Penrith’s quest for a fifth consecutive premiership is alive and kicking after Nathan Cleary ignited a gritty 24-8 win that ends the Warriors’ NRL season.

The talismanic halfback hoisted the Panthers back into Saturday’s elimination final after a spirited start from a Warriors side roundly dismissed as finals cannon fodder.

The Warriors’ season had lost momentum following injuries to Luke Metcalf and Mitch Barnett, but the hosts never let the visitors breathe easily in greasy Auckland conditions.

It wasn’t until centre Casey McLean iced a superb 80-metre team try that the Panthers looked on track, taking a 10-point lead in the last 15 minutes.

Troubled by a groin injury earlier in the year, Cleary handed over goal-kicking duties to Dylan Edwards late in the game but saw the game out

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