NRL: Panthers coach praises Warriors handling of controversy

Penrith Panthers head coach Anthony Griffin has praised the Warriors for how they handled recent controversy.

Last week, the Warriors dropped six players from first grade after they admitted to club officials they had mixed energy drinks and prescription medicine on a night out.

Griffin said "After that, it takes some discipline reaction against some of their players."

"I thought as a club they showed a lot of strength in the way they handled that and they got a good result out of it by beating St. George."

The Warriors are set to play against Penrith in Christchurch this week, and have named a team that Griffin said is "very strong".

Two of the six dropped players, Bodene Thompson and Ben Matulino, have been recalled and named in the side to face Penrith.

Griffin said that these players will be back "to prove a point."

"They're going to be very strong and very hard to beat."

Here is the Warriors side named for the clash on Saturday:

1. Tuimoala Lolohea, 2. Jonathan Wright, 3. Blake Ayshford, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. David Fusitu'a, 6. Thomas Leuluai, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Jacob Lillyman, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. James Gavet, 11. Bodene Thompson, 12. Ryan Hoffman (c), 13. John Palavi
Interchange: 14. Issac Luke, 15. Ben Matulino, 16. Charlie Gubb, 17. Shaun Lane, 18. Matt Allwood