Panthers
19
Match Complete
Roosters
10
| J. Maloney |  | 77 | ||
| N. Cleary |  | 61 | ||
| B. Naden |  | 60 | ||
| 57 | | D. Hutchison | ||
| 56 | | V. Radley | ||
| N. Cleary | | 53 | ||
| V. Kikau | | 51 | ||
| 26 | | D. Tupou | ||
| N. Cleary | | 3 | ||
| V. Kikau | | 1 |
| 3 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 1 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Panthers will take on the defending premiers at home, with the Roosters having named all four of their Origin stars to back up (despite the rumour that Latrell Mitchell was heading home to Taree and would not be playing this week), while Penrith have named their lone Origin star Nathan Cleary in Jersey 21. It’s unclear at this stage whether or not he’ll play. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 4:05pm AEST.
Cooper Cronk is back for the Roosters after being rested two weeks ago leading into the bye. He will be partnered in the halves by club debutant Drew Hutchison.
Hutchison has had more than his fair share of injury troubles over his relatively short career. However he’s been playing well in the Canterbury Cup, and it will be great to see him return to the NRL.
The Roosters are pretty much at full strength for this game, with only Jake Friend and Brett Morris on the injured list.
Matt Ikavalu has had his struggles in defence and under the high ball this season. It will be interesting to see if Trent Robinson is tempted to bring the experienced Ryan Hall into the starting side in jersey 19 for his second NRL appearance.
The Panthers are having a bit of an outside back crisis. With Dallin Watene-Zelezniak seemingly headed to the Tigers, his brother Malakai injured along with Dean Whare and Waqa Blake, they have been forced to name something of a makeshift backline.
Back-rower Isaah Yeo partners Brent Naden (1 game) in the centres, while Brian To’o (3 games) slots in on the wing, with Josh Mansour on the other wing and Dylan Edwards at the back. You can be sure the Roosters will target Yeo out wide with their speed men.
As good as Yeo is, he’s hardly quick.
Prediction
All signs point to the Roosters in this one. The Panthers have plenty of inexperience out wide which will be easy for a side as good as the Roosters to exploit.
The one saving grace for the Panthers is their pack. They have a really strong forward pack, with Tamou, Campbell-Gillard, Kikau, Winterstein and Fisher-Harris all representative-quality players.
However, they’re also up against a serious pack, and will need to aim up and not just match it with them, but dominate if they are to have a chance in this one.
I’m sorry Panthers fans, but this one could get ugly. Roosters by 20 and Latrell Mitchell to recapture some form.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 4:05pm AEST.
Where: Panthers Stadium, Sydney
When: 4:05pm
Streaming: NRL Digital Pass, 9 Now, Kayo Sports
TV: Channel 9, Fox League
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Isaah Yeo 4. Brent Naden 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. James Maloney 8. James Tamou 9. Wayde Egan 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Frank Winterstein 13. James Fisher-Harris 14. Sione Katoa 15. Liam Martin 16. Moses Leota 17. Hame Sele 18. Kaide Ellis 19. Caleb Aekins 20. Mitch Kenny 21. Nathan Cleary
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Matt Ikuvalu 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Victor Radley 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner 12. Angus Crichton 13. Isaac Liu 14. Nat Butcher 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Mitchell Aubusson 18. Poasa Faamausili 19. Ryan Hall 20. Lindsay Collins 21. Sam Verrills
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I thought the refs were trying to give the game to Easts.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
So Origin week applied the handbrake to the Roosters but not to the Rabbitohs, Hard Yards? Even Manly just scrapped home and got their beaks across the line this week after only two players had to back up.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Toxic but unable to infect baaaaaa
mushi
Roar Guru
If Papi is genuinely toxic to you and your ilk I say clone him
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Geoff re-read other posts of mine recently where I highlighted that, along with the Rabbitohs, the Roosters and the Raiders are also significantly understrengthed and that when the Rabbitohs, Roosters, Raiders and Storm have all their players back and have gotten through the difficult Origin period that there will be a chasm between the top 4 teams and the rest. But, as they say, "on any given Sunday", being sport upsets can still happen but not consistently over the next 12 rounds.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Yes Papi share the “toxins” aie Mushi, he can “infect” us all
mushi
Roar Guru
I'm a roosters fan and said as much early on. But hey those journalists are too clever to be arguing with. Anyone seen Brownies CV at woolies?
mushi
Roar Guru
Papi, share your thoughts. Both sides are “comfortably off” at the moment
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Obviously the Origin Festival applied the handbrake to Easts and accordingly they shouldn’t hit the panic button, but Penrith perplex me. They vex me. They can actually play - and yet...
Renegade
Roar Guru
Hey EJ, I’m definitely not writing them off.... at full strength on paper - they are definitely heavyweights and still deserve favoritism but it’s not a sealed fate - people were claiming they’d go the rest of the season undefeated 4 weeks ago, which is just crazy. It’s a very even comp and right now there at least 6 teams that can go all the way this season.... there’s still plenty that can push to make the 8 come round 25 too.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Most teams have injury issues Papi. The Raiders had BJ Leilua , Hodgson and Horsburgh out as well as Young suspended against the Tigers but didn't bang on about it. I think the Roosters had about half a dozen missing from their full strength team - off the top of my head Keary, Mitchell, JWH, Friend missing. So don't think the Rabbitohs are the only team with injury concerns.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Agree that it’s not a 2 horse race. And agree that it’s painful reading articles declaring the GF will be played between X and Y, and other fans should take the rest of the year off. But I’m not sure you can read too much into the Roosters performance. Particularly during the Origin period. Or use it as some kind of guide about how things will play out down the track. By the time September rolls around they’ll have 5-6 top shelf players available who weren’t out there tonight. Fully fit they still look a class above. Doesn’t mean they’ll definitely win it, but I reckon they’ll go very close.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Everyone on controversy corner felt the sin bin was a farce, the tackle was dominate entitling the tackle to hold that little longer, I agree with Blocker, Spud , Buzz and Hughes Turning point in game, refs aie
Insider
Roar Rookie
Don’t forget the live ladder updates
Renegade
Roar Guru
They have a bye after next round... that’s two weeks.... laughable excuses. Funny how Raiders and Panthers haven’t had a bye and aren’t complaining.... oh that’s right because they don’t make poor excuses, they just get on with it. Premierships definitely aren’t won now - most sane people know that, I wasn’t the one calling a 3 horse race 8 weeks ago.
Insider
Roar Rookie
4 weeks box head, 4 weeks and I’m gonna remind you that it’s 2 zip box head
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Renegade, it will be 4 weeks in round 16 AFTER 8 other clubs got an early rest in round 12, during which time your Sharks were the fortunate beneficiaries of a week off. The Sharks went on to enjoy a 20 point win over the Eels the following week who, like Souths, had not had a break from their gruelling schedule. Coincidence? I think not!
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Mr Burns! LOL I'll pay that Smithers. Bahahahahahaha
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Does the name "Trent Barrett" ring a bell AE47? I could fill an encyclopedia with the list of excuses you have hidden behind during his short ill-fated "reign of terror" at Manly. At least my reasons are based on fact and an understanding of the game instead of pointing the finger at one scapegoat for the sub-standard effort and performance of an entire squad over a two years!
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
Even the refs couldn't get them over the line.