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Sport Nation
The ‘giant shadow’ looming over the Warriors
Nicholas Quinlan • August 1st, 2025 12:26 pm
Are the Warriors in danger of losing their spot in the top four?
Well, according to SEN’s Andrew Voss, that might be the case should they succumb to the Dolphins on Friday night.
It has been a positive bounce-back this season for the New Zealand based side, having been in the top four every week since Round 5 bar one after missing finals in 2024.
But that position of safety might now be compromised with Penrith very much on the prowl.
Last week they were the main benefactors of the Eels' upset win over the Broncos, who Penrith leapt to now sit fifth.
The Panthers also benefited from the Warriors' upset loss to the Gold Coast Titans.
That defeat now sees the gap between the fourth-placed Warriors and fifth-placed Panthers close to just three points with six games left to go.
This had led Voss to believe that this game is a must-win for the Warriors to maintain their spot in the four against another finals contender in the Dolphins and keep the Panthers at bay.
“There’s this giant shadow looming over the Warriors, and it’s called the Panthers,” Voss declared on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“You can say that we take it one game at a time, but surely, they’ve looked at the table.
“And now Penrith, who were last not so long ago, are three points away from the Warriors.
"(The) Warriors are coming off defeat. Previous week to that, they beat Newcastle in the last seconds, could have been so easily back-to-back losses.
“I think (they) just have to win. It could be season-defining. Lose tonight, top four spot in jeopardy.”
It will be a tough match for the Warriors as they’ll have to do it without stars like James Fisher-Harris and Chanel Harris-Tavita, who are both out with calf injuries.
The Warriors will host the Dolphins at Go Media Stadium in Auckland with kick-off at 6pm AEST (8pm local time).
SEN will have live coverage of this match from 5pm across its radio network and on the SEN app.
