Live: Defending premiers romp to impressive win in Auckland without five Origin stars

Fletcher Sharpe has the first try of the match for the Newcastle Knights.

Match referee Grant Atkins blows his whistle, and the Dolphins kick the ball to begin this contest.

It is a shallow kick, and it is Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga who takes the first hit-up of the match.

The Knights are running to the left of your screen.

The Dolphins put up a solid defensive wall in the opening set. The Knights kick from inside their own 40-metre line to end the opening set of the match.

G’day KB.

There is plenty of talk around the Dolphins, and rightfully so.

But you are correct, the Knights do welcome back the return of Bradman Best.

Add Dom Young, Fletcher Sharpe, Kalyn Ponga and Tyson Frizell returning to their side, and this can be a seriously good footy team.

The Dolphins are the favourites, but don’t be too surprised if Newcastle puts up an almighty fight.

 An undermanned Penrith have secured a critical 28-18 victory over the high-flying Warriors despite missing their swag of State of Origin stars.

The Panthers arrived in Auckland without five stars including Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo due to the travel factor from Origin II in Perth to New Zealand.

But the rookie outfit shocked the third-ranked hosts in their Saturday clash to bank a third straight win and continue their climb up the NRL ladder.

Depending on results the defending premiers could finish inside the top eight at the end of the round for the first time since Las Vegas in the opening round.

Winning seven of their past eight matches, the Warriors were expected to outclass Penrith but the Panthers’ young halves Blaize Talagi and Brad Schneider stood up to steer the visitors home.

With Moses Leota leading the way up front with 147 run metres, second rower Scott Sorensen also stood tall, scoring two of their five tries.

The Warriors weren’t helped by losing Marata Niukore to a head knock 10 minutes into the match and then winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who appeared to suffer a serious ankle injury.

Sorensen went on report for the tackle that ended Watene-Zelezniak’s night.

Trailing 6-8 at halftime, the Warriors’ hopes of a big finish were also hobbled as halfback Luke Metcalf struggled with a quad injury.

The Panthers started with a bang with Sorensen held up over the line early but they made no mistake in the 16th minute when centre Casey McLean found winger Tom Jenkins, who bagged a hat-trick last week.

In a pulsating contest the Warriors soon levelled with a ball bouncing up for Jackson Ford after Leka Halasima skittled Penrith players leaping for a Metcalf bomb.

Sorensen again put his team ahead, scoring his first try with three minutes remaining in the half.

The Warriors edged ahead soon after the break through Jacob Laban but the full house at Go Media Stadium had little to cheer about until a 78th minute consolation try by Moala Graham-Taufa.

In the meantime, the Panthers piled on a further three tries, with Talagi and winger Paul Alamoti getting in on the action, to seal the win.

G’day Mike.

The Warriors-Panthers was the first of three main courses tonight. How good is Saturday footy?

Best of luck tipping the next two matches. They seem pretty clear on paper — but I have lost count of the number of upsets we have had in season 2025.

You can join myself, Nick, and blog reader Mike, by letting us know your thoughts on all things footy in the comment section.

The Dolphins have been one of the best teams in the NRL over the past two months.

After starting the year with four straight defeats, the Dolphins have gone on to win seven of their last 10 matches.

And their attacking numbers are impressive.

The Dolphins have scored a whopping 158 points in their last three matches.

They scored 10 tries in each of their past two wins — against the Dragons and Cowboys.

Anything close to that this afternoon, and the Dolphins will be mighty hard to beat.

Actually, anything close to that for the rest of the season will make them hard to beat.

There has been a late change for the Dolphins this evening.

Ray Stone (number 16) comes into the starting side, while Mark Nicholls (number 10) will come off the bench.

Look out for Aublix Tawha (number 20), who will make his NRL debut this evening.

Queensland Maroons teammates Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins) and Kalyn Ponga (Knights) will play after being part of State of Origin on Wednesday.

Dominic Young (number 2) will make his return to the Knights after leaving the Sydney Roosters at the end of last week.

A terrific win for the Panthers, one they can build the back end of the season one. Feels a bit like they’re back – that’s three wins in a row and this one was without all their Origin players.

Vaimauga goes short to Graham-Taufa around halfway and the young centre goes 50 metres to score – he nearly fumbles it as he goes over, but it’s still a great effort from the Rabbitohs-bound centre. Pompey converts and it’s 28-18 Panthers.

Schneider drops it cold, Ford hits him anyway, the ref doesn’t like it and the Panthers get the penalty. Alamoti will take the two from 20 out, right in front, easy done. Panthers 28-12.

And that should do us! Schneider puts up another bomb, the Warriors let it bounce, it sits up for Alamoti and he slides over to score what should wrap us up. What a disciplined, committed performance from the Panthers, a super win. Alamoti converts his own try and it’s 26-12 Panthers. 

Alamoti drops a bomb and Tago claims it in an offside position. Penalty Warriors, wide out, maybe 15 metres from the line. They’ll go for the line.

They sweep it right and look certain to score only for Jenkins to save the day with an intercept! He’s rounded up on halfway but that’s a huge play from the cult hero winger!

And just a few plays later Talagai knifes through some soft defence to score! That might be the key moment of the match right there. Alamoti can put the Panthers outside a converted try….and he does! It’s 18-12 Panthers. 

A Nicoll-Klokstad error puts Penrith on the attack, Schneider puts up a cross kick and Sorensen flies high to claim it and scores! That’s a double for the tireless backrower and a well deserved one. Alamoti converts and it’s 14-12 Panthers.

The Warriors halfback is playing on but he’s carrying an upper leg injury. He’s not doing any kicking and is moving quite gingerly. We’ll keep an eye on him.

An Eisenhuth error puts the Warriors on the attack and Metcalf hits Laban with a short ball for the backrower to go over! Terrific line from Laban, he’s had a strong game, and the Warriors retake the lead. Metcalf is a little troubled by a leg injury it looks like so Pompey will kick and he makes no mistake. Warriors 12-8.

And away we go. Wahs kick us off.

Sorensen has been placed on report for the hip drop tackle that injured Watene-Zelezniak.

Good first half, Penrith showed a lot of their old qualities to take the lead while the Warriors look to be down for 15 after the injuries to Niukore and Watene-Zelezniak.

Jenkins links with McLean on a kick return and they go streaking down the left, Penrith will have another shot before halftime.

And they make the most of it! Talagi throws a good short ball to put Sorensen in space and he goes 20 metres to score a good try. DWZ was down with an ankle injury at the time, he looks done for the day.

Alamoti misses from touch and it’s 8-6 Panthers. 

The Warriors are down to 16 with Niukore failing his HIA.