A five star performance from Jarome Luai has given NSW coach Brad Fittler something to think about after he helped guide the Panthers to a 48-4 slaughter of the Sydney Roosters.
It was a momentous night for the Panthers. As the club paid tribute to their 2003 premiership winning squad from 20 years ago when they defeated the Roosters by 18-6. It was a strong start from the Panthers with repeated poor discipline from the Roosters giving the back to back premiers attacking chances.
Nathan Cleary was able to catch the fatiguing defence out. He found James Fisher-Harris back on the inside who in-turn linked up with Scott Sorensen and the Panthers played from in front with a 6-0 lead. After some promising attacking signs from the visitors. It wasn't long before the home side clicked into their grind. Poor edge defence from the Roosters saw Scott Sorensen run through before linking up with Tyrone Peachey before he nearly bombed it. He was fortunately able to unload to Dylan Edwards to score.
Just before the break, the Panthers went from 1000 to 100000 and blew the Roosters out of the gates. Sorensen managed to tear apart a pathetic right hand edge and crashed his way over for an 18-0 lead. Not to be outdone, Jarome Luai skipped through the middle of the park before finding Tyrone Peachey and it was 24-0 within the blink of an eye-lid.
Despite some early resistance on their goal-line. It wasn't long before the Panthers went back up to Top Gear. On the hour mark, a kick from Cleary was batted back. It ended up in the arms of Isaah Yeo who cross kicked and it found Brian To'o and Penrith collected try number 5.
However, off a rare Penrith mistake. The Roosters stumbled their way across the line. Best player on the ground for the Roosters (again) Billy Smith was able to get a pass on the outside of Stephen Crichton and link up with Corey Allan to cross out-wide. However, that would be the last time they crossed the stripe.
Penrith soon returned for normal transmission when they were able to cross for three tries in the final 11 minutes of play to blow the score-line out to even more embarrassing levels for Roosters supporters. Sunia Turuva, Luai and Peachey were on the end of scintillating play which turned the Roosters in-goal into a rather populated space.
The Panthers from here go into a top of the table clash with the Broncos next Friday night with their heads in tact and looking like the dominating machine they were last year. For the Roosters, it's time for the knives to come out. Week after week of diabolical football has got them to this point and their task gets harder as JWH and Joey Manu look for stints on the sideline with injury. Trent Robinson has his work cut out for him in 2023 for the Roosters to even look like a contender because right now they look further away from that goal then ever before.