Official Match Thread - Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers

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SYDNEY ROOSTERS vs PENRITH PANTHERS

Competition: NRL
Round: 15
Date: Friday, 15th of June
Sydney Kick Off Time: 8:00pm
Location: Allianz Stadium, Sydney

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OFFICIAL TEAM LISTS:

Roosters: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Dylan Napa, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Mitchell Aubusson, 13 Isaac Liu

Interchange: 14 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Kurt Baptiste, 17 Victor Radley

Reserves: 18 Nat Butcher, 19 Lindsay Collins, 20 Paul Momirovski, 21 Billy Smith

The Roosters have made just one change to the 17 which beat Newcastle, with Mitch Aubusson named to start and Siosiua Taukeiaho going back to the bench.

Panthers: 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 2 Christian Crichton, 3 Tyrone Peachey, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Tyrone Phillips, 6 James Maloney (c), 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Trent Merrin, 9 Sione Katoa, 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11 Corey Harawira-Naera, 12 Isaah Yeo, 13 James Fisher-Harris

Interchange: 14 Wayde Egan, 15 Kaide Ellis, 16 Jack Hetherington, 17 James Tamou

Reserves: 18 Jarome Luai, 19 Liam Martin, 20 Tyrone May, 21 Nick Lui-Toso

Viliame Kikau is out with a knee injury, with Jack Hetherington replacing him on the interchange.

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OFFICIAL MATCH PREVIEW:
Slowly but surely the Roosters are working their way up the ladder, notching their ninth win of the season with last week's 18-16 defeat of a very stubborn Newcastle.

Trent Robinson has repeatedly acknowledged his team hasn't reached its potential, but you get the feeling he feels more comfortable than he did four or five weeks ago. While the Roosters still have two-thirds of the Origin period to get through, they boast one of the NRL's best defensive records and Robinson is keeping the faith the offence will be running on all cylinders at the business end of the season.

The Panthers underlined their premiership credentials with last week's gutsy 23-22 win over Canberra, getting out of jail with a late try and clutch kicking in the final minutes by James Maloney (sideline conversion) and Nathan Cleary (field goal).

This clash – easily the game of the round – is being played on the Roosters' home turf, but that's unlikely to bother the Panthers given their success on the road this season.

Key match-up: No surprises here, with a marquee match-up in the halves between Roosters duo Luke Keary and Cooper Cronk and Penrith's James Maloney and Nathan Cleary. Maloney and Cleary form arguably the best halves combination in the NRL and it's up to Keary and Cronk to call all the right shots for the Chooks.

For the Roosters to win: Good as they have been defending lately, the Roosters are prone to allowing the opposition dictate tempo for extended stretches of games. They have to keep pushing the Panthers backwards and get their still suspect offensive execution right. Latrell Mitchell is fast becoming one of the game's most damaging players and the Chooks need to get him lots of touches of the ball.

For the Panthers to win: They went back to a slow start against the Raiders before stealing it at the death, but they don't want to be in that position against a strong defensive team like the Roosters. The Panthers need to come out with fire in their eyes like they did against the Dragons in round 12, get the Roosters on the back foot and keep them guessing.

Roosters Stat Attack: The Roosters haven't done so well against the teams sitting at the very top, having lost three games from four against top four opposition this season. Coming off a close two-point win over the Knights on Saturday, the Roosters will have to dig deep to bring down the Panthers.

Panthers Stat Attack: Fighting against the Dragons for top spot on the ladder, the Panthers have recent history on their side as they aim for a fifth consecutive victory against the Roosters.

And another thing: James Maloney exited the Roosters three years ago but there are still people at the club who wish he never left. He left the Roosters to become an integral member of the Sharks' 2016 premiership-winning team and his form this season at the age of 31 is one of the main reasons Penrith are on top of the ladder. Maloney showed he is still one of the best under pressure with a clutch sideline conversion that tied the game last week against Canberra before Nathan Cleary won it with a field goal.

Head-to-head: Played 88; Roosters 54 wins, Panthers 33 wins, 1 draw
Matches at venue: Played 21; Roosters 12 wins, Panthers 9 wins
2017 result: Roosters won 14-12 at Panthers Stadium in round 3
Points per game: Roosters 20.1; Panthers 23.1
Points conceded per game: Roosters 15.1; Panthers 14.1
Televised: Live on Nine, Fox League

[Tommy Smith]

I think we genuinely have the edge all over the park - with the halves and starting props being equal. Especially with Penrith missing Edwards, Mansour, Blake and Kikau.

So this really is a season defining game imo. For one it's crucial for top 4 but more than that this is the indication we've all been waiting for to determine how we'll go come finals.

With the talent at our disposal there are no excuses so I'm anticipating a complete performance in a 12pt win.

[zac]

I don't approach the game with a lot of confidence, but with genuine hope. Here's hoping a big game brings the best out of us.

[Kelby]

I think Cronk and Keary will have to play their best this year for us to win, and I think they will.
We have the edge in Toops and Lats.

[Guest]

I think that we will win but imagine thinking that our halves are as good as theirs lol

Maloney/Cleary should’ve been our combination.

[Thirteen]

I think we genuinely have the edge all over the park - with the halves and starting props being equal. Especially with Penrith missing Edwards, Mansour, Blake and Kikau.

So this really is a season defining game imo. For one it's crucial for top 4 but more than that this is the indication we've all been waiting for to determine how we'll go come finals.

With the talent at our disposal there are no excuses so I'm anticipating a complete performance in a 12pt win.

We have the edge all over the park on every team......on paper. Got to get the psyche right.

[Thirteen]

Finally a decent match-up where our players won't be complacent. Can't wait.

[Lydon]

Big test for Cronk and Keary,I have no doubt they will come on top and get the guys home..
Go Easts!

[Johnny Tobin]

Time to make a statement. At home. Almost full strength. Very confident.

[Serenader]

Roosters 13+ and Tedesco to put on a masterclass

[Thirteen]

Time to make a statement. At home. Almost full strength. Very confident.

We are full strength. We lose nothing with Matterson out.

[Johnny Tobin]

We are full strength. We lose nothing with Matterson out.

I think I would still prefer him to Aubbo in that role but I get where you are coming from.

[Andrew Walker]

The confidence I had has been doused upon seeing Cummins and Klein as the two referees. We are going to have to be exceptionally good to win with these two refereeing