The NZ Warriors have been dealt a harsh reality check by the Penrith Panthers, falling to a comprehensive 26-0 loss at Campbelltown Stadium.
Coming off their clinical performance to shutout the Dragons last weekend, the Warriors devolved to a display riddled with errors and poor discipline that put them quickly into a hole they never came close to climbing out of.
Led by a mammoth performance upfront from James Fisher-Harris, Penrith proved why they were undefeated in 2020 so far, punishing the Warriors mistakes and denying them field position, and therefore, any genuine try-scoring opportunities.
The Panthers opened the scoring in the 12th minute, when Matt Burton was on hand to collect a spilled bomb by Patrick Herbert to claim his first NRL try.
Ten minutes later, Burton had his second of the night, after a poor Blake Green clearing kick rebounded off his legs and he reacted quickly to scoop the ball and sprint 40m clear to dot down.
Minutes out from halftime, another Herbert drop from a high ball put the NZ defence under pressure, and Jarome Luai was able to capitalise with a grubber he collected himself to put the Panthers up 16-0 at halftime.
The second stanza began much the same way the first finished, as Josh Mansour capitalised on a Moses Leota break to break his try-scoring drought and put the Warriors in a 20-0 hole.
In the 64th minute, a well-worked move saw Burton who hit Billy Burns with a short-ball on a pristine running line to go 10m to score.
The Warriors will look to redeem themselves against the North Queensland Cowboys back in Gosford next Friday.
