Queensland coach Billy Slater said he saw enough from the Roosters on Friday night to envision a pathway to beating the seemingly unstoppable Panthers.
Despite Penrith falling behind in the second half, they pulled away late to win, 26-18.
“It was just a high-quality game,” Slater said on Billy’s Breakdown – before adding that he believed Penrith’s forwards had lost the battle, which doesn’t happened often.
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“Through that middle third of the field, the Roosters put themselves up there that they can challenge the Panthers,” he said.
“The Panthers are sitting on top of the ladder and they’re obviously the team to beat this year, but I think the Roosters really showed a way that the Panthers can be beaten – and everyone is beatable.
While that last statement is true, Penrith are as close to invincible as anyone – losing just once this year after winning the title in 2021.
“In between the scrum lines, they call it – that middle third of the field. They were more physical than the Panthers and they utilised their dummy halves really well.”
One of those No.9 options, Sam Verrills, grabbed the try that put the Roosters ahead just before the hour mark – but it wasn’t enough.
Trent Robinson’s men were among the premiership favourites at the start of the season, but currently sit in tenth spot with only eight games left to play.
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