A spirited defensive effort saw the Tricolours eventually prevail in a sea sawing encounter over the Panthers 32-18 in the Holden Cup.
The Tricolours dominated for large periods and always looked the more capable side but it was the defensive effort in the first twenty minutes of the second half that ensured the home side ran away with the victory at the back end.
SG Ball star and now promising Holden Cup talent Latrell Mitchell kick started the scoring with a nicely timed run to calmly slot through the defence to make it 6-0.
The Tricolours then dominated field possession but it was the visitors who scored the next try, hooker Sione Katoa with a solid solo effort to level the scores.
It was the captain who then stood tall for the Roosters, Alex Thomas firing a perfect pass to a barnstorming Mitch Mamary to once again put the Tricolours in front.
We The Panthers had few opportunities down in the Roosters half but managed to score nearly every time they did, the second coming through a huge hole on the Tricolours defensive line.
Luckily the home side lifted a gear and scored on the stroke of half time through our newest NRL player Brendan Elliot.
The winger ran a beautiful line collecting a sharp Jackson Hastings pass to slide over and once again put the Roosters a converted try in front.
It was all the Panthers at the start of the second half, an early try again leveling the scores as the visitors started to dominate.
The half started to play out exactly like the first stanza but I'm reverse with the home side soaking up all the Panthers pressure before scoring on the first opportunity down the oppositions end.
A fluid back line movement was finished off by Jack Goodsell, the winger receiving some unnecessary treatment whilst scoring the try which resulted in a fight and both Goodsell and Naden from the Panthers sent to the sin bin.
Two sets later and the Roosters were in again as Elliot scored his second, slicing through the defence from a scrum to extend the lead to ten.
A late try sealed the result for the home side.
