Tough-Spirited Tricolours Overcome in Afternoon Arm-Wrestle

The visitors produced a blistering start to the match, with a penalty in the opening set allowing them to march down the field where prop Peter Taateo proved too strong close to the line, crashing his way over. Winger Timothy Sielaff-Burns converted the try to give the Panthers an early 6-0 advantage.

From the restart, the Panthers struck again, this time with a slick passing move that cut the Roosters defence down the middle, with hooker Connor Mason sprinting away for a second four-pointer in the opening three minutes. The try was converted by Sielaff-Burns, doubling Penrith's lead.

The Tricolours rallied to stop the flow of points at their own end, hitting back with a try of their own through winger Tavita Henare-Schuster, who swooped on a Panthers error on their right edge to streak away and score superbly, clawing the Roosters back into the contest at 12-4.

The visitor’s lead was restored in the 21st minute after a penalty for a second effort against the Roosters gave the Panthers a chance to turn the screws. Easts couldn’t stop a rampaging Billy Scott on the ensuing set, with the lock latching on to a short ball and reaching out to score under the posts. The try was converted by Sielaff-Burns for an 18-4 scoreline.

Once more the Red, White, and Blue responded to a setback positively, forcing Penrith into a drop out and consecutive defensive sets on their own line. Hooker Benaiah Ioelu capitalised on some lazy defence by the visitors, fooling them with a dummy before sneaking over to score. Five-eighth Tyler Colley converted the try, reducing the deficit to eight points.

A heroic showing in defence from the Tricolours right before the break bucked the back-and-forth trend of the first half, with fullback Owen Flaherty putting his body on the line to force Panthers centre Kristian Li Mai into an error, keeping the scores at 18-10.

A brutal opening 10 minutes of the second half saw both sides put in strong defensive sets, but it was the Panthers who were first to crack, with a penalty to the Roosters on the line leading to some crafty play from Flaherty, who showed electric speed to score after a cheeky dummy. Colley converted the try to cut the deficit to just two points with 20 minutes remaining.

Once again the Bondi Wall stood strong as the Panthers searched for a response, surviving a sizzling set of six from the visitors that ended with several Roosters holding up a player over the line. Following this, Henare-Schuster once again found space on the left touchline, linking up with Flaherty who fumbled the ball agonisingly short of the line.

With just 13 minutes remaining, Penrith burst through the centre of the Roosters defence once more, finding a try in the corner through back-rower Riley Wake against the run of play. Sielaff-Burns converted the kick to make the scores 24-16.

18th man Cassius Tia, who was activated to replace Emery Joliffe, then produced a stunning 40/20 with his first involvement, providing Easts with valuable field position. The Tricolours capitalised when halfback Braith Alexander scurried over close to the line. Colley converted the try to make the score line 24-22, setting up a grandstand finish.

The Panthers held on to their slim lead in the dying minutes to claim the victory over the ladder-leaders. The Sydney Roosters will look to hit back next Sunday afternoon against their arch-rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Coogee Oval.

Sydney Roosters 22 (Tavita Henare-Schuster, Benaiah Ioelu, Owen Flaherty, Braith Alexander tries, Tyler Colley 3 goals) def by Penrith Panthers 24 (Peter Taateo, Connor Mason, Billy Scott, Riley Wake tries, Timothy Sielaff-Burns 4 goals)