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What a week it was for Casey McLean.<\/p>\n
Four days after producing a NSW Origin cameo to remember, McLean was the hero for Penrith as they scored an epic 20-18 won over the New Zealand Warriors.<\/p>\n
The Warriors were pushing hard for the winner with two minutes remaining, enjoyed a few repeat sets, then McLean tackled fullback Taine Tuaupiki and forced the ball free.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old also bagged a first-half double; in his second try he positioned himself beautifully in front of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to catch a Jack Cogger cross-field kick.<\/p>\n
McLean is such a joy to watch and has a huge future. The same can be said for the Panthers and Warriors, who deserved better than a Sunday evening kick-off, and are a good chance of meeting on grand final day.<\/p>\n
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary loved what he saw from McLean at Accor Stadium against Queensland and went as far to say his performance proved the difference against the Warriors.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was outstanding, awesome, he likes playing against his Kiwi mates as well,\u201d Cleary said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got asked about him playing on the wing [for NSW] a few weeks back, I know he\u2019s played there, but he hadn\u2019t done pretty much any reps there. Then he goes out [on Wednesday] in the pouring rain and attacked everything … I\u2019m glad he plays for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stand-in captain Dylan Edwards, left heartbroken when denied his own Blues\u2019 dream, was another to star for the Panthers.<\/p>\n
Edwards, who lost his NSW No.1 jersey to James Tedesco, was asked to lead his club with Blues trio Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Brian To\u2019o all rested.<\/p>\n
![\"Penrith\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1176e8bcb4cfe059a0d0a77aa832f0df004cc439.jpeg\")
Penrith\u2019s Casey McLean opens the scoring on Sunday night.Getty Images<\/p>\n
During a 10-minute surge in the second half, Edwards shoved former teammate and Warriors rival James Fisher-Harris when he started heckling Paul Alamoti for slipping and letting in a Warriors try. It was very out of character for the mild-mannered Fisher-Harris and Edwards reacted by shoving him before a melee erupted.<\/p>\n
Referee Gerard Sutton was clearly unimpressed and read the riot act to the experienced pair.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not up for debate or discussion,\u201d Sutton told both captains.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a try scored, and you come in and want to get in their face.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it kicks off, you will lose blokes; the responsibility is on both you guys to get your fellas out. If you don\u2019t do that, I will sit someone down if it happens again. The game is at a critical stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fisher-Harris said he did not say anything to Alamoti, and revealed after the game: \u201cI just clapped five times, it got a bit heated. I know those boys, it was the heat of the battle, we were just having fun out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The fact Edwards refused to back down from one of the most physically imposing men in rugby league sent the perfect message to his teammates.<\/p>\n
He then saved what could have been a contender for try of the year when the Warriors spread the ball through the hands, only for Edwards to chop down Jacob Laban as the last line of defence.<\/p>\n
The tireless fullback popped up at the other end of the field and threw the final pass for Alamoti to put Penrith back in the lead.<\/p>\n
Cheeky McLean made a point of verbally lashing Fisher-Harris as he joined in the try celebrations.<\/p>\n
Cleary said Edwards, not for the first time, produced a proper \u201ccaptain\u2019s knock\u201d.<\/p>\n
Penrith will love this win because of the personnel they had resting, and their try-line defence.<\/p>\n
Rarely do they give teams much of an opportunity to score, and the Warriors bombed a few of those limited opportunities in the first half, which may have cost them the win.<\/p>\n
Laban scored, but Ali Leiataua was denied a four-pointer because he was offside, a final ball from Te Maire Martin to Adam Pompey for a possible four-pointer sailed forward, and Tanner Stowers-Smith knocked on just metres from the line.<\/p>\n
The Warriors were brilliant and will lose no admirers, including the vocal locals in attendance at CommBank Stadium.<\/p>\n
After a third straight week on the road, they will enjoy the bye. They will also welcome the return of Origin duo Kurt Capewell and Mitch Barnett.<\/p>\n
Centre Izack Tago produced the best hit of the game on Harris-Tavita, but he was later informed he had been placed on report for the bell-ringer. Luke Garner will be fined for pulling Watene-Zelezniak\u2019s long locks.<\/p>\n
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