Sydney Roosters
14
Match Complete
Penrith Panthers
20
| D. Tupou |  | 65 | ||
| J. Manu | | 57 | ||
| 48 |  | M. Burton | ||
| 47 | | M. Burton | ||
| 40 |  | M. Burton | ||
| 33 | | P. Momirovski | ||
| 25 | | M. Burton | ||
| A. Keighran | | 19 | ||
| V. Radley | | 18 | ||
| 10 | | M. Burton | ||
| 9 | | M. Burton |
| 3 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 1 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Fresh off a thumping loss to the Storm, the Penrith Panthers must face another powerhouse in the form of the red-hot Sydney Roosters in a clash of the titans at Suncorp Stadium. Follow along here on The Roar with live scores from 5:30pm (AEST).
Despite dealing with a swathe of injuries and retirements this season, the Roosters have hit form at the right time. Now just points differential out of the top four following their thrashing of the fading Eels last week, one more big scalp might just put Trent Robinson’s men in premiership calculations, a remarkable rise.
They’ll have to deal with the unavailability of another key veteran in Josh Morris, though, whose career is in jeopardy after he went down with a hamstring injury against the Eels. In better news, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has successfully overturned his dangerous contact charge and is free to play.
The Panthers have been at least equal-top for the entire season: no longer. The depleted team was no match for the Storm in a top-of-the-table fizzer last week, going down 37-10. Now in danger of being leapfrogged by the Rabbitohs, Ivan Cleary’s team desperately need to rally.
The cavalry is coming, though, with Isaah Yeo and Api Koroisau returning; while Nathan Cleary is in the reckoning for a shock comeback as well, after being named among the reserves. Stephen Crichton’s one-week suspension opens the door for Paul Momirovski to fill the number 3 jersey. Former Bronco Tevita Pangai Jr starts his time at the Panthers from the bench.
Game information
Kick-off: 5:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV: Fox League
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel GO
Betting: Roosters $3.10, Panthers $1.37 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco (c), 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Adam Keighran, 4. Joey Manu, 5. Dale Copley, 6. Drew Hutchison, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Isaac Liu, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Sitili Tupouniua, 13. Victor Radley
Bench/Reserves: 14. Lachlan Lam, 15. Nat Butcher, 16. Egan Butcher, 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho | 18. Ben Marschke, 19. Fletcher Baker, 20. Moala Graham-Taufa, 21. Naufahu Whyte
Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Charlie Staines, 3. Paul Momirovski, 4. Kurt Capewell, 5. Brent Naden, 6. Matt Burton, 7. Jarome Luai, 8. Moses Leota, 9. Api Koroisau, 10. Liam Martin, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Scott Sorensen, 13. Isaah Yeo (c)
Bench/Reserves: 14. Mitch Kenny, 15. Tevita Pangai Jr, 16. Spencer Leniu, 17. Matt Eisenhuth | 18. Izack Tago, 19. Taylan May, 20. J’maine Hopgood, 21. Nathan Cleary
Clint
Roar Rookie
Yeah I'm fine with it on the basis that they apply it consistently. A precedent has been set.
Paul
Guest
Well they only had to beat the Roosters who’d won their past 4 games . Including a 28-0 win over Parramatta last game out. That they did!
Paul
Guest
For all of you that like to question the Panthers reserves. Tago & Taylan May both look very promising. If the inside players had actually passed the ball to May out wide. He’d have scored a hat trick of tries.
Joister
Roar Rookie
heya Clint … don’t mind if Sutton does if deserved and consistent … i thut JWH was fair enuff … not just slowing as 2nd effort - frustrstion is same as other roarers in saying wat bout the others tat were similar - guess some anti-JWDers wud say it was a square up for missing suspension
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Good you hung onto him.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
True Albo - with that lot out I picked the Roosters to win so I was riding the emotions a bit. Your mob will be up there if Cleary can play a part. The Panthers were very physical last night so their attitude is good. I just don't see them able to rack up big scores without Cleary. Their defence is going to be critical.
Walter Black
Guest
Fully agree with that. I just watched the Storm manly game in which a Manly dropped ball went backwards by about 50 metres. It would be breaking all the laws of science for that to have gone forward. It is high time knock ons were just that and not fumbles of any kind.
Joey
Guest
Need to get that salt out of your diet, not good for you.
Joey
Guest
Can’t see ? Won’t be watching ? That’s too bad. Maybe check the highlight reels.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Cleary, Fisher-Harris, Crichton & To'o might just improve them a tad, Geoff ?
Albo
Roar Rookie
Very proud DP ! I had given them little chance in this one to night ! Great to see Burton really show the best of his ability tonight.
Clint
Roar Rookie
You won't see it again Jimmy.
Clint
Roar Rookie
No way. JWH bin was huge and you won't see another one like that all year. Panthers slowed it down near the end of the game, 2 x 6 agains in a row, 3rd tackle slowed it down. Nothing from Sutton. A tsunami it wasn't.
Birthday Suit
Roar Rookie
Ahahah mate it’s very well know, but you can also acknowledge teams for what they do well which is appreciated. . I’d hope that you’re right about that but I’m not super confident. Having said that, in a weird way I feel like we’ll have a better finals mentality then we did last year. Our mentality and the hunger is clearly there which seemed to be a bit lacking last year. Sometimes the backs-to-the-wall mentality works and we’ve been showing it all year. With this team I can’t see us winning it all as the gap between our best and the Storm / Panthers / maaaaybe Rabbitohs best is just too big, but we can definitely match it with anyone else in the comp.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Not a fan of your team, that is known. But the structures and guidance high up are high quality, producing quality efforts. I think they'll be a force from 5th, winning the first game against an 'also ran' and then being able to deal with a first round loser. you'll get to the finals in decent shape and woe to any team that takes the battle then lightly.
Nat
Roar Guru
I'm in Brisy, I want to go. I've had to watch the Broncos the last 2 yrs!!
Birthday Suit
Roar Rookie
Had our chances and looked good for chunks of the game that I watched (was watching the Wallabies for a lot of it) but Penrith held their cool and did enough to get the win after a rough few weeks. It doesn’t help right now, but I’m just so damn pleased with the heart of the team. We’re literally at the point where we have to look at fringe reserve-graders who would normally never have sniffed a first-grade game in their life just to get enough players on the field. While we have some really promising talent coming through, there are also quite a few players that would likely be below average first-graders at a different team. Really does show the value of a good system.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Oh dang it. Congrats Penrith.
Bernie Vinson
Guest
Of course all the decisions towards the end go to the Chasing team (maybe coz the Bledisloe is on?) BTW the definition of a knock on is "KNOCK-ON means to knock the ball towards the opponents’ dead ball line with hand or arm, while playing at the ball" I cant find any note which says any dropped ball is a knock on
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
I think you meant "travesty this is happening without crowds", leave poor old Brissie out of it