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.
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Final score
Wyong Roos 12
Penrith Panthers 20
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.
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.
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.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I can't think of a worse one off the top of my head; apparently the turf on Suncorp Stadium had the greatest share of possession between the two teams!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nope - I'm not sure I've ever seen a higher error count?
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Yeah, that annihilation was the Cutters but I meant back in 2014; I trekked down to the NSW Cup grand final; barracked the Knights out of sympathy for their NRL side, and watched them lose. A week later I was at the NRL grand final and watched Penrith give up a lead and send the first state championship to Queensland. Well, yes that’s true; a loss for the Roosters is normally happy days :P I’m with you on PNG too, today would have taken a lot out of them and 27 errors isn’t something that can be glossed over.
Peter
Guest
You. Otherwise you wouldn't have commented. Unless you were just desperate for attention from someone, anyone?
Glenn
Guest
Who cares
Scott Pryde
Expert
Haha cheers Ben, Penrith weren't in the state championship last year - that was Illawarra, and hey if the Roosters are losing, it's happy days right? I'd love to see PNG win, but yeah I think they played their grand final today.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Well I’ve got to take my hat off to you Scotty; prediction was spot on. I’m a bit disappointed with the result I must say, I think that Wyong could have benefitted from finally winning the state’s grand final, considering they don’t see all that many NRL matches in their area, as opposed to Penrith. I’ve a bit of a soft spot for them as well; despite being affiliated with the Roosters. I’ve seen enough of Penrith in the State Championship, too :P So PNG v Penrith before the GF next Sunday; I’m not too keen on either of them, but I reckon Penrith will win by 13+.
Scott Pryde
Expert
» Click here to read the full match report Thanks for joining me this evening for The Roar's live coverage of the 2017 NSW Cup Final as the Penrith Panthers defeated the Wyong Roos. They will now take on the Papua New Guinea Hunters next Sunday in the State Challenge. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. The Roar will be back on Wednesday night with the Dally M Medal Ceremony at 8:30pm (AEST), then all three games next Sunday. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, the Panthers were just too good there. Their pack were brilliant. It's a youthful pack, but there was NRL experience there, and they dominated the game. The scoreboard probably doesn't show their dominance after a very clunky first half. Wyong - minor premiers and it's been a very tough 24 hours at the Roosters.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Panthers bring it away from the scrum, run down the clock and that's just about going to do it here. Sivo runs over halfway, then Katoa takes the last. The siren rings and the Penrith Panthers are New South Wales Cup champions. Wyong Roos 12 Penrith Panthers 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Momirovski goes left with a run, then Vunakece. They are setting for a shift right, and here it comes. Butcher to Toovey-White and he offloads to Nikorima who finds Manu. He is in space down the sideline, but the defence slide, cover, run him to the touchline and his flick inside to Tuivasa-Sheck is no good, going over the sideline. Penrith hold on. That'll be in. Inside the final 2 minutes. Roos 12 Panthers 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Penrith to work it away from their own end. It's some good running away from the oustide backs, Crichton and Satini involved on the left through the middle of the set. Up to halfway, then Nicholls kicks from halfway and it's Centrone to bring it back. Roos 12 Panthers 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - The Roos working it off their own line then. It's Vunakece and Butcher with the first couple before Smith goes to Cornish, then it's Nikorima and Manu is in space. Tuivasa-Sheck in space! He fends off one and hands it back inside to Manu who is over! No! What defence from Sivo. He has ran from the other side of the field and saved the try. The Roos have two plays here, and it's Vunakece who has dropped it. What a tackle from Kikau. 4 minutes to go and surely this is over. Roos 12 Panthers 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - The Panthers work it over halfway through Akauola, before Luai goes left to Kikau and he is taken 25 out. Ellis back to the middle, before Rein goes to Eisenhuth and he shifts from right to left, but is tackled. Luai runs on the last, offloads to Katoa, then it's Rein and he knocks on. Roos 12 Panthers 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - Play off the scrum for the Roos here and Sharpe is away, but can't get through. They go through Vunakece and he coughs it up 35 out. Roos 12 Panthers 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - Anything but good for Penrith. Bad drop for Cartwright on the third play. Roos 12 Panthers 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - The Roos with some big runs down the right-edge, both Vunvakece and Gray getting involved. Here comes a shift right, but Manu has dropped it ten shy of halfway flicking a pass out the back. Hero one minute, villain the next. Still plenty of time though. Wyong have to defend well here and then get back down the field. 7:28 on the clock. Roos 12 Panthers 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by PAUL MOMIROVSKI Roos 12 Panthers 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - TRY ROOS, JOHNNY TUIVASA-SHECK The Roos bring it away through Sharpe, then it's Vunakece down the right-hand edge. Great line speed from Waddell to shut down Collins. Out the back from Butcher to Manu now who steps around a few and offloads to Butcher who gains some more ground. Nothing going here for the Roos, but here's a spread left from Cornish to Nikorima and then an offload with Williams to Vunakece and he is tackled 20 out. Last play and it's short side from Manu to Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck with a cut out ball! He flirts with the sideline, steps in and around and then reaches out to score. 3-on-3, but this is a wonderful effort from Manu and Tuivasa-Sheck. Crichton caught out and the game is still alive. Roos 10 Panthers 20