Round 2: Panthers v Roosters preview
Panthers return ‘home' as Roosters rely on rookies
The high-flying Penrith Panthers will begin life at their temporary home against the out-of-sorts Sydney Roosters on Friday evening.
Returning to the Southern Hemisphere after hitting the jackpot in Las Vegas, the Penrith Panthers will make their first home appearance at CommBank Stadium while redevelopments take place at their traditional Mulgoa Road base over the next two seasons.
Holding off a fast-finishing Sharks side to claim a 28-22 opening round victory, coach Ivan Cleary will welcome back Brian To'o in a backline reshuffle that sees Luke Garner drop to the bench and Luron Patea relegated to the extended squad.
Winning their past ten straight matches against the Roosters, including five victories by 20 points or more this decade, the Panthers have won six out of ten previous appearances at CommBank Stadium.
Sitting in 16th position after a humbling opening round defeat, the Sydney Roosters will be braving for the toughest possible follow up against the four-time reigning premiers.
Going down to the Broncos 50-14 last Thursday, in a result that will require the side to defy history in order to win the premiership, coach Trent Robinson has named Salesi Foketi in place of Victor Radley (concussion) and handed former Eels forward Makahesi Makatoa a club debut off the bench.
The Roosters have enjoyed strong success at CommBank Stadium with eight wins from ten visits; the last time the side defeated the Panthers was the penultimate round of the 2019 season.
Last meeting: Finals Week 1 2024 - Panthers 30 Roosters 10
Who to watch: Liam Martin will be aiming to achieve a feat on Friday night that has so far been elusive throughout his esteemed career: scoring a try against the Roosters. Playing against the Tricolours 11 times to date in his career, the 28-year-old has been a prominent figure in achieving ten wins during that time through an application that has been at the forefront of Penrith's sustained success. Regarded among the best forwards of the decade so far, Martin picked up from his Clive Churchill Medal winning performance with a strong display in Las Vegas, running for close to 100 metres to go along with 40 tackles.
Coming into Roosters' pack two years ago amid a wave of hype and potential, Siua Wong will be aiming to recapture that buzz after an underwhelming 2024 campaign. Going from a starting first grade second-rower to a middle forward in reserve grade last season, the 21-year-old will need to play beyond his years given the challenges confronting the side's present forward depth. Named in a starting jersey for the first time in nearly a year, a strong performance from the Tongan and Fijian representative will be essential if the Roosters are to defy the odds with an upset.
Favourite: The Panthers are heavily favoured to account for the Roosters in the first meeting between the two sides at CommBank Stadium.
My tip: The disparity between the Panthers and Roosters can best be summed up by the gap in first grade experience. The Panthers have 1,869 first grade games - including 12 premiership winners - in their named 17. The Roosters have 1,465 games - including five players with fewer than five NRL games. Panthers by 20.
