League: Warriors on brink after loss to Panthers

SYDNEY - Penrith virtually ended the Warriors' faint hopes of securing an NRL finals berth following their 42-34 victory at Penrith Stadium tonight.

The Panthers are out of finals contention but showed enough flair in attack to notch their seventh win in a disappointing season.

The win also helps Penrith in its battle to avoid the wooden spoon.

With their season on the line, the Warriors showed glimpses of brilliance but their defence was awful in a match in which 76 points were posted.

The Auckland-based club is four points outside the eight and must win its remaining four games to have any hope of making the finals.

Skipper Craig Gower was the architect of the seven-tries-to-six victory, setting up fullback Rhys Wesser for a 74th minute try which sealed the result.

The Panthers scored five tries in the opening half -- including a double to Test winger Luke Rooney -- and looked like they would cruise to victory after going to the sheds leading 28-12.

The Warriors kept themselves in the hunt through tries to hooker Nathan Fien and in-form halfback Stacey Jones but their defence was leaking like a sieve.

But the Warriors -- who staged a remarkable comeback to beat the Sydney Roosters two weeks ago -- scored converted tries through Awen Guttenbeil and Brent Webb to reduce their deficit to 28-24 in the blink of an eye.

Panthers coach John Lang would've been furious as his team conceded the two tries with Warriors forward Richard Villasanti in the sin-bin for a 36th minute professional foul.

The scores were level in the 52nd minute when Warriors centre Clinton Toopi brushed off Luke Lewis and made a long-range break before setting up winger Todd Byrne for a 75m try.

Penrith centre Paul Franze broke the deadlock with a 50m run to the left corner after his team opted to keep the ball alive on the fifth tackle, with Campbell converting from near the sideline.

The Panthers edged further ahead 36-28 with a match-turning penalty goal to Campbell.

Referee Russell Smith awarded the penalty to the home side after Warriors pair Brent Webb and Monty Betham rushed in to defend Jones, who was felled in a Ben Ross shoulder charge after he had kicked downfield.

Warriors skipper Steve Price complained to Smith that Webb and Betham were only protecting their teammate but his plea was ignored.

Warriors five-eighth Sione Faumuina grabbed a late consolation try after Wesser had crossed.

- AAP