Pick Your Team NZ Warriors v Penrith Panthers - [Round 13, 2026]

[NZWarriors.com]

NZ Warriors v Penrith Panthers - [Round 13, 2026]
PICK YOUR TEAM
Sunday 31st May 8:15pm NZST
BlueBet Stadium, Penrith​

Here's your chance to select your dream team for the next rounds match so don your coaches cap on and lets hear it.

This thread will be closed without notice once the TEAM LIST thread opens for this game...

 

[RobRoyMcCoy]

1. TT
2. DWZ
3. Ali
4. Pompey
5. AKP
6. CHT
7. TMM
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Leka
12. Capewah
13. Erin
14. Healy
15. Demi
16. Ford
17. Laban
18. Niukore
19. CNK
20. Fatialofa

 

[Noitall]

Fatialofa

Give panthers a taste of what they missed out on at the last minute

 

[Noitall]

 

[sup42]

1. Taine Tuaupiki
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Ali Leiataua
4. Adam Pompey
5. Alofiana Khan Pereira
6. Chanel Harris Tavita
7. Te Maire Martin
8. James Fisher Harris
9. Wade Egan
10.Jackson Ford
11. Jacob Laban
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Erin Clark

14. Samuel Healy
15. Dimitric Vaimauga aka Sifakula
16. Mitch Barnett
17. Tanner Stowers Smith

18. Kayliss Fatialofa
19. Leka Halisima

Leka needs a rocket. Bit rough on Jacob and the combinations, but Leka is hardly gelling with his halves on the ball.

Leka is too important, too young, to not get an early and swift kick up the arse. Takeaway the special status and replace it with form and team. Make him find the love again.

 

[The Undertaker]

1. TT
2. DWZ
3. Ali
4. Pompey
5. AKP
6. CHT
7. TMM
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Ford
11. Halasima
12. Capewell
13. Clarke

14. Healey
15. Demi
16. Barnett
17. TSS
18. Metcalf
20. Laban

21. Fatialofa
22. Niukore
23. Berry

There’s my list.
EIT out till round 14, RTS I’m picking MCL and 4-6 weeks.

If I was Webby Instead of Healey at minute 60 coming on, I’d throw Metcalf on with 20 to go and CHT to 9

 

[Nakiproud]

1. TT
2. DWZ
3. Ali
4. Pompey
5. AKP
6. CHT
7. TMM
8. JFH
9. Egan
10. Barnett
11. Leka
12. Capewah
13. Erin
14. Healy
15. Demi
16. Ford
17. Laban
18. Niukore
19. CNK
20. Fatialofa

Barnett off the bemch post origin??

 

[sup42]

Barnett off the bemch post origin??

I did that too.

We need to go in for the kill.

Find out what we have to improve on by the finals against these Turkeys. And that could very well mean three games in a row vs them this year.

It is so important we put the shits up these guys and let them know the young wolf is coming.

Barnett and Capewell can handle it, other people can lift the intensity, those two can bring the leadership, the solidity and the discipline.

Imagine what their players will think if we name a full strength side?

If it were any other pairing (say Ford or Egan) I wouldn't do it.

But Capewell and Barnett are oldschool origin players, they are REAL origin players, the type that always fronted on the weekend.

 

[Naynay]

Tbh i would give barney and Capes the rest, fats to come in the bench for EIT and pompey for rts, same team otherwise

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

Capewell will be there and Barnett off the bench. Which means TSS may miss out.

Leka is going ok still learning and developing his game. I dont think LM will make the team. At least one week in NSW Cup, assuming he is ready to play.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

Following origin 1 and 2 we play on Sundays, you can probably get them to back up if they feel okay. Barnett hasn't played much so he'll be keen.

Following origin 3 we play on a Friday night, so they wouldn't back up for that one, unless they were unused reserves.

Wouldn't be making any other changes other than the injury enforced ones.

 

[Inruin]

1

TT

2

AKP

3

Pompey

4

Ali

5

DWZ

6

CHT

7

TMM

8

JFH

9

Egan

10

Ford

11

Laban

12

Leka

13

Clarke

14

Healey

15

Demi

16

Barnett

17

Capewell

Create your own team formation

18. TSS
20. Hanson

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I hope we all remember that it was this corresponding game last year (game immediately after origin I) where Barney did his ACL. So I'd be resting both Barney and Capes. Give Fats his debut in place of EIT this week. It is so disappointing that 9 isn't doing this game as it is a battle for 1st. Going to be the match of the season.

 

[Wrighty]

I would play Metcalf at 7. Throw him in at the deep end. He sinks or swims his way to a victory for us. TMM on the extended bench in case Mertcalf pulls a hamstring ten minutes in.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

I would play Metcalf at 7. Throw him in at the deep end. He sinks or swims his way to a victory for us. TMM on the extended bench in case Mertcalf pulls a hamstring ten minutes in.

I respect your opinions, Wrighty, but this take assumes that team cohesion and happiness is a non factor. We don’t need the disharmony when we are humming.

 

[Wrighty]

I respect your opinions, Wrighty, but this take assumes that team cohesion and happiness is a non factor. We don’t need the disharmony when we are humming.

I havn't been following closely the stories about disharmony. So I am not taking that into account.

With our dominant forward pack that is making Tannah and TMM look elite, I am positive Luke can also do a job. Luke not suited to 6 though as he showed defensively against the Tigers.

 

[kos]

Luke can get match fit in NSW cup
Webster has said Metcalf is not match fit
Let’s stay cool with the good looking seven Māori Te Maire Martin
Who has delivered back from injury
Unlike Luke in his two games in 2026

 

[Inruin]

Luke can get match fit in NSW cup
Webster has said Metcalf is not match fit
Let’s stay cool with the good looking seven Māori Te Maire Martin
Who has delivered back from injury
Unlike Luke in his two games in 2026

It's interesting to me because Metcalf came back and looked well under done, whether that's mentally or physically. TMM has slotted straight back in.

Talk of people wanting to see Metcalf behind this forward pack. Didn't we see that last season and our attack was clunky and ugly? Struggled to convert time in opposition 20 in to points. At the time we were worst in the league for that.

There is no way I'd be entertaining the thought of playing LM against the Panthers this round

 

[3rdstriker]

I would play Metcalf at 7. Throw him in at the deep end. He sinks or swims his way to a victory for us. TMM on the extended bench in case Mertcalf pulls a hamstring ten minutes in.

Metcalfs got alot of prep work to do.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Metcalf has no more prep than TMM had before he played last week. I think our season rests on Metcalf now, so I'd have him in asap.

This week will be very interesting. We haven't played a team in the top 6 since round 3. We are still yet to confirm that we are a true contender vs one of a number of teams in a pack chasing a top 4 spot. Particularly so without our no.1 halfback.