Monday night football returns to the foot of the mountains in Round 22, as the desperate Penrith Panthers play host to the underachieving Sydney Roosters. Join The Roar for all the action from 6:45pm (AEST).
Following the Warriors’ impressive win on Sunday afternoon, this game now holds dramatic implications for the Panthers’ 2016 finals hopes.
Young duo Leilani Latu and Suaia Matagi deservedly earn the start in the front row, with Zak Hardaker again named in the side. The Englishman is yet to set the world on fire but has been doing enough to keep the faith, tonight could be the night we see him really explode.
The attacking threat that lies in the hands of Matt Moylan, Bryce Cartwright and Nathan Cleary will come under the microscope tonight. The challenge during the last few months for the three has been consistency, so expect plenty of early and clean ball down both the left and ride edges.
The Roosters have had a year to forget, but now play the antagonist role, aiming to injure Penrith’s semi-final hopes.
Bucking the trend, the Tricolours were impressive last-start winners over Brisbane, and haven’t played in almost two weeks following that Thursday night win. The rest will no doubt help them in challenging nighttime conditions.
Blake Ferguson is again named at fullback, with livewire Latrell Mitchell named on the wing. Both Roosters halves have been impressive of late, with Connor Watson and Mitchell Pearce asking plenty of questions of tired defensive lines. Watch for their dynamic running games out wide.
On what should be a cold Monday night at the foot of the mountains, the Roosters need to find the motivation to win, expecting the majority of the crowd to be wearing black, brown and pink.
Prediction
With both sides in very different positions, it’s hard to see the Roosters having enough to knock the Panthers off.
I’ll take Penrith in a closer-than-expected result.
Penrith by 6
Teodoro Kerntke
Guest
Soward's kicking ensured the Panthers' early ascendancy and then prevented the visitors from mounting a comeback as he trapped the home side again and again in their own in-goal.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Peachey's try was every bit as good as Kearin's in the 1980 GF. Wonderful to watch,
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
How good was Grevsmuhl, totally changed the game when he came on
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
Thanks Planko. You should become a Roosters fan, were very passionate last night, exactly what I like to see!
Albo
Guest
Yep ! A good summation and totally agree with your Best & Fairest points allocation ! Definitely picked out the best three players on the park.
Planko
Guest
Good call Jarrod.
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
POST GAME It's an old cliche, but it really was a tale of two halves, as the Penrith Panthers solidify a top eight spot with a 38-18 win over the Sydney Roosters. Both sides traded sets in the first half, with the Roosters the dominant team in the first 20 minutes. A momentum shift however saw Penrith climb on top, and they kept this momentum flowing, leading 18-6 at half time on the back of a few soft tries down the Roosters right edge. It was the Nathan Cleary and Bryce Cartwright show in the second half, the young halves combining to push the lead out to an unassailable margin, ensuring a for and against that surpassed the Warriors, putting them into 7th position. The play that summed up the night was a last tackle run from Cartwright, who offloaded behind his back finding Cleary. The 18 year old darted 30 before putting in a pin point cross field kick on Tyrone Peachey's chest to score a superb team try. The last 20 saw the Roosters again return to the game, but it was more due to the Panthers clocking off than the Roosters dominating. A few late consolation tries made the score look closer than it was, with Penrith cruising home. A worry for coach Griffin will be the lack of ability to play a full 80 minutes, something his side needs to do if they are to play finals footy in 2016. In the end Penrith proved too good, their forwards, bench and class out wide too much for the Roosters tonight Best and Fairest 3 - Nathan Cleary - Was simply outstanding, scored the opener, kicked goals all night, had 2 line breaks, 2 try assists and defended well all night 2 - Chris Grevsmuhl - played 50 minutes off the bench but had superb impact. Scored a try, had 13 runs for 121 metres to go with 26 tackles and a line break. Really changed the momentum of the game when he came on 1 - Boyd Cordner - best of the losing side. Had 14 runs for 144 metres, 34 tackles and a try. Ran and hit hard all night long and played the full 80 minutes as usual. Superb effort, never gave up on the fight Apologies again for the technical errors tonight, thanks for joining me and goodnight! Panthers - 38 Roosters - 18
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
80' Last play of the game is a grubber from Cleary but it gets taken dead. Game over and an impressive win to Penrith Panthers - 38 Roosters - 18
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
78' 2 minutes to go and this one is dying, both sides should just walk off, it's long over Roosters drop the ball and Penrith will pack the scrum and have the last say tonight Panthers - 38 Roosters - 18
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
77' Wallace slides in to make the big play. The old head so important again tonight Mansour with another 150+ metre night. The guy can run! Last tackle option is Wallace dropping it from dummy half. Poor end to the set Panthers - 38 Roosters - 18
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
76' Penrith shift right and with too many tap ons, Roosters come away with it. Penrith looking for the sheds, Roosters still looking to play footy, story of the last 10 or so Panthers - 38 Roosters - 18
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
75' So the 20 we missed it was all Penrith. Cleary was outstanding and the Panthers had the flair rolling Penalty again to Penrith and they will camp inside the 20. Looking to put more points on to their for and against tally Panthers - 38 Roosters - 18
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
74' Mitchell loses it in the tackle, Penrith will win the scrum 40 out. Mansour with the nice low tackle. Great game from Josh again tonight Panthers - 38 Roosters - 18
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
74' kick is good, 6 to go and Penrith looking to hold onto 7th spot on the ladder on for and against Panthers - 38 Roosters - 18
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
73' Cordner with a deserved try. Hard angle running and scores a great try Panthers - 38 Roosters - 16
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
sorry everyone, technical issues We're back and the Panthers are way ahead
jarrod
Guest
Sorry guys technical errors, try and be up and running soon
Planko
Guest
What did Hastings do ? He is better than that ..
Planko
Guest
Good night Jarrod good luck can't watch this.
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
53' Gee Cordner has been good tonight, runs so hard! Again though the lack of Pearce shines through, Matterson with another poor kick that Penrith clean up 5 out Panthers - 28 Roosters - 6