The Round 13 finale brings a heavyweight showdown as the ladder-leading Penrith Panthers take on the in-form New Zealand Warriors in a top-of-the-table clash. With Origin backing-up concerns, key injuries on both sides, and a recent history dominated by Penrith, this matchup looms as a genuine litmus test for two premiership contenders.
Read Full Previews (links to all games)
- Sharks vs Sea Eagles → Read full preview: sharks-vs-sea-eagles-round-13-preview-2026
- Knights vs Eels → Read full preview: knights-vs-eels-round-13-preview-2026
- Wests Tigers vs Bulldogs → Read full preview: wests-tigers-vs-bulldogs-round-13-preview-2026
- Storm vs Roosters → Read full preview: storm-vs-roosters-round-13-preview-2026
- Broncos vs Dragons → Read full preview: broncos-vs-dragons-round-13-preview-2026
- Raiders vs Cowboys → Read full preview: raiders-vs-cowboys-round-13-preview-2026
- Panthers vs Warriors → Read full preview: panthers-vs-warriors-round-13-preview-2026
Matchday Details
Sunday, 31 May 2026 – 6:15pm AEST – CommBank Stadium, Sydney
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Gerard Sutton | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Penrith Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Thomas Jenkins, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Luke Garner, 5. Paul Alamoti, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Moses Leota, 9. Freddy Lussick, 10. Liam Henry, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Lindsay Smith, 14. Jack Cole, 15. Scott Sorensen, 16. Billy Phillips, 17. Luron Patea, 18. Billy Scott, 19. Sione Fonua, 20. Kalani Going, 21. Casey McLean, 22. Isaah Yeo, 23. Nathan Cleary, 24. Brian To’o
New Zealand Warriors: 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. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demetric Vaimauga, 17. Marata Niukore, 18. Kayliss Fatialofa, 20. Luke Hanson, 21. Makaia Tafua, 22. Luke Metcalf, 23. Jason Salalilo
Match Preview
The final match of Round 13 is a top-of-the-table clash, with the ladder-leading Panthers taking on the second-placed Warriors.
All four of the Panthers’ Origin players have been named in the reserves and will be a chance to back up after the Blues’ big win on Wednesday night. However, coach Ivan Cleary has often taken a conservative path when it comes to his representative players. Should they not back up, Luke Garner has been named in the centres alongside Izack Tago, with Jack Cogger at halfback, while Liam Henry has been named to start at prop, with Lindsay Smith shifting to lock. In a big boost for their forward pack, Liam Martin has been named to return from injury in the second row.
The Warriors will have to play the rest of the season without Roger Tuivasa-Sheck after scans confirmed a devastating ACL injury to the star winger. Adam Pompey has been named in his place, while Marata Niukore is the new face on the bench in place of Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, who was concussed last week. Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell will both be rested following their involvement in Origin.
The Panthers come into this match after having the bye in Round 12, their last start a 28–6 win over the Dragons in Magic Round, the same team the Warriors handled with relative ease in a 30–12 victory last week.
This will be the first time these two sides have faced off this season, their last meeting seeing the Warriors eliminated from finals as the Panthers proved far too strong in a 24–8 win in New Zealand. The Warriors look much improved in 2026 and sit just one win behind the Panthers, who have started this season strongly after an uncharacteristically slow start in 2025.
With no Barnett or Capewell, the rest of the Warriors forward pack will have to step up, but that shouldn’t be a problem with James Fisher-Harris and Jackson Ford setting the tone in the middle. Ford is enjoying an incredible start to the season, sitting second in the Dally M voting.
The return of Martin will provide some extra punch for the Panthers forwards, while a lot will depend on whether Yeo backs up from a 66-minute effort in the middle on Wednesday night. Cogger has proved he can fill in admirably for Cleary in the halves, but there is a potential weakness on the edges for the Warriors to exploit if To’o and McLean don’t suit up, with Tago and Garner defending in the centres.
Look for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to get some early ball and continue his try-scoring run, having crossed the stripe 12 times in the last seven games.
The Panthers, however, hold the advantage over the Warriors in recent times, having won 10 of their past 11 meetings.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Panthers by 2
Full Round 13 tips → /nrl-round-13-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak adds a double but it’s not enough for the Warriors to overcome the Panthers.
Related
- Full Round 13 coverage → /nrl/2026-season/round-13
- NRL Round 13 Team Lists → /nrl-round-13-team-lists-2026/
- NRL Injury List → /nrl/injuries/
