The Sydney Roosters will look to build on their first win of the season over the Penrith Panthers at Allianz Stadium on Monday night. Join us for all the action, live on The Roar from 7pm (AEST).
The Roosters finally got on the board for 2016 last week, led by the inspirational Dylan Napa they beat the Rabbitohs into submission early and got a well-deserved win. The Panthers meanwhile kept the trend of heart-stoppers going, falling to the Cowboys by 5 points, a game that could have easily gone to golden point, or been won by the Panthers.
In team news, the Roosters lose Sio Siua Taukeiaho through injury with Mitchell Frei onto the bench, they are otherwise unchanged. The Panthers have an extended bench that includes Elijah Tayor and Tyrone Peachey, I would expect Taylor to drop off as he has for most weeks, much to the frustration of Panthers fans, Peachey may make the 17.
The Roosters were solid last week against the Rabbitohs. It was the aggression and desire that got them over the line and it was summed up by Dylan Napa who pulled off some incredible shots in an outstanding 80 minute performance. The Rabbitohs though it has to be said were very flat, they looked bereft of ideas in attack and just didn’t have the attitude to match the Roosters after creaming them in Round 1.
The Panthers took it to the premiers in Penrith, they jumped out to a 10-point lead and after a lead change managed to get out to a 6-point lead in the second half only to be run down late. They had two chances to square or win the match late with Mansour bundled into touch and Soward missing wide of the posts with his field goal attempt. A late try saw them go down by 5.
Both teams positions on the ladder tell a somewhat misleading story. The Panthers have had an opportunity to win each of their 6 matches but have just two wins to show for it. The Roosters meanwhile were perhaps robbed by a bunker call against the Sea Eagles and lost it in golden point against the Warriors in Gosford.
This match will be all about the desperation and desire. It is early days but it is still a must-win for these two sides. The Panthers are just about the best side out of the eight at the moment, and have perhaps been better than a couple of sides in it, they just have fallen agonisingly short too many times. They cannot afford to be complacent, they have to be professional and clinical, they need to find the experience to put a side away.
The Roosters need a fast start. The Panthers do know how to play from behind and score points when they need to, they came from behind against the Eels and are always in the contest late. The Roosters don’t want to have the lottery of the Panthers within a try late in the game because depending on which side turns up they may find the points at the death to clinch it.
Prediction
On form the Panthers should have this 13+ but they need to string some performances together before I can tip them at that margin. They should get it done against a Roosters side that is still very inexperienced and missing some class.
Panthers by 7.
Join us for the commentary live on The Roar from 7pm (AEST)