Panthers outwit, outlast plucky Roosters

v BYE

Penrith secured their third victory of the season over a game Roosters outfit 20-16 at Sydney Football Stadium tonight. 

The men from the foot of the mountains played the conditions best, as Jamie Soward confounded the talented back three of the Roosters with kicks to help Penrith hold onto their slender lead late in the game. 

Before Soward had the ball on the string, the Panthers were impressive with how they moved the ball in challenging conditions. They swung the ball wide for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to produce a put down commonplace for wingers now, so much so, the officials only checked for obstruction to make it 6-0. 

The Roosters continued to play dropsies with the ball as Panthers completed nine out of their first ten sets. This dominance gave the platform for the forwards to do some quick thinking. Suaia Matagi held up the ball enough to send rookie half Te Marie Martin over to keep their opponents at arms length at 14-10. 

Credit to the home side though, not given much hope headed into tonight, were dogged and kept nipping at the heels of the Panthers. Fullback Latrell Mitchell crossed in each half - first from a short side raid in the 19th minute to get the Roosters on the board and later, finished off an absurd piece of last tackle desperation to give them a chance at 20-16. 

Panthers just had that extra slice of experience through Soward and Peter Wallace, who directed play and pushed back the Roosters with several early count kicks. The extra effort allowed space for the talented backline to roam. Waqa Blake summed up the Panthers grasp of the conditions after an Isaah Yeo and Bryce Cartwright combination to arrow his run diagonally to claim his first of the season. 

In the end, the defense took enough out of the Roosters when they finally regathered possession, it was a tired kick from Jackson Hastings which Daniel Tupou couldn't gather and Panthers earnt their third win of 2016, and also their largest margin of victory.

The Roosters now lick their wounds before returning to the SFS as the away team next weekend - they face the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the annual ANZAC Day clash. The Panthers take centre stage at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Sunday as they visit the Sharks in the only match that day.