<p>The New Zealand Warriors are back playing finals footy and will host a cut-throat elimination final against the Penrith Panthers at Go Media Stadium on Saturday evening.</p> <p>The Panthers enter Saturday’s contest with 12 straight finals wins and a 9-1 record from their last 10 against the Warriors, but they will spend the entirety of this finals series on the road after finishing in seventh place.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Warriors have limped into the finals with just two wins from their past seven matches and will come up against former coach Ivan Cleary, who guided them into a grand final during his last season at the helm.</p> <p>The Warriors have regained Wayde Egan and Jackson Ford but lost Rocco Berry, who is replaced by Kurt Capewell in the centres, meaning Leka Halasima joins the starting pack.</p> <p>The Panthers will see Brian To’o and Liam Martin return from their extended rest but have lost Mitch Kenny, with Luke Sommerton to start at hooker.</p> <p>Check out our New Zealand Warriors vs Penrith Panthers match preview for plenty of betting tips and predictions across a host of markets. From H2H to anytime try scorer and everything in between.&nbsp;</p> <p>Looking for all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of this crunch Elimination Final? Check out our Warriors vs Panthers prediction below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Warriors vs Panthers Prediction and Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>Saturday sees the first do-or-die match of the 2025 NRL Finals series when the New Zealand Warriors host the Penrith Panthers.</p> <p>If you thought the Storm were September specials, the Panthers are the end boss of finals footy.</p> <p>They’ve featured in the last five Grand Finals, winning the last four, but they’ve never found themselves in this position.</p> <p>After a season riddled with injuries and inconsistencies, they pulled themselves from the foot of the ladder into the eight and must now do it the hard way if they are to capture an unprecedented fifth consecutive crown.</p> <p>Speaking of injuries and inconsistencies, the Warriors can certainly relate. They were flying high for most of the regular season until injuries, namely the one of main man Luke Metcalfe sent them into somewhat of a tailspin.</p> <p>Back-to-back losses to finish the season, saw them crash out of the top four and now their lives are on the line when Penrith come to town.</p> <p>As resilient as the Wahs have been in the face of adversity this season, this feels like a step too far for them.</p> <p>Penrith simply have too much experience in these pressure cooker situations and in Nathan Cleary, have arguably the most clutch player in the competition, when he isn’t wearing sky blue, that is.</p> <p>Yes, the Warriors are at home but come full-time, we think that’s where they’ll be staying.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-penrith-panthers-9597449">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Tryscorer Prediction</h3> <p>The forwards have been going above and beyond in the try scoring department this season and we can’t help but throw our support behind them.</p> <p>One of our favourites to back in 2025 has been Leka Halasima, who has scored at least one try in four of New Zealand's last five home matches.</p> <p>Halasima has also been promoted to the starting side following Kurt Capewell’s move to the centres, making him prime picking for the first try scorer market.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-penrith-panthers-9597449">Leka Halasima.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under Prediction</h3> <p>Each of Penrith's last four Finals Week 1 matches have gone under the total match points line.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/new-zealand-warriors-v-penrith-panthers-9597449">Under total match points.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Warriors vs Panthers Anytime Tryscorer Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Paul Alamoti</h3> <p>Paul Alamoti has scored at least one try in each of his last five appearances.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Dallin Watene-Zelezniak</h3> <p>Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored at least one try in four of his last five appearances with New Zealand as an underdog.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Casey McLean</h3> <p>Casey McLean has scored at least one try in six of his last seven appearances.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Dylan Edwards</h3> <p>Dylan Edwards has scored a try in four of his last five away appearances against New Zealand.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Blaize Talagi</h3> <p>Blaize Talagi has scored at least one try in each of Penrith's last three interstate matches.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Warriors vs Panthers Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>New Zealand Warriors Team List</h3> <p>1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad</p> <p>2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak</p> <p>3. Adam Pompey</p> <p>4. Kurt Capewell&nbsp;</p> <p>5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck</p> <p>6. Chanel Harris-Tavita</p> <p>7. Tanah Boyd</p> <p>8. James Fisher-Harris</p> <p>9. Wayde Egan&nbsp;</p> <p>10. Jackson Ford</p> <p>11. Leka Halasima</p> <p>12. Marata Niukore</p> <p>13. Erin Clark</p> <p>14. Te Maire Martin</p> <p>15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava</p> <p>16. Demitric Vaimauga</p> <p>17. Tanner Stowers-Smith</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Penrith Panthers Team List</h3> <p>1. Dylan Edwards</p> <p>2. Paul Alamoti</p> <p>3. Izack Tago</p> <p>4. Casey McLean</p> <p>5. Brian To'o&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>6. Blaize Talagi</p> <p>7. Nathan Cleary&nbsp;</p> <p>8. Moses Leota</p> <p>9. Luke Sommerton</p> <p>10. Lindsay Smith</p> <p>11. Scott Sorensen</p> <p>12. Liam Martin</p> <p>13. Isaah Yeo</p> <p>14. Brad Schneider&nbsp;</p> <p>15. Liam Henry&nbsp;</p> <p>16. Isaiah Papali'i</p> <p>17. Luke Garner</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Warriors vs Panthers Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Saturday, September 13, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off:</strong> 4:05pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Go Media Stadium, Auckland.&nbsp;</p>