NRL 2022: Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters,

Author: Brad Walter NRL Senior Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 1 Jul 2022, 09:59 PM

The Panthers continued their charge towards back-to-back premierships as they consigned Sydney Roosters to their longest losing streak in six years with a gritty 26-18 triumph at BlueBet Stadium.

Despite a gutsy performance without star playmaker Luke Keary and forward leader Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the Roosters have now crashed to four consecutive losses for the first time since 2016 and are in 10th place.

Given a ladder position that belies the quality of the Roosters line-up and the way they have been playing without key players, it could be argued that Trent Robinson's men are the best bottom eight team in recent memory.

Yet it could equally be said that the Panthers are the most dominant team backing up from a grand final triumph for decades as they have rarely missed a beat this season and are now on track to secure the minor premiership.

With the Storm losing 36-30 to Manly on Friday night, Penrith are now six points clear of second place with eight matches to play in the regular season and have almost all of their squad fit as they head towards the finals.

The Panthers limited the Roosters to just 28 per cent of field position but Robinson was frustrated by an 8-3 penalty count and some calls against his team, including a penalty against hooker Sam Verrills that led to a Viliame Kikau try on halftime.

Round 16 - Round 16 - Friday 1 Jul

Full Time

Panthers

Roosters

Venue: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith

Highlights Latest

Match snapshot

Roosters coach Trent Robinson reshuffled his side before kick-off, with Joey Manu moving to five-eighth, Drew Hutchison to hooker, Sitili Tupouniua to the centres, Nat Butcher to the second-row and Sam Verrills to the bench.
However, it made little difference as Nathan Cleary kicked an early penalty goal and Brian To'o scored in the 12th minute from a scrum win, with Dylan Edwards and Stephen Crichton combining to create an overlap for the star winger.

Too good To'o

Angus Crichton was sent to the sin-bin in the 18th minute for a professional foul after holding back his Panthers namesake Stephen Crichton as he backed up a break but the Roosters held on while down to 12-men.
Significantly, the return of the NSW Origin forward coincided with a Roosters try as captain James Tedesco broke through the defence on the 40 metre line and sent halfback Sam Walker racing away to score.

Walker on the run

A soft try on the stroke of halftime wouldn't have pleased Robinson after Panthers hooker Api Koroisau put fellow Fijian Viliame Kikau over from close range to give the premiers a 14-6 lead at the interval.
The Roosters came out firing for the second half and it was just six minutes before Tongan prop Siosiua Taukeiaho charged his way over for a try to reduce the deficit to 14-12.

Roosters fighting back

Verrills put the Roosters ahead for the first time in the match when he raced out of dummy half to score in the 52nd minute and momentum was turning as fatigue began to set in for the 13 Panthers backing up from rep round.
However, the brilliance of Nathan Cleary produced a 66th minute try for Samoa centre Izack Tago who ran a great angle to take advantage of Tupouniua racing out of the defensive line.
The Panthers ramped up the pressure and despite star five-eighth Jarome Luai being denied a try in the 70th minute it was only a matter of time as the Roosters were forced to defend repeat sets on their own line.
Koroisau sealed the win when he dived between Victory Radley and James Tedesco after a quick play-the-ball by Penrith and New Zealand prop James Fisher-Harris to score in the 73rd minute.

Api as Larry

Play of the game

The Roosters took the game to the Panthers and seized the lead midway through the second half but Nathan Cleary took control to put the premiers back in front by laying on a 66th minute try for centre Izack Tago.

Tago takes the lead

What they said

"It a bit different than what we have faced during most of the year. I don't remember having to come back in the second half, so that was good. I thought the Roosters were really good tonight. There was a lot of intensity in their defence so I was really happy we were able to get in front and then score again. I thought we were pretty good in that last 20 minutes. I think our Origin boys should be commended with such a big game coming up. Most of them haven't really been in that position before and they did a great job." - Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.

Panthers: Round 16

"It was frustrating. It felt like we defended our line so well and we would just get a penalty against us. It was frustrating that we just kept giving them possession through those penalties and we weren't getting anything back. There wasn't much explanation for it, we were just getting penalties against us. It felt like we defended our line six tackles and we would get a penalty. It happened for about three or four in a row. It just kept them in the game. I felt like our D was so good but it is hard to defend three or four sets in a row, let alone against the best team in the comp." - Roosters captain James Tedesco.

Roosters: Round 16

What's next

Both teams have a bye next weekend, with the Roosters hosting the Dragons at Central Coast Stadium the following Saturday and the Panthers travelling to CommBank Stadium to play Wests Tigers on Sunday, July 17.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson is expected to have the services of Matt Lodge at his disposal, while fellow prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (hamstring) and halfback Luke Keary (HIA) are also likely to be available.

The Panthers are at full strength but supplied seven players to the NSW team for Origin II and will have another big contingent involved in the series decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 13.