BlueBet Stadium will play host to Friday's Round 11 NRL game between Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters. The game kicks off at 8:00 pm with Penrith Panthers heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Penrith Panthers vs. Sydney Roosters game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Friday May 12, 2023 at 8:00 pm
Where: BlueBet Stadium
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters Odds
Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters Preview
Penrith Panthers’ and Sydney Roosters’ mortgage on 2023 grand final favouritism has been gate-crashed by Souths, and both star-studded heavyweights head into this showdown well short of their best.
The Panthers avoided a third straight defeat and a losing record with a hard-fought 18-6 defeat of the Warriors aided by a couple of second-half sin-bins.
Some blockbusting play from Spencier Leniu sealed the deal late but genuine individual standouts were thin on the ground.
The Roosters, meanwhile, are under huge scrutiny after a limp 20-6 Magic Round defeat to the Cowboys in which they were held scoreless for 78 minutes.
The likes of Joseph Suaalii and Brandon Smith have come in for criticism, while the Sam Walker situation continues to loom over the team.
Defensively the Roosters still stack up – and they held the Warriors to nil in Auckland in Round 9 – but their offensive struggles are gaining attention, scoring the third-least points per game (17.0) in the NRL.
The Panthers have opened up a six-match winning streak at the Roosters’ expense.
Four of the teams’ last five encounters have produced 44-plus points, with the Panthers prevailing 32-12 at the SCG and 26-18 at Penrith in the space of six weeks mid-2022.
The Panthers are unchanged, while the Roosters have lost Egan Butcher (concussion) so Angus Crichton will start and Fletcher Baker joins the bench.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their victory over the Roosters in the 2003 grand final should provide a boost for the Panthers at home, where they haven’t played since Round 6 and have won 32 of their last 36.
Content provided by Ladbrokes
Head To Head Bet
We're tipping Penrith Panthers to win at $1.48 odds.
First Try Scorer
First Try Scorer: Brian To'o at $8.50.
Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters Teams
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Jack Cogger 19. Luke Garner 20. Thomas Jenkins 21. Liam Martin 22. Liam Henry
Roosters team:1. James Tedesco 2. Corey Allan 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Billy Smith 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Joseph Manu 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Jake Turpin 19. Naufahu Whyte 20. Sam Walker 21. Tuipulotu Katoa 22. Terrell May