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NSW Cup Grand Final: Wyong Roos vs Penrith Panthers live scores, blog

24th September, 2017

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Wyong Roos vs Penrith Panthers

2017 New South Wales Cup final, 24 September, 2017

Leichhardt Oval, Lillyfield, Sydney, NSW
Wyong Roos Penrith Panthers
12 SCORE 20
2 Tries 4
1 Conversions 2
1 Penalty Goals 0
0 Field Goals 0
Kick-off: 6:45pm (AEST)
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
TV: Live, Fox League 502
Online: Live, Foxtel app or Foxtel now
Betting: Roos $1.62, Panthers $2.22
Last meeting: Round 20, Roos 24 defeat Panthers 22 at Morry Breen Reserve, Wyong
Referee: Chris Treneman

Wyong Roos
1. Luke Sharpe 2. John Tuivasa-Sheck 3. Paul Momirovski 20. Matt Ikuvalu 5. Chris Centrone 6. Jayden Nikorima 7. Mitch Cornish 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Mitch Williams 14. Eloni Vunakece 11. Brock Gray 12. Justin Toomey-white 13. Nat Butcher
Interchange: 10. Christopher Smith 15. Grant Garvey 16. Jake Lewis 17. Brenden Santi

Penrith Panthers
1. Mason Cerruto 2. Maika Sivo 3. Jed Cartwright 4. Tony Satini 5. Christian Crichton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Darren Nicholls 8. Kaide Ellis 9. Mitch Rein 10. Sitaleki Akauola 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Corey Waddell 13. Liam Martin
Interchange: 14. Tom Eisenhuth 15. Oliver Clark 16. Nick Lui-toso 17. Jack Hetherington 18. Lachlan Stein
The Leichhardt Oval scoreboard (Hpeterswald via Wikimedia Commons)
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24th September, 2017
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Match result:

Penrith put a full stop of the Sydney Roosters’ rugby league weekend from hell when they defeated Wyong 20-12 to claim the NSW Cup premiership on Sunday.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
Wyong Roos 12
Penrith Panthers 20

Match preview:

Minor premiers the Wyong Roos have made their second NSW Cup grand final in three years, but standing in their way will be forwards heavy, but possibly unsettled Penrith Panthers. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 6:45pm (AEST).

The Roos had a fantastic season, finishing four points clear of any other team on the ladder. Despite that, the unpredictability of the NSW Cup means they only won 16 of their 22 games, with three byes and a couple of draws to go with it.

At their best, with a settled halves combination of Jayden Nikorima and Mitchell Cornish, they were brilliant. The couple of draws probably distort their ladder position and they have been strong during the finals, if not brilliant.

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Wyong needed extra time to get past the Canterbury Bulldogs in a qualifying final during the first week, but then used the week off to come good at the end of their contest with the New Zealand Warriors last week, advancing to the grand final with a hard-fought 16-12 win.

The Panthers have had a disrupted season, which is hardly a surprise. Their first-grade side have been chopping and changing all year, and early it looked like Penrith were going to have Dylan Edwards in the mix. He has made it in the NRL though, but it didn’t stop the Panthers from having a strong year.

They marched up the ladder, finishing in third position. On the back of halves Jerome Luai and Darren Nicholls, combining with former Dragons hooker Mitch Rein, they have played an exciting style and finished with the most points in the competition.

What sets them apart is their defence though. Rein is one of the best defensive hookers in the game and working with bruising forwards Villiame Kikau and Sitaleki Akauola, they have conceded just 318 points – less than any other side by 50.

The Panthers finished third, winning two less games than the Roos throughout the regular season but smashed the Warriors in the first week of the finals before going past the Bulldogs 16-12 last week.

Wyong’s pack will need to be on fire to match it with Penrith – but they have some incredible talent coming through, with the Roosters feeder club having Eloni Vunakece, Lindsay Collins and Nat Butcher at their disposal.

Prediction
Wyong might have a settled side and go into this as favourites, but Mitch Rein tilts the balance in the favour of Penrith. Mitch Williams, his opposite number is a good player, but containing Rein will be a key here for the Roos, and they mightn’t be able to do it well enough.

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Panthers by 8.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2017 NSW Cup final from 6:45pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.

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