Roosters show too much class for Panthers

A classy second half performance by the Sydney Roosters has driven them to a 24-4 victory over the Penrith Panthers in front of 13564 spectators at Pepper Stadium tonight.

Both teams went into the contest with some good recent form under their belts, but the home team put themselves on the back foot for the night with back to back errors in their first two sets of six. The Panthers were looking strong with their goal-line defence though, turning away multiple attacking raids. The strong defence eventually resulted in the Roosters taking the two points on offer from a penalty goal in the 14th minute.

The Roosters prolific try scorer Shaun Kenny-Dowall soon crossed for the only try of the first half on the back of a contentious refereeing decision. The Panthers were working their way into an attacking position when king of the offloads Bryce Cartwright attempted a flick pass which rolled into touch. Replays suggested Roosters centre Michael Jennings got a touch but the on field officials didn't pick it up.

From the ensuing set of six, under-fire Rooster and Blues half Mitchell Pearce put man of the match Blake Ferguson into space, who raced 40 metres down field, before passing to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. The Roosters custodian then drew and passed to send his winger over in the corner. Five-eight James Maloney hooked the conversion attempt, but the visitors had a 6-0 lead after 20 minutes.

The second period of the first half turned into a grind with both sides failing to capitalize on the few opportunities that were presented.

The home team looked a good chance to hit back after the half time break, with three straight sets of six attacking the Roosters line. They threw plenty at them, but were clearly missing the attacking spark of James Segeyaro and the silky skills of Matt Moylan who are both on the sidelines injured. The Roosters goal-line defence proved too strong and the game would soon turn in their favour.

It was again Kenny-Dowall who crossed for his double in the 51st minute to put the Roosters on the front foot, with Pearce kicking cross-field and Ferguson batting the ball back in the lead up. Maloney converted to give his side a 12-0 lead.

Another penalty goal in the 56th minute extended the lead to 14, but it was a try to the flying Tuivasa-Sheck moments later that really had the Roosters crowing. Again looking dangerous down the right edge, underrated back-rower Mitchell Aubusson found himself in space, before a sweetly timed offload gave his fullback the space to twist his way towards the line and plant it down one handed. Maloney in a rare off night with the boot, hooked the conversion again, but the Roosters had a commanding 18-0 lead heading into the final quarter.

The home fans received a glimmer of hope when Lewis Brown who was filling in for the injured David Simmons on the wing, barged his way over the line in the 66th minute. Panthers hooker Apisai Koroisau missed the conversion though to leave the deficit still more than two converted tries away.

After he helped lay a solid platform earlier in the match, Roosters enforcer Jared Warea-Hargreaves put the icing on the cake for the Roosters after jinking off his left foot and carrying defenders over the line to score in the 75th minute.

Next week the Panthers will travel South to face the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on Friday night in what is looming as a crunch game for their season.

The Roosters, after their fourth straight win, will continue their march towards finals footy when they host the New Zealand Warriors next Sunday at Allianz Stadium.

Match Details

Penrith Panthers 4 Sydney Roosters 24
Venue: Pepper Stadium
Crowd: 13564
Halftime Score: Penrith Panthers 0 Sydney Roosters 6

PENRITH PANTHERS (4)
Tries: Lewis Brown
Conversions: Apisai Koroisau (0/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (24)
Tries: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (2), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Conversions: James Maloney (2/4)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Blake Ferguson
2 points - Mitchell Pearce
1 point - Shaun Kenny-Dowall

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to LeagueUnlimited's coverage of what should be a cracking double header of Super Saturday action. First up, we're at the foot of the mountains for an exciting match-up between the 10th place Penrith Panthers and the 3rd placed Sydney Roosters. The Panthers have shown some good form of late and will be looking to press on in their charge towards a top 8 finish. The Roosters will be looking for the spoils tonight to help stay entrenched in the all important top 4.

LATE MAIL PANTHERS - No disruptions for the home team this week, they line up 1-17

LATE MAIL ROOSTERS - Aiden Guerra has failed to back up from Wednesday night's Origin slaughter and will be replaced on the pine by junior Kangaroo Jackson Hastings. Blues back-rower Boyd Cordner will ease into the contest from the bench, with Sio Siua Taukeiaho running on tonight.

Some tantalizing match-ups look set to unfold tonight. The fleet footed Michael Jennings will do battle in the centres with Dean Whare, who's fast establishing himself as one of the best defensive centres in the league. The attacking flair of Bryce Cartwright will go head to head with hard nose Roosters forwards Jared Warea-Hargeaves and Dylan Napa. While there's probably no bigger match-up than the head to head battle of the two kiwi wonder-kids Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

1: We're underway at Pepper Stadium with the Chooks getting 1st use of the steeden

2: Steady start for the Roosters making 50 & Pearce kicking to the corner on the last

2: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Dallin Watene Zelezniak makes an unforced error.
An early chance for the Roosters with DWZ spilling it in his own 20

4: A left spread looked promising but Whare was able to force an offload from Jennings, Tupou then lost it under pressure

5: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Nigel Plum makes an unforced error.
After a good run, Plum fails to play the ball on his 30. Another chance for the Roosters...

6: Pearce kicks to the corner but the chase was bad. Blake comes up with & runs 20

6: A Penalty for the home side to relieve the pressure

8: UNFORCED ERROR PENRITH PANTHERS
Dallin Watene Zelezniak makes an unforced error.
DWZ can't reel in a pass in a Penrith backline movement, Roosters ball 10 out from their line

9: Pearce hoists it up on the last but DWZ takes it comfortably

10: Wallace kicks to the corner on the 4th, but RTS just gets it back into the field of play

10: DWZ brings a kick from Pearce back hard over his 30

11: Soward chips it on the last but RTS takes a leaping catch

12: Pearce breaks through but is taken down 20 out. Maloney then chips in goal with Simmons kicking it dead, repeat set Roosters

13: Penalty Roosters & they will shoot for 2

14: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney from close range, opens the scoring

16: Roosters made big metres from the kick off but turn it over on the 4th, Panthers will work into their half now

17: Wallace tried a kick back into the posts but Friend read it well & scooped it up

17: Pearce finds touch 15 out from Penrith's line

20: Panthers run it on the last & Cartwright attempts a flick pass which comes off Jennings before rolling into touch, the refs missed it though & the Roosters get the ball

21: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Kick to come.
Ferguson made a break down the right edge, turned it inside to RTS who then put the Roosters try scoring machine over in the corner

22: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
From the sideline, Maloney hooks it left

24: Maloney kicks high & the ball is batted back to Jennings who tried a kick of his own, went straight to Manu though

24: Penalty Panthers 25 out from the Roosters line for holding down too long

26: Repeat set, Wallace under pressure skips inside a tackle before toeing it through, cleaned up by RTS

27: Wallace kicks cross-field but Ferguson takes it with ease

28: Pearce drills one low down field, DWZ shows good composure to let it roll touch in goal

28: Penrith turn it over again though & the Roosters are back on the attack

30: FALCON, a miss directed pass finds Napa on the melon. & Penrith get a penalty

31: Handover after the Panthers put it down on the last

32: Bit of concern for Bryce Cartwright who fell awkwardly in a tackle, he's going to soldier on though

32: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Siosiua Taukeiaho makes an unforced error.
Turned over on the 1st tackle, Panthers on the attack in Roosters red zone

33: A double whammy though as they turn it over & concede a penalty

34: The Roosters put it down now & Soward scoops it up on his own 30m

33: Latimore takes a diving slips catch upon his hit up

34: Panther swarming in defence now, Roosters working it off their line

34: A good kick from Pearce down field & Blake brings it back over his 10m

36: Wallace sends Taylor through on an inside ball & Koroisau ends up chipping ahead, RTS cleans it up though & the Roosters get a penalty

37: Jennings toes it through on a short side play, the ball rolls out 5m out from the Panthers line

38: Wallace turns them around kicking deep on the 3rd tackle, RTS gets it back in play though

39: Maloney drills one into touch 10m out from Panthers line

39: Late penalty Penrith they'll go deep on the attack...

40: Koroisau tries a grubber through but Pearce bats it dead to end the half

40: A tight encounter out West, the Roosters have had more chances due to some poor ball handling from the home side. Neither team has quite clicked in attack yet & will be looking to do better in the second half. Looks like a close one here, stay tuned for the second half..

41: Back in action, with McKendry bringing it back for Penrith

42: Wallace puts one up early but SKD races in to take the catch

43: The Roosters roll forward & Jennings gets some early space to move on the left, Tupou fails in reeling in the pass though. Panthers scrum 40m out from their own line

44: Soward attempts to run it on the last but the defence was too good & bring him to the turf

46: Maloney kicks cross-field & Ferguson goes close to reeling in what would have been a spectacular catch

46: 6 more for the Panthers with a Cartwright offload coming off a Rosster

47: 6 more again for Penrith inside the Roosters 20

49: Wallace tries to grubber through on the last but Pearce read it well & comes up with the ball. Great goal-line defence

49: & the Roosters work it away & kick down field on the last. DWZ brings back to his 10m

50: Wallace kicks down field & SKD with a good run brings it back to his 40

51: VIDEO REF possible Roosters try...

51: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Kick to come.
A double for SKD after Pearce kicked across field and Ferguson batted it back to provide the chance

52: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney puts the Roosters 12 clear with that one

53: Pearce puts one high & Blake takes it, but coughs it up after a rib-tickler from Mitch Aubusson

55: 6 more Roosters, piling on the pressure here. And a penalty as well, but they will take the 2

56: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
From right in front, Maloney makes no mistake

58: The Roosters through Ferguson make a break down the right, Fergo's pass inside was intercepted by Yeo who is tackled in goal

58: VIDEO REF possible Roosters try

58: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Kick to come.
RTS storms onto a neat offload from Aubusson & stretches out to plant it down one handed

60: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Maloney from out to the right hooks it left

62: Handover Penrith on their 20. The Roosters are looking really ominous now though

63: Penrith spread it right before Brown kicks ahead, Tupou cleans up & brings it back over his 10

63: Blake under pressure again takes the bomb on his 20

64: RTS brings a kick from Yeo back over his 20

65: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Jackson Hastings makes an unforced error.
Hastings spills it at dummy half

65: Penrith scrum 40 out from Roosters line

66: Penalty Penrith, tap is taken

67: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Lewis Brown. Kick to come.
Brown busts out of a couple of tackles after being turned inside with a pass from Whare

68: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Apisai Koroisau unsuccessful.
Koroisau hits the left upright

70: Soward puts up the bomb but RTS is solid with the catch on his own 10m

71: Aubusson makes a break down the right, the pass goes astray but a support player was taken out, penalty Roosters 20m out from Penrith line

71: VIDEO REF possible Roosters try...

71: NO TRY Pearce rolled in a well time grubber, but Ferguson butchers the put down attempt. The ball initially went forward off Blake though. Roosters scrum

71: Penalty Roosters, still looking for the knockout blow

73: Another set coming up for the Roosters after a Pearce grubber comes off a Panther

75: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Kick to come.
JWH jinks off his left foot & carries multiple defenders over the line

76: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney puts the game beyond doubt with that goal

78: Ferguson breaks a tackle & throws a basketball pass over the top to SKD who scooted down the touch line, SKD then threw the pass inside which went forward

79: Penalty Roosters for a second effort in forcing them out

79: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Boyd Cordner makes an unforced error.
Cordner puts it down out wide

80: & thats time. The Roosters have turned in a dominant second half to dispose of the Panthers. Thanks for joining us tonight folks, stay tuned for our match report coming up