Ferguson back on track as Roosters suffocate Panthers

COMEBACK kid Blake Ferguson crossed for a double as the Sydney Roosters inflicted a 20-12 defeat on Penrith at Allianz Stadium on Monday night.

Ferguson scored his first try in almost two years just after the break when he swooped on an errant Mitchell Pearce pass which fortuitously bounced into his arms.

He completed his two-try performance 18 minutes later when he left opposite number Jamal Idris clutching at air.

Teammate James Maloney was full of praise for the former Raider who provided plenty of headaches for the Panthers left edge defence.

"We're enjoying having him here, he's stoked to be back in the game and it's awesome to see him cross and get a couple of tries tonight," he said.

After an enterprising start, the game turned into an old-fashioned arm wrestle punctuated with errors before the Roosters once again relied on their defence to get the job done.

Maloney said part of coach Trent Robinson's game plan was for his side to be physical.

"We knew we needed to be physical, meet them head-on in the battle in the middle before we got any joy for the backs and I thought we did that," he said.

"They came out really energetic and we knew they would because they meet the confrontation (in the forwards) head on.

"It took us a while to get going and we did towards the end because they were coming to get us."

But it will be a controversial no-try to Penrith winger Dallin Watene Zelezniak in the first half which could provide a talking point for the National Rugby League throughout the week.

After several replays video referees Shayne Hayne and Luke Patten ruled no-try despite many replays suggesting the Panthers winger had a few fingers on the ball.

For the Panthers, Josh Mansour was solid in his first game for the season while James Segeyaro was always a threat from dummy half.

Next week the Panthers travel to Newcastle to tackle the undefeated Knights at Hunter Stadium on Saturday while the Roosters clash with the Raiders in the national capital on Sunday.

3 points - James Maloney
2 points - Blake Ferguson
1 point - Josh Mansour

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (20)
Tries: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Blake Ferguson (2)
Conversions: James Maloney (3/3)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (1/1)

PENRITH PANTHERS (12)
Tries: Jamal Idris, James Segeyaro
Conversions: Matt Moylan (2/2)

Evening footy fans and welcome to Allianz Stadium for tonight's final game of round 3 of the Telstra Premiership. In team news the Panthers and the Roosters are both 1-17.

In the Holden Cup the junior Panthers have proven too good with a 26-18 victory over the home side.

Peter Wallace takes the Panthers out onto Allianz Stadium where they will defend the southern end in the first half. They're in their predominantly white alternate strip with the black shorts.

And they're now joined by the home side, led out by Mitchell Pearce.

1: We're underway!

1: Mistake free from the home side and Pearce gets away a hurried kick.

2: Wallace goes to the air, but Tupou comes up with the catch.

3: Maloney kicks early in the tackle count and the home side charge down field. Panthers with the ball 10m from their own line.

4: Problem here for Brent Kite. Possible crusher tackle the diagnosis.

4: The boys in the box have had a look and Moa is placed on report. PENALTY to the visitors.

5: Panthers run the ball on the last and JWH comes across and crunches Isaac John. Changeover.

6: Moa tries to put Maloney through a gap but he comes up with the error. Panthers on the attack.

6: Forward pass from Segeyaro to McKendry. Roosters scrum.

7: PENALTY Roosters. McKendry and Manu take too long to get off the tackled player. First attacking set for the home side coming up.

8: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Kick to come.
SKD comes up with first points of the night after a perfect Maloney cut-out pass. The five-eighth took the ball to the line and fired the ball out to his winger who crossed untouched.

10: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney adds the extras from out near the touchline to extend the lead.

11: Maloney's pass is fractionally behind Jennings who comes up with the error. Panthers ball.

11: Lewis Brown now comes up with the error to give possession straight back. Roosters scrum.

12: Pearce kicks on the last and Moylan gives the ball to Watene Zelezniak who tries to get out of the in-goal but can't. Panthers dropout.

13: JWH pops the pass on play one and McIlwrick drops it cold as a spud. Panthers scrum.

16: PENALTY Panthers. Chasers offside from the Maloney kick.

17: Taylor offloads into the arms of Segeyaro who puts the ball down. Roosters scrum.

18: Ferguson slices through off the scrum, but SKD comes back on the inside. Roosters on the attack.

18: Ferguson comes up with the error as he tried to find SKD who would have scored in the corner. Panthers scrum.

19: PENALTY Panthers. Maloney whacks Wallace across the chops.

20: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Panthers try. On-field ref says no.

20: The video referee has come up with a controversial decision which has taken one of the tries of the season off the Panthers. Roosters restart.

20: PENALTY Panthers. Roosters again taking too long to get off the tackled player.

21: In back play Segeyaro is receiving treatment after copping an accidental knee from Pearce as he hoisted the ball skyward.

21: Segeyaro is now taken from the field on the medicab. He'll need to get some minor surgery to look at a gash on the inside of his mouth.

22: Another Panthers error, this time from Cartwright near halfway. Roosters scrum.

23: PENALTY Roosters. Two men in the tackle and the ball has come free illegally.

24: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney puts the home side out by more than a converted try.

27: PENALTY Roosters. Wallace gets one back on Maloney by giving him a whack across the chops.

28: Somehow the Roosters get six more after losing their way and Maloney's kick is charged down by Peachey. Back on the attack the home side.

29: Isaac Liu now comes up with an error for the home side before Mansour does likewise.

30: PENALTY Roosters. Panthers caught offside.

31: Maloney grubbers into the in-goal before he leads the chase and forces John in-goal. Panthers dropout.

32: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Roosters try. On-field ref says no, but who knows.

32: No try. Penalty Panthers for a double-movement.

35: Wallace kicks towards Idris who out jumps SKD but knocks on. Roosters ball.

37: PENALTY Panthers. Maloney with hands in the ruck.

38: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Panthers try. Ref says yes.

38: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Jamal Idris. Kick to come.
Idris scores for the visitors in the corner. Wallace bombed towards Mansour who took the ball and despite looking like he was going to be bundled into touch offloaded to Jamal who dived over.

39: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Matt Moylan successful.
Moylan slots the conversion from the sideline to close the gap to two.

40: Half-time at Allianz and the Roosters lead the Panthers 8-6.

40: Both sides back out on the park, ready to go for the second stanza.

41: James Maloney gets us back underway

41: Wallace goes to the air for the first time this half, but Tupou takes the catch.

43: Jamal comes up with a big hit on Ferguson which drives him 10m back before Pearce gets a hurried kick away.

43: Campbell-Gillard comes up with an error as he hit the ground. Roosters scrum.

45: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Blake Ferguson. Kick to come.
Ferguson extends the Roosters lead! It all started with Taukeiaho and the visitors never recovered. Pearce's pass hit the ground but bounced into the arms of the centre who put a right foot step on Idris before crossing out wide.

46: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney again adds the extras.

47: DWZ comes up with an impressive catch off the Maloney bomb. Panthers ball.

50: Knock-on from Jennings after he won the scramble for the ball. Panthers scrum.

55: Forward pass from Maloney. Panthers scrum.

57: Moylan is now put under immense pressure and he puts the ball down. Roosters scrum.

60: RTS gets out of the in-goal, evading several Panthers defenders. Somehow he doesn't get a penalty despite being thrown on his back.

61: Segeyaro knocks on from dummy half. Big chance for the Roosters to almost put the game beyond doubt here.

63: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Blake Ferguson. Kick to come.
Ferguson puts another nail in the Panthers coffin tonight. A shift to the right saw quick hands from Maloney who found Ferguson who dummied on the outside before slicing through to score out wide.

64: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney once again slots the extras.

65: Maloney stabs a kick on tackle five and the Panthers again start their set on top of their own line.

65: PENALTY Panthers. Roosters taking too long to clear the ruck.

67: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Panthers try. Ref says yes.

67: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by James Segeyaro. Kick to come.
Segeyaro crosses under the sticks after some clever play around the middle of the ruck from John, Lewis Brown and Moylan.

67: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Matt Moylan successful.
Moylan adds the two.

69: The Panthers shift the ball to the right before DWZ kicks back in-field. Unfortunately for them the kick goes dead. Roosters restart.

70: Great set from the Roosters until Moa comes up with the error on tackle four. Panthers scrum on the 20.

71: PENALTY Panthers. JWH with a bit of work over the top on Idris and here come the visitors.

72: The Panthers go close over the far side but John's bat-on is ruled to have gone forward. Roosters scrum.

74: Moylan goes to the air and the Roosters let the ball bounce but Peachey is offside. PENALTY Roosters.

76: Pearce trickles a kick into the in-goal and the Panthers can't get out. Goal-line dropout.

76: Short one from the Panthers and they get the ball back.

78: Dylan Napa comes up with a big hit on Segeyaro and forces the ball free. Roosters scrum.

79: Napa's turn this time to come up with an error. Panthers with one last chance.

80: Full-time at Allianz and the Roosters are too good for the Panthers with a 20-12 win.