NRL: Warriors consign Penrith Panthers to eighth loss of the season
The Panthers have fallen to their eighth loss of the season in a hapless 30-10 loss to the Warriors at home.
It was yet another disastrous display for Ivan Cleary’s men who paid the price for two bungled first-half tries that saw the visitors build on an unchallenged 14-point lead returning from the sheds.
A calamitous mix-up between Dylan Edwards and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak early in the second period was perhaps the best summation of Panthers’ night. The two backs colliding at full speed both attempting to field the same high ball.
Star recruit Kodi Nikorima bagged his first try in the new jersey with a sensational dummy to sell Nathan Cleary before bamboozling Edwards with a ferocious left foot step.
Liam Martin also found himself over for his first with the Mountain Men but it was little more than consolation after Agnatius Paasi put the nail in the coffin with a barnstorming try at the other end.
Their sixth straight loss leaves the embattled club in their worst stretch of form since dropping nine in a row between 2001-02.
No NRL side has made the finals after opening the season 2-8.
They took full advantage of a confidence-sapped Panthers outfit, who already lead the league in missed tackles, dropped off 44 more at home.
James Maloney and Viliame Kikau were the biggest culprits with seven and eight respectively in a side where every player missed at least one.
Warriors defeat the Panthers AAP
Star halfback Nathan Cleary also failed to spark an attack that couldn't cross the stripe until the 71st minute.
If he and Maloney hadn't lost their NSW State of Origin jumpers before this weekend, then the Panthers' latest flop may have been the final nail in the coffin.
The inept performance even prompted some boos from the 10,084 at Panthers Stadium at fulltime.
The signs were ominous from the kickoff, when the home side failed to score despite having six straight sets on the Warriors line.
And when the visitors finally had the ball, Issac Luke strolled over from close range and then Patrick Herbert doubled the lead not long after.
Back-to-back penalty goals either side of halftime kept Penrith at arm's distance before Nikorima put the result beyond doubt with an individual try.
-with AAP
