The Panthers are tearing the Roosters to shreds in a 36-4 masterclass in home turf.
Workhorse second-rower Scott Sorensen has had a hand in three of Penrith’s six tries, scoring a double and setting up another in a stunning first half.
MATCH CENTRE: Panthers vs Roosters live score, stats, video
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Things turned sour for the Roosters 16 minutes in when star enforcer Jared Wearea-Hargreaves left the field with a suspected pectoral injury.
And it got even worse when Joey Manu left the field with an ankle injury in the 54th minute.
The Panthers scored two of their first-half tries in the final two minutes in what commentator Andrew Voss said was a “Roosters barbecue” by the “unbelievable” Panthers.
The Roosters got on the board through Corey Allan in the second half, but it barely made a dent in Penrith’s confidence as wingers Brian To’o and Sunia Turuva celebrated tries of their own.
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MATCH PREVIEW
The Roosters have a chance to silence their critics when they take on defending premiers, the Panthers in a blockbuster Friday night clash.
The Roosters sit eighth with five wins and four losses — but were humiliated last week, going down 20-6 to the Cowboys.
Captain James Tedesco said after that game that the team needed to “have a good look at ourselves in the mirror” and if they wait another few weeks to get it together “it’ll be too late.”
While the Panthers have been a little clunky too, a win over the back-to-back premiers is just what the Roosters need — and it would launch them ahead of Penrith on the ladder.
Coach Trent Robinson is sticking solid with his Joey Manu-Luke Keary halves experiment, but has made a big change at hooker. He’s dropped Brandon Smith back to the bench and brought in Jake Turpin to start.
Meanwhile, Egan Butcher will miss the game through concussion protocols with Angus Crichton replacing him in the starting side.
Penrith will be without prop Spencer Leniu — who is joining the Roosters next season — due to an injury. But they welcome back star second-rower Liam Martin from a hamstring injury that’s sidelined him for the last three games.
TEAMS
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 17. Jaeman Salmon 21. Liam Martin 22. Liam Henry
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Corey Allan 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Billy Smith 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Joseph Manu 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 18. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 9. Brandon Smith 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Matthew Lodge 14. Drew Hutchison