Penrith’s vaunted defence was pulled apart but they still threatened to pinch a comeback win against a gutsy, depleted Tricolours outfit.
Penrith’s vaunted defence was pulled apart but they still threatened to pinch a comeback win against a gutsy, depleted Tricolours outfit.
Those reports of the Roosters demise? Greatly exaggerated. Just like the famously misquoted Mark Twain line, the legend of this one will only deservedly grow.
Those $11 outsider odds? More like $101. Dominic Young outleaping Dylan Edwards – the safest of all fullbacks? He cleared tall buildings too actually.
No Sam Walker, Brandon Smith, Victor Radley, Spencer Leniu, Lindsay Collins and Nat Butcher on top of more than $4 million in off-season departures? No exaggerating those actually, which is exactly why no-one gave the Roosters a hope in hell against the four-time premiers.
And those that did, even though they’re lying, they certainly didn’t predict a 12-try, 38-32 shoot-out and one of the greatest upsets in their history.
Oh mama, they had to earn it though. Not until Daniel Tupou somehow shoved Brian To’o far enough so he planted the ball on the corner post, did the Tricolours finally have it in the bag.
It never felt safe. Even when James Tedesco left Jack Cole for dead and sent Connor Watson over for his second try of the night and a 24-18 lead, the feeling was Penrith still had them covered.
Especially when Dylan Edwards was able to sneak through in pursuit of a Nathan Cleary grubber and draw the Panthers level again with half an hour to play.
But the Panthers weren’t themselves. And the sight of Edwards battling with a groin injury that eventually forced him off, well that hardly helped.
Call it a Vegas hangover. Call it a yearning for Penrith Park, where a much-needed knockdown and upgrade has forced them to CommBank Stadium for the next two years.
There were errors in the play-the-ball. Balls hit the deck. Runs were mistimed and the fundamentals were fundamentally lacking.
The Roosters came intent on peppering Penrith with high kicks and found fortune often, while code-hopping centre Mark Nawaqanitawase threatened constantly as they chanced their hand and shifted the ball constantly.
When Nawaqanitawase popped a fine offload around the corner for Daniel Tupou’s second try, they had the ascendancy once more. And a minute later, Sandon Smith had extended it with a gutsy left-side shift inside his own 20 and the reward of his own long-range try.
Penrith still had their chances. And moments of brilliance from To’o with a grubber and regather, and Cleary’s pinpoint kick for Liam Henry, kept them within striking distance.
A high hit and sin-binning for Salesi Foketi gave Penrith a 12-man defence to aim at and the most nervous of final minutes.
Cleary twice took penalty shots at goal as the clock wound down, playing the long game and eyeing a golden-point finish. The Roosters though, they got what they deserved, eventually.
A thrilling, nail-biting win – with no exaggeration needed.
It’s hot potato stuff as the Panthers keep the ball alive. They march upfield in a few tackles, Cleary is tackled with five second left, they go right, Brian To’o dives for the corner – and he’s out! No try! Actually he’s dropped the ball into the corner post – so close to potentially forcing the game into extra time, but not close enough.
It’s a thrilling finish to a stunning game, with the injury-ravaged Roosters defying the bookies and possibly every tipster in the country to beat the champions.
Roosters 38, Panthers 32 at full-time
It’s all or nothing here for the Panthers, who are closing in on another try. A grubber kick almost comes up trumps but dribbles just out of reach of the Penrith chasers before being taken dead. Goal-line dropout and the Panthers have another set against the Roosters’ goal-line defence. The Chooks rush up and attempt an intercept, but they’re offside and it’s a penalty. Again, Nathan Cleary opts for a goal to reduce the deficit to six.
He kicks it.
Roosters 38, Panthers 32 after 79 minutes
One minute after the penalty goal, the Roosters go left and grab one of those much-needed tries, with Casey McLean getting the four-pointer. That penalty goal decision looks inspired now – can Nathan Cleary do wrong? Turns out he can, with his conversion attempt starting right, drifting in, then hitting the post. They still trail by eight.
Roosters 38, Panthers 30 after 76 minutes
A late twist here, with young Roosters lock Salesi Foketi been penalised and perhaps harshly sent to the sin bin after his chest made contact with the head of a falling ball carrier – and then another twist with Nathan Cleary opting to take the two points rather than pushing for a try. They still need to score twice to draw level regardless.
Roosters 38, Panthers 26 after 74 minutes
Turns out rumours of the Roosters’ demise were greatly exaggerated. James Tedesco and the Tricolours are well and truly back, with Tedesco himself playing a starring role yet again. The veteran fullback sets up the latest four-pointer for right winger Dom Young here, weaving to the right, getting his head through the defensive line and popping a pass for Young to cross in the corner. Sandon Smith’s conversion attempt goes wide but it hardly matters at this point.
Roosters 38, Panthers 24 after 71 minutes
Superstar fullback Dylan Edwards is now off the field with a suspected groin problem, and things aren’t looking good for the Panthers in a game they were expected to cruise through. They’re down by 10 with 20 minutes left, and down one of their best players with a forced backline reshuffle.
Roosters 34, Panthers 24 after 61 minutes
Seriously good stuff, this. Sandon Smith and Mark Nawaqanitawase create space inside their own half for Daniel Tupou down the left. Tupou throws it back inside for James Tedesco, who draws Dylan Edwards and sends it to Smith to complete a special try. The Roosters have a good lead now, and Edwards doesn’t look quite right in backfield either – he may have a groin issue, but is playing on.
Smith kicks the conversion too. The Roosters were 11-1 underdogs in this game, and they’re now in the box seat to win it.
Roosters 34, Panther 24 after 58 minutes
Penrith look set to grab the lead back with a sweeping backline move to the left but Dom Young intercepts a Paul Alamoti pass and the Roosters survive.
Then a rare handling error in the play-the-ball from Brian To’o gives the Roosters their own chance to go on the attack. And they go in front again! Some good work on the left from James Tedesco and Mark Nawaqanitawase – who has been excellent again tonight at left centre – sets up Daniel Tupou for his second of the night.
Roosters 28, Panthers 24 after 55 minutes