Round 8 of the NRL 2013 season on Sunday will consist of three matches the third of which is between Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers with the match being played at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Home team the Sydney Roosters hold overwhelming favouritism in the match. View our live NRL scores, stats, odds and results for the game between Sydney Roosters and Penrith Panthers.
WHERE AND WHEN: Allianz Stadium, Sunday @ 15:00
Opening Odds:
Sydney Roosters $1.12 vs Penrith Panthers $6.50 at Sportsbet Australia
Sydney Roosters $1.10 vs Penrith Panthers $7.00 at Luxbet Australia
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Preview:
The Roosters play the Panthers at Allianz Stadium on Sunday at 12.45pm. This is shaping up to be a killer match, with the Roosters strong and Penrith undefeated in 2013. However, if anyone can stop the Panthers in their tracks, it is the Roosters and it is this weekend. They have a lot of momentum going for them at the moment, with their latest game being a 54-10 destruction of the Dragons on Anzac Day. Match of the round!
Teams:
Sydney Roosters:
Anthony Minichiello (c), Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Sam Moa, Mitchell Aubusson, Sonny Bill Williams, Boyd Cordner Interchange: Daniel Mortimer, Martin Kennedy, Aidan Guerra, Luke O’Donnell
Penrith Panthers:
Matt Moylan, Travis Robinson, Lewis Brown, Dean Whare, David Simmons, Tom Humble, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston (c), Tim Grant, Sika Manu, Matthew Robinson, Nigel Plum
Interchange: Adam Docker, Mose Masoe, James Segeyaro, Clint Newton, Nathan Smith (one to be omitted)
O’Donnell wary of young Panthers in NRL
Luke O’Donnell says Penrith’s dismantling of Parramatta last Monday makes them a dangerous proposition for the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
The Panthers have struggled for form this NRL season and went into the game against the Eels with an inexperienced side and on the back of five successive losses but still managed to chalk up a 44-12 win.
Fullback Matthew Moylan was man of the match on his NRL debut, rookie winger Travis Robinson bagged a pair of tries with young back-rower Matt Robinson also standing out.
The Roosters are red-hot favourites to continue their fine start to the season, but O’Donnell said he was impressed by what he saw from Ivan Cleary’s side.
“They are a very young squad who will come here full of confidence after such a big win,” O’Donnell told AAP.
“They showed that there is a lot of ability there and they will be up for this game.
“They will view it as a big game and that makes them very dangerous, especially if we don’t turn up and rock and roll.”
O’Donnell was the last player signed by the Roosters in a busy off-season recruitment drive that brought Michael Jennings, Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Moa to the club.
After spending two years in the English Super League, he was ready to come home but admitted it’s taken time to readjust to the pace and rigours of the NRL.
“I am slowly building. I didn’t have a big off-season so it’s a steep learning curve coming to a new club,” he said.
“It was a baptism of fire, and it always helps getting more minutes on the field and I am getting better with each game.”
The former NSW and Kangaroos enforcer has had to settle for a spot on the bench and admits it’s something he’s had to get used to.
“It’s something new – it’s a bit of a different style coming off the bench,” he said.
“But I am playing in a very good young side so that helps, but I am getting more minutes and that is helping me improve.”
AAP imc