Saturday’s first NRL Round 19 match is between Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers with the opening kick to commence at 15:00 local time. The game is to be played at Allianz Stadium which see’s home team Sydney Roosters hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers.
Where and when: 15:00 | Saturday 19/07/2014 @ Allianz Stadium
Preview:
The Roosters were sailing through the middle of the season, winning seven of eight games and conveniently meeting the likes of Canterbury and Melbourne during the middle of the Origin period.
Their first real test for a few months came in round 16 when they took on a full strength Manly at Brookvale, a game where they asked the very best of the home-side before coming up eight points short, losing 24 – 16.
They then faced the Sharks the week of the Todd Carney drama and Peter Sharp’s resignation and were un-backable odds to win. In the first half of the game, all was going to script with the Roosters leading 24 – 6.
But inexplicably, the Sharks, who had produced a stunning come-back the week before to defeat Brisbane, did the same again to run down an embarrassed Roosters 30 – 28.
Thankfully the Roosters had the bye last week and it would’ve taken them that long to get over the loss.
They’ll be back to redeem themselves here against the competition front-runners and with the inclusion of Origin pair Aidan Guerra and Boyd Cordner, boast a near full strength side that will have no excuses.
PANTHERS
The underestimated Panthers recorded their seventh win from their past eight matches on Monday night, with a thrilling one point win at home over the Brisbane Broncos 35 – 34.
It was a gallant effort from the Panthers, who sit atop of the competition on 26 points, level with Manly and Canterbury, after losing Tyrone Peachey – who was filling in for regular halfback Peter Wallace, early in the game.
It was another professional performance from the Panthers whose only lose since round 8 of this season, came against the Warriors in New Zealand were they disappointingly gave up a half-time lead.
Matt Moylen, who was in spectacular form at Fullback last Monday night, will be brought into the halves for the injured Peachey whilst the Panthers leader try-scorer – Josh Mansour, has been named on the wing but is still in some doubt with an ankle injury.
The Panthers have answered most questions thrown out them this season but face another test here from a full strength Roosters side that is keen to put the disappointing loss to the Sharks, well and truly behind them.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Roosters won both games between the two clubs last year and both in convincing fashion, winning by 24 and 36 points.
The Panthers are a better side this year though and have given the Roosters headaches in the past. Unfortunately for Penrith though, those occasions have come more often than not when playing at home. At Allianz their record reads one win from the past five matches.
Both teams have plenty to prove here and it should result in a great match, with the Roosters coming out on top but not necessarily by as much as the market suggests.
Teams:
ROOSTERS: Anthony Minichiello (c), Brendan Elliot, Mitchell Aubusson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Nene Macdonald, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce (vc), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (vc), Jake Friend (vc), Sam Moa, Boyd Cordner, Sonny Bill Williams, Aidan Guerra. Interchange: Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Isaac Liu, Dylan Napa, Remi Casty, Heath L’Estrange.
PANTHERS: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Josh Mansour, Dean Whare, Jamal Idris, Kevin Naiqama, Matt Moylan, Jamie Soward, Sam McKendry, James Segeyaro, Brent Kite, Sika Manu, Elijah Taylor, Adam Docker. Interchange: Lewis Brown, Jeremy Latimore, Nigel Plum, Bryce Cartwright, Isaah Yeo.
News:
The Sydney Roosters are targeting a return to their impregnable defence of last season as the key to reinvigorating their hopes of back-to-back NRL premierships.
The Tricolours set a new rugby league benchmark in their title winning season in 2014, recording a record six shutouts of opposition sides and conceding just 13 points per game.
A crucial factor in the club’s 13th first grade premiership, the Roosters defence came to be dubbed “The Bondi Wall”.
But this season the wall has deteriorated with the Roosters conceding 17 points per game.
The eastern suburbs-based club’s defensive frailties were brutally exposed in their upset last-start loss to last-placed Cronulla, the biggest lead the club has given up in its 107 year history.
Prop Sam Moa has been one of the Roosters best this year and says the team is determined to turn things around starting with Saturday’s round-19 clash with top-of-the-table Penrith at Allianz Stadium.
“We have spoken about our defence and that is something we really pride ourselves on and as a club,” he said.
“We are working towards improving that and getting on the same page and getting a bit of confidence back in our performances.
“We have really worked hard on that.”
The Roosters enjoyed last weekend’s bye and spent the week in camp at Avoca on the NSW Central Coast in a bid to get their season back on track.
“It was refreshing to have a bye and not stress about the game on the weekend, we got to hang out with each other and we were on the field every day working on things we need to work on,” Moa said.
The Roosters NSW and Australian representative back-rower Boyd Cordner believes the Panthers represent a litmus test of the premiers’ title credentials.
“We have had a couple of losses now, which is not a good thing, but it is a good wake up call,” Cordner said.
“Penrith will go a long way to see where we are at.
“They have been unreal this year. They have showed week-in-week-out what they can do, they are a really disciplined side.
“We are looking forward to that test and looking forward to showing what we can do.”