2023 NRL Round 11: Panthers 48, Roosters 4

May 12, 2023

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Andrew Pelechaty reviews the Friday night clash between Penrith and the Sydney Roosters.

Result

Penrith Panthers 48
Tries: (8) Scott Sorensen 9th, 36th; Tyrone Peachey 38th, 76th; Dylan Edwards 21st; Brian To’o 60th; Sunia Turuva 70th; Jarome Luai 75th
Goals: (8) Nathan Cleary 10th, 23rd, 37th, 39th, 62nd, 71st, 75th, 77th

Sydney Roosters 4
Tries: (1) Corey Allan 64th
Goals: N/A

Embed from Getty Images

Report

A celebration of Penrith’s 2003 Grand Final win over the Roosters (with over 20,000 packing into BlueBet Stadium tonight), this blockbuster clash saw a Panthers side looking to shake off a few weeks of inconsistent form, while the Eastern Suburbs club were looking to rebound after a shock Magic Round loss to North Queensland.

Penrith were first to score after 10 minutes, with Scott Sorensen in from close range. Nathan Cleary converted for a 6-0 lead.

There was drama for the Roosters, with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves leaving the field with a suspected pec injury and unlikely to return.

Penrith doubled up with a brilliant try to Dylan Edwards, after a break from Sorensen and support from Tyrone Peachey (who seemed almost certain to score himself). Even halfway through the first half, it was looking like a dirty night for the Roosters. Cleary converted for a 12-0 lead.

Sorensen scored his second try off a beautiful pass from Jarome Luai. Cleary converted again for an 18-0 lead.

Penrith all but sealed the game when Peachey scored just before the break, with Cleary’s fourth conversion making it 24-0.

While there was no addition to the score for the first 15 minutes of the second half, the biggest concern was over Joey Manu, taken off the field after injuring his ankle in a tackle.

Penrith finally went over again through Brian To’o. On the last tackle, Penrith played hot potato footy before an Isaah Yeo cross-field kick was fielded by To’o. Cleary converted again for a 30-0 lead with 18 minutes left.

The Roosters ensured they wouldn’t finish with a duck egg when Corey Allan scored, but Penrith quickly responded through Sunia Turuva. Cleary nailed one of the tougher conversion of the night to push Penrith’s lead to 36-4.

Luai continued the party as Penrith hit 40, though Sorensen wasn’t far off scoring a hat-trick. Cleary kicked his seventh straight conversion.

Peachey got a second try after a kick from Soni Luke was knocked on by Jaxson Paulo. Cleary made it eight straight for a 48-4 lead. With two minutes left, could they bring up 50?

It didn’t happen, but Penrith still had their biggest win since their 41-point defeat of Canberra in Round 5, and another blockbuster clash – against Brisbane at Lang Park – to look forward too. As for the Roosters, they suffered their fourth loss in their past six games, dropped out of the top eight, and have injury concerns over Waerea-Hargreaves and Manu. Can they turn things around against the Dragons next week?