Michael Jennings came back to haunt Penrith on Sunday with two tries as the Sydney Roosters eased to a routine 30-6 NRL win over his former club at Allianz Stadium.

The NSW centre left the Panthers in the summer in what was an acrimonious departure from the club he’d been associated with since a schoolboy.

After a slow start to his career with the Roosters, the 25-year-old has really found form in recent weeks – scoring a brace for the second successive game.

In a match that never really caught fire, the Panthers more than held their own in the opening period after Jake Friend had opened the scoring in the fifth minute with James Maloney adding the extras.

That early setback kick-started Ivan Cleary’s side and they grabbed a deserved leveller when rookie fullback Matt Moylan got the final touch to a Luke Walsh bomb.

The Panthers continued to press but were let down by some poor handling and allowed the Roosters to score somewhat against the run of play from Sonny Bill Williams.

Williams showed unbelievable strength and power to push back five Penrith defenders and get the ball over the line one-handed on the stroke of halftime.

The Roosters were much improved after the break and Mitchell Pearce and Maloney took full control in the halves.

Five-eighth Maloney enhanced his case for NSW spot with a brilliant 40-20 10 minutes after the restart and then produced a fine pass to release Jennings for his first four-pointer.

That try knocked the stuffing out of the visitors and Maloney kicked a penalty to stretch the advantage before Jennings added his second.

Using his pace to great advantage Jennings pressured David Simmons into misjudging a teasing kick and touched down.

Pearce then added a fifth try 10 minutes from time as the Roosters consolidated their top-four spot.