The Panthers are one win away from a grand final following one of their greatest ever wins over the Roosters.
Penrith never gave in despite being in difficult positions throughout the match.
The Roosters seemed to have them at their mercy on several occasions in the second half but the Panthers just wouldn’t go away.
Soward once again with a superb field goal to seal the deal.
The Panthers will now enjoy a home preliminary final.
FINAL SCORE:
Roosters 18
Panthers 19
The Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers face off for the right to seal a home preliminary final in two weeks’ time. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:50pm (AEST).
This time last year the Panthers were preparing for mad Monday after finishing near the bottom of the ladder.
12 months later and Penrith are now facing reigning premiers Sydney in a qualifying final.
The turnaround at Penrith has been nothing short of outstanding. Despite dealing with several injuries to key players throughout the course of the year, the Panthers kept turning up to play week in, week out and have been rightfully rewarded with a top four berth.
The Panthers have made a habit of beating teams that underestimate them and could easily defeat the Roosters tonight if the reigning premiers turn up thinking of next week and play with complacency.
The problem for Penrith tonight however, surrounds the fact that the Roosters have peaked at just the right time of the season.
While their complacency got the better of them in defeats to the Sharks and Knights, those performances are now in the past.
Sydney has since won six straight matches to seal the minor premiership and such a run once again solidifies their standing as the team to beat in the finals.
In short, the Roosters at their best remain a class above Penrith. If Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney, Michael Jennings, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Anthony Minichiello and Sonny Bill Williams all continue their strong form, Sydney should win this fairly comfortably.
These two sides, however, have only met once this season – with the Roosters emerging as comfortable winners during a time when they were not playing at their best.
As mentioned earlier though, the Roosters can ill-afford to be complacent. The opening 20 minutes or so will dictate what type of attitude the Roosters have brought with them to the contest.
If the Roosters play direct and manage to post quick points, chances are that they will dominate this qualifying final against a spirited Penrith side with nothing to lose.
Tip: Roosters by 14
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 5:50pm (AEST).
If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
No - NRL (straight in your eyes) restricts their content in Thailand. At half-time I jumped on a bike and found an Aussie Bar in the next town at Karon Beach. They had a satellite patch of the game. Not sure if it was entirely legal ?? Great finish to the match - stoked for The Panthers. There was a Roosters supporter sitting next to me who was gutted . Ha Very happy that I didn't have to sit through the second half listening to the 2GB call on my laptop.
Muzz
Guest
It's cramp not concussion ! Thats the point Robbo was trying to make. Get up play the ball and then carry on like a drama queen.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Well what is the ref supposed to do to make the game flow? Segeyaro couldn't stand up, so he can't play the ball. He was the guy who just got tackled and therefore had control of the football. Any play the ball has to happen either by him, or with him off the ground, so the game has to stop, end of story.
Matt
Guest
Easts can play better, but Penrith can't play any better??? No disrespect to your mother Arthur, but 1/ she's not great at spelling (even her own name ??) and 2/ she doesn't have 3% the football brain that you had.
rugby chick
Guest
My hubby & I agree with you. we've been discussing the issue over the refs all morning. Roosters were blatently robbed.
bully
Guest
He was playing the ball how the #$*(% can you not stop play?
steveng
Guest
That kick could have gone pear shape and then what would you have called it? The kick was a low trajectory kick and it just had the height and legs and sure it was a 1 pointer but it could have easily went under the bar. What I'm saying about abysmal also is that the Panthers were virtually walking there at the ruck and sometimes (like Souths) they didn't know what they were doing and it looked like schoolboys footy. That is all I'm trying to point out the indecisions on the Panthers side, but it was an exciting game and very good for the NRL but how I also wish that the NRL would stop the clock when the ball is dead or not in play just like the AFL which would make the NRL the best and most exciting game on this planet. What do you all think?
Matt
Guest
But they have Marshall now! Only one flick pass away from the GF the Dragons were.
Matt
Guest
He's matured? He guided the Dragons to a premiership, he's been there and done that. Was a great buy, likely a cracker price too. He cops a lot more hate then he deserves.
Elma Dudd
Guest
And a blatant disallowed try ...absolute rubbish to not go upstairs for that ,,,
Muzz
Guest
Words to the effect of - "you shouldn't be stopping play for cramp in the finals series" He was frustrated as the game was full of stop starts. As a fan of the game, i like to see the game flow. How about you, Alex?
xavialonso
Guest
People should forget about letting Pearce back into the NSW side. Why have Mythcell when you can have SOWARD. Not trying to bag Pearce, but Bozo and the NSW selectors should never have let SOWARD go ofd their radar in the first place. I used to hate Jamie, but he's matured since coming to the Panthers. Much respect!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
He compared stopping play because the player who needed to play the ball was cramped up and couldn't stand to not stopping the play when a player got injured and the play the ball wasn't even in the same approximate post code...
Clark
Guest
I'm no Manly fan, what does that game have to do with this one?
Arthur Beatsons Mum
Guest
Great result to Penrith, well played. Easts can play better than that, but i think thats as good as Penrith gets. Easts will now have to play 3 hard games in a row to go back to back, its a tough road but i think they are still favorites to win the GF. If Souths recover well and play at their best they cannot be stopped, The problem with Souths are they are so hot and cold. If Cowboys beat Easts and i hope they do, they seem to have the wood on Souths. interesting to see Just what Melbourne do against the Berries. If everyone plays their best football. Souths win the GF. Still like Easts though they seem a little bit more composed overall. Manly seem to be shot to hell, just to many issues with them. The players all appear as if they cant get away from the place quick enough maybe some infighting between players.
Muzz
Guest
I agree with everything Robbo said in the post match press conference.
Roarsome
Guest
If only I put my money where my mouth is. damn!
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
True, but why do the refs give people an easy target by not following a very simple rule?
The eye
Guest
If only that was for a place in the final !!
Matt
Guest
A very stop start affair. Good win for the penrith team but not very convincing. However the roosters were at their best and I must say the refs did a pretty good job (except for the delays - but I think the roosters did this to penrith in round one from memory) penrith will need to lift for the majors but the roosters will need to do a bit more than that.