The final scoreline of 18-6 didn’t do justice to the effort against the two-time premiers, who held a 12-6 lead at the break.
The loss of Ed Kosi in the first half caused a backline reshuffle, while Jackson Ford and Demitric Sifakula spent time in the sin bin in the second period.
If their application and resilience was impressive, coach Andrew Webster will be disappointed with their execution, as they were a bit off on their rare visits inside the Penrith quarter, lacking the conviction and timing needed. They were also untidy in possession, though their kicking game improved considerably in the second half, and the output of one try across two matches is cause for concern.
The Panthers lacked attacking fluency themselves, but the all-round class of halfback Nathan Cleary plus their pure forward grunt was the difference.
For the Warriors, it’s their third consecutive defeat to a heavyweight team, on a brutal run of three matches inside 11 days.
While they will be satisfied with their baseline performance at Suncorp Stadium, the pressure will now start to build, ahead of a short turnaround to play the Bulldogs in Sydney next Friday.
The result means they slip to 5-5 for the season and remain on the fringe of the top eight.
After being held to nil against the Roosters last week, the Warriors took only nine minutes to open the scoring. It was a well-worked try, with slick hands from Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris putting Addin Fonua-Blake across for his fourth of the season.
The Warriors were edging the arm wrestle, but Penrith grabbed the initiative back.
Johnson did well to stop Isaah Yeo close to the line, but something was building and after three successive sets Dylan Edwards slipped past tired defenders near the posts.
It was a brutal half. Marcelo Montoya trampled over the top of Cleary, then Kosi flattened Stephen Crichton. It was a fantastic hit – but the Warriors wing injured his knee in the process. He could barely run, and the Panthers took advantage of his immobility, working an overlap to put Brian To’o across in the corner.
Kosi was strangely left out there for almost 15 minutes before eventually being replaced, with Marata Niukore moving to the centres and Montoya to the flank.
Penrith were on top. They didn’t make an error until the 38th minute and completed their first 23 sets, but the Warriors held firm.
And there were occasional flashes, with Wayde Egan and Josh Curran combining, before Egan was dragged down five metres short. But Johnson overcooked the subsequent grubber, in a half where the Warriors couldn’t get their attacking fifth-tackle options in sync. The halfback’s radar was a bit off, while a Dylan Walker attempt was charged down.
Not much changed in the second half. Penrith had all the territory – and most of the possession – while the Warriors seemed to spend all their time tackling. To make things worse, Jackson Ford was sinbinned for a hip drop tackle, with Cleary extending their lead from the subsequent penalty.
Things threatened to fall apart in the final quarter. The Warriors lost Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to an HIA with 15 minutes to play (though he returned just before the hooter), then Demitric Sifakula was sinbinned for a shove on Cleary.
A Johnson break threatened a late revival – but Penrith defended repeat sets before a powerful Spencer Leniu try sealed the contest.
Panthers 18 (Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Spencer Leniu tries; Nathan Cleary 2 cons, pen)
Warriors 6 (Addin Fonua-Blake try; Shaun Johnson con)
HT: 12-6
