Stats the spirit: Running the Round 13 numbers 📊📉
All the key figures to come out of a stone-cold regular season classic.
Stats reflect high-quality showdown
Panthers’ rivalry dominance continues
Rare small margin
Egan tackles the house down
AKP keeps dotting down, DWZ streak ends
Penrith’s 20-18 eclipse of the Warriors in Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash was hailed as one of the best regular-season encounters in recent years — and the numbers illustrated just how tight this barnburner was.
Possession was split 50/50, while both sides boasted elite completion rates: the Panthers 92 percent (36 of 39) and the Warriors 89 percent (35 of 39).
The Panthers had a slight advantage in run metres (1,718 to 1,638), post-contact metres (599 to 595) and average set distance (44.07 to 42.01), while they made six line-breaks to the Warriors’ four (the Warriors had a 40-34 tackle-break advantage) and produced 10 offloads to the Warriors’ seven.
Their were eight errors apiece and the rivals gave away four penalties each, while the Warriors finish 5-3 to the good in terms of set restarts.
Taine Tuaupiki had another blinder with a game-high 228 metres, a try, a line-break and 10 tackle-breaks, while Erin Clark (164 metres, 38 tackles) and Jackson Ford (135 metres, 51 tackles) were the gruntiest of the Warriors’ forwards.
The upshot is the Panthers have extended their competition lead to four points, leaving the Warriors in outright second just two points ahead of Sydney Roosters and Newcastle.
The Warriors’ 9-3 record is their equal second-best in club history after 12 games, alongside their 2025 counterparts. The 2002 combination was 10-2.
TWL Rd 13: Kingz Container Crew Warriors Player Ratings
The absence of five State of Origin players could not detract from Sunday night’s top-of-the-table showdown as Penrith and the Warriors delivered arguably the match of 2026 so far — but it was the Pa…
Penrith mightier than the sword
The nature of the loss made it much easier to stomach for Warriors fans, but the stark reality remains Penrith has won 11 of the last 12 matches between the clubs. The Warriors remain winless against the Panthers in Sydney since 2019.
The Warriors’ all-time win percentage against the Panthers is now their third-worst against any current club, emphasising the importance of the teams’ Round 23 clash in Auckland ahead of a potential finals showdown against a club they are 0-4 against in the post-season.
WARRIORS’ WORST WINNING PERCENTAGE AGAINST CURRENT CLUB
32.95% - Manly Sea Eagles
33.33% - Melbourne Storm
36.11% - Penrith Panthers
37.50% - St George Illawarra Dragons
42.30% - Cronulla Sharks
