That's the game! Taylan May knocks on but Sydney can't pack the scrum in time. Penrith to pull up an exciting upset with troops down. Match review to come - thanks for tuning in to the live blog!
Sydney decide not to take a shot at goal in order to save the full 24 seconds left on the clock. They'll need to score here.
Daniel Tupou scores in the corner right at the death!!! Can Sydney pull off an absolute miracle??? Surely not.
Roosters penalty as Brad Schneider holds on too late. Surprised that wasn't a sin bin.
Luke Keary nearly puts Angus Crichton through a hole!!!
A nice kick from Tedesco forces a drop out but that'll suck up time. Playing into Penrith's hands.
Sydney attacking the try line with everything they have here.
LUKE KEARY FORCES AN ERROR! THEY GET THE BALL BACK
Quite disjointed attack here from Sydney. They had a decent chance to fight for a try that set but Penrith had all the answers.
Angus Crichton very strong run.
Sam Walker converts. Sydney trail 22-12 with 4 minutes 40 to go. Can they pull off the miracle?
A crash play from dummy half is a rare positive for Brandon Smith tonight. Too close and too strong to stop.
YES THEY DO!!!
Can the Roosters score here? Surely something??
Joseph Manu showed his class and Sam Walker forces a repeat set with a nice kick.
Victor Radley. So good.
Roosters penalty. Probably too late to snatch a win for the ages here - but they'll still want to put on some 2nd half points.
Roosters hang on as Penrith attacked their line with danger.
Very strong run from Daniel Tupou but he knocks the ball on trying to play it. Just can't get anything right the tricolours.
Dominic Young knocks on but the Roosters regain their challenge as the error happened prior to the on-field call 'into touch'
And they gain a penalty. Chance to regroup and structure their attack.
6 again Roosters. This could be what they need as they're close to Penrith's line.
Very good kick return from James Tedesco and he gains his team a penalty.
Penrith just dominating this game in every way. Up past the halfway line on play 2.
Victor Radley is just as tough as they come. Given it everything for his team tonight.
Luai looks dangerous but is caught on the last and Sydney get out of trouble.
Well the ball didn't come loose - but Tago held up and Penrith continue their set on the 4th.
This'll be interesting to see if the ball was grounded before it comes loose.
Izack Tago crosses the line - but it goes up as no try.
6 AGAIN!
Taylan May gets close to scoring.
I always love to see a dummy half kicking, especially early, but Brandon Smith just hasn't found the mark tonight.
The Roosters kick on the third but Dylan Edwards takes it cleanly - and then gains a penalty.
Roosters get the ball back after a good defensive effort from Victor Radley forces the error.
Short drop out falls in Penrith's favour. They attack from 20m out.
The Roosters hang on - but a great Brad Schneider kick forces a dropout.
Roosters knock on. Penrith get a full set right on their line.
Good news as Matt Eisenhuth passes his HIA - and Moses Leota returns after a quick stint on the bench.
2nd tackle and Penrith already into the Roosters half.
Dom Young makes the catch. Quiet night from him so far.
Penrith well into the Roosters half on the 4th.
And a poor kick gives Penrith a 7-tackle set. Can't be doing that.
Nice ball playing from Sydney.
Sydney try to go short - but Penrith get the ball back.
Edwards misses his 2nd for the night. Penrith lead 22-6.
That's the hat-trick for Turuva too!
They're just too good - seriously. You cannot go past this Penrith team as they find yet another way to score points. Great ball movement.
Here he is! Mavrik Geyer makes his first apperance in his debut game.
I really like Liam Martin in the middle. Solid work rate and very reliable.
Edwards misses his first kick for the night from the sideline. Penrith lead 18-6.
Some slick ball movement from Penrith puts Tago over for a simple yet clinical try. They draw first blood in the 2nd half.
Liam Martin is back on after injuring his shoulder and moves into the middle. Debutant Mavrik Geyer still yet to feature.
Nat Butcher is penalised and put on report for a nasty tackle which forces Matt Eisenhuth off for a HIA.
6 again Penrith gets them into Sydney's half.
Roosters error. Very scrappy 2nd half so far. Neither team can hold the ball.
Sydney with a scrum from 20m out. They'll be hungry for points.
AND THEY LOSE IT! Izack Tago with a rare error, and Penrith just keep putting unnecessary pressure on themselves.
Challenge successful! The bunker deems the ball to have hit To'o's head and then forward off Dominic Young. Penrith hang on.
Manu makes a poor kick on the 4th but Brian To'o knocks on to give the Roosters another chance... but there's a challenge.
6 again.
Here we go! Can Penrith's defence hold strong?
Roosters get a great chance on Penrith's line after Jarome Luai knocks on.
The Roosters showing some great intent out of the sheds. A couple of strong runs.
I barely had time to collect my thoughts and the 2nd half is underway! Penrith with first use of the football.
Sam Walker converts to make the deficit only 8 going into the break.
WHAT A TRY! Right on the brink of half time a pinpoint Sam Walker kick finds a sprinting Sitili Tupouniua who grounds the ball just before the line.
Did Sitili Tupouniua get that down??? The referee thinks so!
Roosters penalty. This'll give them one last shot to score before half time.
WHACK! Jarome Luai CRUNCHED by a monster hit from Joseph Manu and loses the ball.
Love or hate the Panthers - they're a relentlessly good rugby league outfit.
Such strong defence from Penrith. Really giving the Roosters nothing to work with.
Daniel Tupou driven back 5 meters after taking a tough kick.
Penrith are up to this, combating some decent line speed with some very strong runs.
Sydney with a chance to make a good kick worth it and pin Penrith into their own half.
Been an interesting game to call. Struggling to find coherent thoughts but Penrith dominating up the middle and with their kicking game - yet Sydney still look in this.
Edwards kicks the goal from close out after an escort penalty. Penrith lead 14-0.
Penalty to the Panthers as Sam Walker is pulled up for an escort. Looks like Sydney's defence will need to dig deep again.
Penrith have a decent chance to put on points here. Sydney will be wanting to defend strong.
Egan Butcher comes onto the field... and loses the ball in his first touch of the night.
Panthers error and Sydney get out of danger. They'll be wanting a strong set up the middle here.
Isaah Yeo's ballplaying has been good tonight.
Poor attacking set from the Roosters but a decent Sam Walker kick relieves a bit of pressure.
2/2 for Sam Walker with the short dropouts. Sydney get the ball back.
More very good last tackle football from Penrith forces a drop out. Jarome Luai looking dangerous and allusive in Cleary's absence.
Strong run from Isaah Yeo.
NO TRY!!! Not a great start for my calls tonight as the bunker deems Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to have impeded Dylan Edwards's ability to defend. Panthers penalty and they get out of danger.
Another Roosters penalty for a crusher tackle. They have a good chance to score here.
Some good news for Penrith as Liam Martin will be likely to return tonight.
Roosters penalty as Penrith are pinged for standing in the line. After all the talk this week it's hardly a surprise refs are on the lookout.
A short drop out pays off as the Roosters recover the ball.
James Tedesco grounds the ball in-goal after a great Brad Schneider forces a drop out.
Strong run from Moses Leota. Penrith are close here.
The Roosters were on the attack but an error turns the ball over to Penrith.
Edwards converts his own kick. Apologies for the initial error saying he missed the kick. Aidan's heart is racing...
That's one of the best tries of the year so far!!! Jarome Luai stepped from one side of the field to the other on the last and finds Turuva who finds Edwards who scores off his own grubber kick. Amazing stuff.
Penrith dominating field position. Already into the Roosters half again.
Very impressed with Brad Schneider's kicking game early.
UPDATE: Liam Martin has sustained a shoulder injury. Severity unknown so far, but not a great sign for Penrith despite the early try.
Dylan Edwards converts from the sideline in Nathan Cleary's absence
Turuva crosses to open the scoring for this match. A very nice kick from Brad Schneider forces the error and Dylan Edwards puts Sunia over. Nice 4 pointer.
Liam Martin off the field for Penrith early. Matt Eisenhuth replaces him. I'll do an update when we know more.
A couple suspect passes out of dummy half thrown already...
Amazing intercept from Dominic Young gets the Roosters out of trouble. He's quickly wrapped up though.
Another set restart.
6 again too will help the reigning premiers.
Penrith on the attack up close.
ROOSTERS ERROR! Golden opportunity for Penrith here.
A Brad Schneider kick was left to bounce and James Tedesco nearly gets trapped... safe but only just.
Strong Penrith defence early, looking to outmuscle Sydney here.
Very nice kick from Sam Walker to nearly trap Penrith in their in goal, but Sunia Turuva and Dylan Edwards save the day.
Joseph Manu running the ball centre field - but makes more meters sideways than forward.
Roosters penalty. Lindsay Smith pinged for offside.
Strong that is* and a good Luai kick to end the set
Strom start from Penrith early with some nice carries up the middle.
It'll be The Roosters with first use of the football tonight.
And Aidan arrives just in the nick of time to cover this blockbuster clash between the Roosters and Panthers.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judges: David Munro, Chris Sutton
Video Referee: Chris Butler
SYDNEY ROOSTERS (16)
Tries: Sitili Tupouniua, Brandon Smith, Daniel Tupou
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Sam Walker (2/2)
Penalty Goals:
PENRITH PANTHERS (22)
Tries: Sunia Turuva (2), Dylan Edwards, Izack Tago
Field Goals:
Two Point Field Goals:
Conversions: Dylan Edwards (2/4)
Penalty Goals: Dylan Edwards (1/1)