The Panthers have had a big scare at BlueBet Stadium, beating a strong Roosters team to win 26-18.
Penrith’s Origin stars started the scoring from a scrum, finding Brian To’o to cross without touching.
“They’re experts at scoring scrums,” Warren Smith of the Fox League said.
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Roosters Press Conference | 07:46
“Made there with experience, they have a wonderful combination,” said Steve Roach of the Fox League.
Moments later, Angus Crichton was sent off after committing a professional foul, but that didn’t stop Trent Robinson’s men.
James Tedesco was cut in half, with young gunman Sam Walker backing his side to score the Roosters first on the night, with just 12 players on the field.
In the half, the Panthers received a controversial penalty for a lift inning, which allowed Master Apisai Koroisau to do his magic.
The No. 9 Blues came out of the ruck, hitting Viliame Kikau with a short ball to explode above the try line.
After the break, the Tricolors flew out.
Siosiua Taukeiaho and Sam Verrills scored tries for the Roosters to take a slim two-point lead.
Star creator Nathan Cleary took over and found young gun center Izack Tago with a “brilliant” pass to regain his team’s leadership.
“That’s a great distance and a brilliant pass from Cleary,” Roach said.
“Tupouniua just covered his bets, he had to respect Viliame Kikau’s career,” Smith said.
“That half thread is all Tago needs.”
Koroisau finished the game with a good half-race, scoring a four of his own.
“It’s a phenomenal effort by the Panthers,” Benji Marshall of the Fox League said.
Read below the great conclusions of the Friday night clash!
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KOROISAU MASTERCLASS
Blues hooker Apisai Koroisau has shown exactly why NSW coach Brad Fittler handed him the No. 9 jersey.
The 29-year-old obtained an Origin withdrawal for Game II and was handed over slowly before supporting his team against the Roosters.
Koroisau finished the match with two inning breaks, a line break, a line break assist, a try assist and 39 innings, while scoring a crucial try to close out the match.
“It’s an important play, keep trying them,” Warren Smith of the Fox League said.
“But the speed of the game, the ball opened up enough space for Apisai Koroisau.
“A great moment for him, a team inspired to start the NSW game over the weekend in that big win against the Maroons.”
Fox League Corey Parker explained the big loss Koroisau will have at the end of the season after signing with the Tigers for 2023 and beyond.
“Probably one of the best whores in the game, her toughness is probably a bit overlooked,” Parker said.
“It will be very interesting to see how they do without him, but as long as they have him, they will get everything they can.”
Koroisau has put his best foot forward to remain the Blues ’first half dummy option after a master class at BlueBet Stadium.
THE EXCURRENT REALITY OF CLEARY
After a master class from Panthers midfielder Nathan Cleary, Benji Marshall of the Fox League made a great call.
Cleary recorded a tryout assist and ten points in his team’s win over the Roosters, creating a crucial attempt by Isaac Tago to regain the lead at the end of the second half.
His performance led Marshall to look at his glass ball and predict the heights Cleary could reach in the future.
“It’s crazy to see where Nathan is at 24, some of the best halves of our game, guys like Thurston, Cronk, didn’t mature into the guys who have the biggest effect on the outcome of the game until they were. , 29 or 30, ”Marshall said.
“The world of rugby league is Nathan’s oyster, and that is my personal opinion, if he continues on this path, he could be among our top three players in history.
“That’s scary, he’s 24.”
Fox League’s Corey Parker explained that at such a young age, the Panthers and Blues’ defensive midfielder is already a “complete player” and also had high predictions for Penrith’s game creator.
“We’re picking hair trying to find where it can improve. His game is over at 24, everything he does is complete.”
“It’s very scary to think in four or five years’ time where it will be.”
Parker smokes Ref for soft penalty! | 01:36
TUPOUNIUA FIRE BOATS
Sitili Tupouniua made a major change to the centers to take over the first irrigators.
Facing young guns Izack Tago and Taylan May, as well as Viliame Kikau, is no easy task with the Panthers left mutinying in 2022.
Between Tago and May, the couple scored 23 tries and added another to their number on Friday night.
At this point, it was obvious that the players of Nathan Cleary lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented.
Tupouniua had space on his left and right and was committed to making an entry into Kikau when Cleary threw a flat ball to Tago to score.
“That’s a great distance and a brilliant pass from Cleary,” Roach said.
“Tupouniua only covered his bets, he had to respect Viliame Kikau’s career,” Smith said.
“That half thread is all Tago needs.”
While that moment may have been crucial, Tupouniua was not out of place in the final outings and offers another option if Trent Robinson needed his manager to leave in the future.
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