Full Time
80:00
7:35pm Sat April 19, 2025
Round 7 - Allianz Stadium, Moore Park / Gadigal - Crowd: 20373

Match Overview

Two minutes before halftime Penrith stopped being the Panic Panthers and returned to be competition heavyweights, scoring 34 points to 6 in the last 42 minutes of the game against an ill-disciplined and unimaginative Roosters side.

The Roosters opening scoring in the fourth minute of the match when Daniel Tupou received a flick pass and he dived over in the corner and miraculously got the ball down for a try. Sandon Smith converted.

In the 22nd minute the Bunker investigated if the Roosters were denied a try when Mark Nawaqanitawase passed inside for James Tedesco. The pass hit Nathan Cleary's arm accidentally as he was attempting a tackle. Tedesco toed it forward and then almost immediately collided heavily with Dylan Edwards. Bunker deemed it was all fair play and no try.

In the 25th minute Penrith got on the board when they shifted the ball right to Edwards who produced a good draw and pass to the unmarked Paul Alamoti, who run in to score. Cleary converted.

In the 38th minute Cleary saw that the Roosters were short on the right. He linked with Edwards, who drew the winger and passed to Alamoti who scored a soft try. Cleary converted and in doing so, passed Ryan Girdler as the most prolific point scorer in the Panthers history. At halftime the Panthers had a 12-6 lead.

3 minutes into the second half, Cleary kicked a penalty goal. From this point, the Panthera attack and defence lifted a few gears.

In the 52nd minute, Mitch Kenny at dummy half and 7 metres from the Roosters line, put in a grubber into the Roosters in-goal and Isaiah Papali'i grounded it for a try. Cleary converted.

The Roosters hit back four minutes later with a clever scrum play reminiscent of Ben Barba's try for the Sharks in the 2016 Grand Final. From the scrum, the Roosters went to the short side before turning the ball back inside to Robert Toia who streaked into a huge gap and scored a clever try. Smith converted.

On the hour mark, Isaah Yeo put a rushed grubber into the Roosters in-goal that hit the padding on the upright. Blaize Talagi followed through and got his hand on the ball, forcing it for a try. Cleary converted from in front.

7 minutes later, Penrith shifted the ball left with a fast-passing movement. The ball got to Talagi who produced a glorious behind-the-back flick pass to Edwards, and the fullback slipped between the sliding defenders to score. Cleary converted.

The points kept coming for the Panthers 5 minutes later when Casey McLean out on the left side, slipped through a gap and stretched out to score. Cleary converted again from out wide.

The Panthers received a penalty right on full time and Paul Alamoti kicked a penalty goal, to give the Panthers a commanding 40-12 victory.

3. Dylan Edwards

Edwards was at his scheming best in attack, setting up tries. He was also superb in defence, shutting down Tedesco all game.

2. Nathan Cleary

Cleary finally found his groove in the second half and Penrith's attack looked the best its looked all year.

1. Moses Leota

Huge game up the middle by the big bloke. A real handful all match.