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FIFA World Cup 2026 poster‘Slipped up’: Warriors to build on costly mistakes in Panthers defeat
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • June 3rd, 2026 5:45 pm
Stacey Jones | Photo: Photosport
The Warriors will take key mistakes on board after the side lost their 6-match winning streak in a nail-biting loss to the Panthers.
"It was disappointing with not getting the win, but there was a positive performance.” Assistant coach Stacey Jones told Sport Nation’s Millsy & Guy.
“I just think we just slipped up on a couple of big moments and when you're playing against a quality team like Penrith, you've got to take those moments. They were big ones that hurt us in the end.”
The Warriors had three tries disallowed and, had just one of them been awarded, they would have beaten Penrith and drawn level with the Panthers at the top of the NRL ladder on 22 points. Instead, the defeat leaves them four points adrift of first place.
The first came when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak leapt to claim a kick before offloading to Ali Leiataua, who was ruled offside on his kick chase.
The second saw Chanel Harris-Tavita send Adam Pompey over in the corner, only for the pass to be called slightly forward.
Then, with six minutes remaining, Dylan Edwards and Jackson Ford contested a high ball before it spilled loose. Martin gathered the ball and crossed for what appeared to be the match-winning try, but the Bunker ruled Ford had got a fingertip to the ball, resulting in a knock on.
On a separate occasion, Jones said “Jacob Laban made that break and he had no one in support down our left edge. They’re moments that you’ve got to take.”
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However the top-of-the-table match that finished 20-18 proved the Warriors are genuine contenders for the Premiership, after coming so close with the side who have won four of the last 5 titles.
“Plenty to like about the performance, but also felt that’s one that we could have got,” Jones explained.
“I thought our defence was spot on for the majority of the game, and I thought when we kicked the ball, we chased hard, but it was just lapses in concentration, when the moment counts.
“It was a physical game. It was end to end type performance, a lot of movements as far as the ball went and then obviously scrambled defence. Both teams came up with some big plays. So it was a high quality game.
“We were certainly on the edge of our seat in the coaches' boxes, that's for sure.”
Jacob Laban scores | Photo: Photosport
Jones noted that Penrith have a great defending style - arguably the best in the competition, therefore attack timing has to be perfect and players have to be in the right place and at the right time.
Heading into their second bye week of the season, Jones said the team has three days off before they kick off an extended preparation ahead of their next game at home against the Cronulla Sharks.
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Listen to the full interview below:
