Theres no hiding from the fact the talking point surrounding Sundays clash with Penrith is all about Michael Jennings facing his former club, however theres much more to this Roosters outfit than the NSW centre.
Jennings is just one of a handful of stars in the new-look Roosters squad this season showing their worth with the Tricolours sitting third on the competition ladder and having lost just two of their opening seven matches.
The former Panther is currently sitting second in the competition for line breaks and will be looking to improve on his eight against his former side.
The Panthers may be at the other end of the ladder after only two wins however on Monday night showed they are a team who can pile on the points, with the boys from the foot of the mountains putting 44 points on close rivals Parramatta.
With two losses from their two meetings with Penrith in 2012, the Roosters cant afford to take the side lightly on Sunday and will need to ensure they continue the form that saw them register comfortable and entertaining wins over the Bulldogs and Dragons in recent weeks.
Coach Trent Robinson has named an unchanged 17 for the third week in a row, with combinations beginning to take shape at the Roosters with the new faces fitting in nicely at Moore Park and the rookie coach enjoying a successful start to his NRL career.
Halves Mitchell Pearce and Jimmy Maloney are proving to be one of the most dangerous in the competition with the playmaking-duo affording their outside men opportunities across the park so far in 2013 and talk even beginning to surface around the pair possibly directing the NSW side in this years Origin series.
Maloney is the competitions top point scorer after seven rounds, with the new recruit averaging 10 points a game after already registering 70 points with four tries and 27 goals. His partner in crime, Pearce, may not have scored a point as yet in 2013 however is holding up his end of the bargain with the NSW half leading the competition in try assists with 8.
They face another new-look halves pairing in Luke Walsh and Tom Humble this Sunday, with Walsh bouncing back from his demotion to the NSW Cup two weeks ago to lead the side in a man of the match performance on Monday night against the Eels.
Two former Roosters in Nigel Plum and Mose Masoe will come up against their former club, with the latter only leaving Bondi at the end of 2012 and will undoubtedly be out to gain bragging rights against his former team mates come 3pm this Sunday.
Masoe, along with Penriths other big men including the in-form Sika Manu and NSW prop Tim Grant, will have a tough assignment however with the Roosters boasting one of the most star-studded forward packs in the competition.
Click here to see the Teams named for the Sunday afternoon clash at Allianz Stadium.
For tickets to the match click here.
Jennings is just one of a handful of stars in the new-look Roosters squad this season showing their worth with the Tricolours sitting third on the competition ladder and having lost just two of their opening seven matches.
The former Panther is currently sitting second in the competition for line breaks and will be looking to improve on his eight against his former side.
The Panthers may be at the other end of the ladder after only two wins however on Monday night showed they are a team who can pile on the points, with the boys from the foot of the mountains putting 44 points on close rivals Parramatta.
With two losses from their two meetings with Penrith in 2012, the Roosters cant afford to take the side lightly on Sunday and will need to ensure they continue the form that saw them register comfortable and entertaining wins over the Bulldogs and Dragons in recent weeks.
Coach Trent Robinson has named an unchanged 17 for the third week in a row, with combinations beginning to take shape at the Roosters with the new faces fitting in nicely at Moore Park and the rookie coach enjoying a successful start to his NRL career.
Halves Mitchell Pearce and Jimmy Maloney are proving to be one of the most dangerous in the competition with the playmaking-duo affording their outside men opportunities across the park so far in 2013 and talk even beginning to surface around the pair possibly directing the NSW side in this years Origin series.
Maloney is the competitions top point scorer after seven rounds, with the new recruit averaging 10 points a game after already registering 70 points with four tries and 27 goals. His partner in crime, Pearce, may not have scored a point as yet in 2013 however is holding up his end of the bargain with the NSW half leading the competition in try assists with 8.
They face another new-look halves pairing in Luke Walsh and Tom Humble this Sunday, with Walsh bouncing back from his demotion to the NSW Cup two weeks ago to lead the side in a man of the match performance on Monday night against the Eels.
Two former Roosters in Nigel Plum and Mose Masoe will come up against their former club, with the latter only leaving Bondi at the end of 2012 and will undoubtedly be out to gain bragging rights against his former team mates come 3pm this Sunday.
Masoe, along with Penriths other big men including the in-form Sika Manu and NSW prop Tim Grant, will have a tough assignment however with the Roosters boasting one of the most star-studded forward packs in the competition.
Click here to see the Teams named for the Sunday afternoon clash at Allianz Stadium.
For tickets to the match click here.
