence and I think this will result in an up-tempo sort of game with plenty of thrill and spills and some defensive lapses. I just like the Panthers here because it is, put simply, a must win for them. They will be playing this game with a Semi-Final like intensity, as they know they can't afford another loss, particularly in front of their home fans. I expect both sides to comfortably score over 20 points here on a dry track on an afternoon game, but the Panthers to squeak over the line as they attempt the long, slow climb back up the ladder after a horrible start to 2017.