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The Warriors have completed their first 10 sets, are really pressuring the Panthers in defence and have enjoyed a little more than 60% of possession in the early part of this game.

But now their perfect start comes to an end – Leka Halasima fumbling a play-the-ball inside his own half to give Penrith the ball in a dangerous position.

The Panthers earn a six-again, then another, for ruck infringements, but then Liam Martin drops a Nathan Cleary pass and the Warriors come away with it again.

The hosts quickly go down the other end and Halasima pulls of an incredible one-handed catch from a bomb before being tackle a couple of metres short of the Penrith try line on the last tackle. Then some savage, swarming Warriors defence keeps the Panthers inside their own 15 metres after four tackles. The premiership favourites are really on the back foot so far tonight.

Warriors 12, Panthers 0 after 20 minutes

Luke Metcalf has had a strange career of late – after last year’s breakout season he dropped behind Tanah Boyd and then Te Maire Martin in the pecking order, before being recruited by the Dragons for next season.

But now he’s back and showing he’s still a quality player, setting up and scoring the Warriors’ second try.

The halfback pops a well-timed (and very flat) pass to Kurt Capewell who breezes through a gap in the Penrith defence, and the second-rower returns the favour with a pass inside to Metcalf who scores beside the posts.

Warriors 12, Panthers 0 after 13 minutes

It’s been all Warriors in these early stages, and after a set restart the home side scores through a terrific solo run from lock Erin Clark, who beats one defender with a right-foot step then holds off another couple to score.

Luke Metcalf converts and the Kiwis have made a dream start.

Warriors 6, Panthers 0 after six minutes

And we’re off.

Referee Gerard Sutton blows the whistle and the Warriors kick off – and there’s almost a disaster for Penrith who allow the ball to bounce perilously close to the sideline. They regain the ball just in time before the Warriors defence swarms, but it saps any momentum out of their opening set and they barely get beyond the 20-metre line before Nathan Cleary’s clearing kick.

The Warriors have a strong first set with the packed crowd behind them, and they gain another set when Wayde Egan’s loose offload is knocked on by a Penrith defender.

There’s a scare for Penrith when Luke Metcalf’s last-tackle bomb finds the turf, the Warriors regaining possession before Metcalf puts in another kick that is defused by Izack Tago in front of his own goal posts.

Warriors 0, Panthers 0 after three minutes

The Panthers are in pink and the Warriors are in their Indigenous Round jerseys in front of a packed Go Media stadium in Auckland. The Warriors have been terrific this season, are on track for a top-four finish – and could still be in the mix for the minor premiership if they win tonight.

Penrith are without star fullback Dylan Edwards and gun centre Casey McLean, while the Warriors have lost No.7 Te Maire Martin but have the talented Luke Metcalf back in the halfback role tonight.

There’s a haunting pre-game ceremony before kick-off in this one, then a quality haka from the Warriors led by James Fisher-Harris, and the atmosphere is pretty intense.

Kick-off in a couple of minutes.

Craig Bellamy has ended speculation about his future by confirming he will continue as Melbourne coach next year.

Bellamy, one of the game’s greatest mentors, has long considered his position on a year-to-year basis. The veteran coach was diagnosed in April with a form of neurodegenerative disorder, further clouding his future.

However, he revealed he will continue in the role during a pre-game press-conference on Friday at HBF Park in Perth, where his side is preparing to take on Manly on Saturday.

“I’ll be coaching next year, but yeah, I think that that might be the end,” Bellamy told reporters. “But anyway, we’ll see what happens.”

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Stephen Crichton was won three premierships, four Dally M centre of the year awards, two Origin series, 2024 captain of the year honours, but 2026 might still bring the best out of the Canterbury captain.

After all, he has weathered a grade 5 AC joint injury in his shoulder that left him playing through pain for three months, and then the recurring, related nerve damage that regularly required the attention of Bulldogs trainers.

“I just saw bravery,” coach Cameron Ciraldo says of Crichton’s leadership when his side was in the doldrums.

“During that period you know he was busted quite clearly and probably shouldn’t have played.

Tonight’s footy starts in Auckland but first a quick trip all the way to Perth.

On the day the Perth Bears revealed their new jersey, the NRL has gifted the expansion club salary cap dispensation to ensure that it will soon be worn by a marquee player.

Head office granted the Bears two concessions on Friday to help them attract top talent to Western Australia. The first is a marquee player allowance that will allow an existing club sponsor to top up one player’s salary by 20 per cent, without the additional amount going onto the salary cap.

The other is a stipulation that the Bears be given first crack should a contracted player want to leave their club. For example, if a player from one club wants to be released from their deal, the only club they can join will be Perth. If the parties agree, the Bears will pick up the entirety of the contract. The club he is leaving will not be allowed to chip in any of the freight.

The second initiative was proposed by the 17 existing clubs and rubber-stamped by the Australian Rugby League Commission.

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