Penrith Panthers now sit six points clear on the top of the NRL ladder after beating a defiant Roosters outfit 26-18 at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.
Continuing their impressive form from their Origin win on Sunday night, the Panthers stars produced one of their most gutsiest wins of the season.
Coming off 3 straight losses, the Sydney Roosters arrived at the foot of the mountains with a point to prove, testing the Panthers defence at several times throughout the game, however in the end they were no match for the mountain men.
The Panthers opened the scoring early with a penalty goal from halfback Nathan Cleary in the 7th minute giving the home team a two-point lead.
Brian To’o strolled over on the back of a perfect set play, as Cleary sent the ball to the right off a midfield scrum which sent the Panthers winger in for his sixth try of the season. Cleary’s conversion was right on target taking the score to 8-0.
Too good To'o
Roosters second rower Angus Crichton was sent to the sin bin in the 17th minute after holding Stephen Crichton back who was supporting a Jaemon Salmon line break.
A handful of errors close to their try line plagued the Panthers attack, keeping the Roosters in the game with only 12 men on the field.
A line break from Roosters fullback James Tedesco saw the Roosters cross for their first try of the night, when he was sent through the line by some good work from Joey Manu before he combined with halfback Sam Walker who scored underneath the posts.
Walker converted his own try, leaving the visitors now only trailing by two.
A penalty saw the Panthers move deep into Roosters territory in the 39th minute, and the home team capitalised on their great field position with Kikau crashing over the line.
Cleary converted the try taking the Panthers to an eight-point lead on the stroke of half-time.
Kikau powers over
HALF-TIME: Panthers 14 – Roosters 6
The Roosters hit back early after the break with prop Siosiua Taukeiaho breaking through Penrith’s defence. Walker’s conversion was on the money, reducing the deficit for the visitors to just two.
After three repeat sets on their line the Roosters took the lead when hooker Sam Verrills darted over following a late offload in the 52nd minute. Walker converted the try, giving the Roosters a four-point lead.
The Panthers hit back when Cleary put centre Izack Tago through a hole with a great ball close to the Roosters line. Cleary kept his perfect conversion rate for the game going, kicking his fourth of the night.
Clez's bullet sends Tago over
A knock on from Sam Walker in the in-goal granted the Panthers another opportunity in attack and Api Koroisau was quick to pounce. The NSW Origin hooker darted out of dummy half to cross for the Panthers fourth try of the night.
Cleary’s conversion all but sealed the victory, his fifth conversion of the night taking the score to 26-18.
FULL-TIME: Panthers 26 – Roosters 18
Api as Larry
