Panthers Edge Roosters in Thrilling Encounter

The Penrith Panthers have emerged victorious in a tightly contested match against the Sydney Roosters, winning 19-12 at Western Sydney Stadium.

Follow live updates from the match.

Fulltime: Panthers 19 def Roosters 12

That's it, Penrith hang on in one of the games of the season. All eyes now to the judiciary to see whether Nathan Cleary will be suspended for the preliminary final.

The Panthers will play the winner of next week's Warriors-Knights clash. The Roosters were excellent in defeat and can leave here with their heads held high. They'll have to rebound for a sudden-death semi-final against Cronulla, the winner of whom will travel to Brisbane to face the Dolphins.

Finals footy, you just have to love it.

Key Events

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:58pm: Fulltime: Panthers 19 def Roosters 12

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:56pm: Panthers recover the short kick off. Martin flies high to claim the kick to cap an excellent game from him and I doubt the Roosters get the ball back.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:54pm: To'o scores the winner! The Roosters try and line up a sweep to their left, Savala's pass goes to ground, To'o scoops it up and runs 30 metres to score a well-deserved try and wrap this game up.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:49pm: DCE can't level it up. Leota makes an error on the exit set! The Roosters will have a chance to strike right back.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:46pm: Cleary gives Penrith the lead. Cherry-Evans puts in an excellent clearing kick, or it seems excellent until it takes one bounce too many and goes dead by a hair. Seven tackle set for Penrith.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:42pm: The stalemate continues. Talagi slips as he comes toward the defensive line and Smith gets him right in the face. That's a penalty and Penrith have another shot at cracking the Chooks.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:40pm: Roosters follow suit. An error from Edwards gives the Roosters a fresh set inside the 20, they go down their right but Toia loses it.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:37pm: Panthers can't ice it. More set-for-set footy, Cherry-Evans has started kicking early to try and tuck one in behind To'o but can't quite nail it, and Penrith again get the break after a dangerous tackle from Smith.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:32pm: Panthers hold their own. Jenkins loses the ball in contact on his own 20! Now the Roosters have a chance to take the lead - Watson, who was involved in the tackle on Yeo at the other end, is in there again.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:30pm: Panthers can't break the deadlock. We go set-for-set for a good five minutes and the Roosters crack first with a Wong error inside his own 30.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:24pm: Penrith lose their challenge. Cleary puts up a kick that To'o contests and it falls for Scott, Penrith want a restart but the ref says knock on.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:21pm: Panthers make the right call. Jenkins takes Nawaqanitawase out in the air on a contest and the Roosters get easy passage from their own end.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:18pm: Roosters hold on after crazy kick. Nawaqanitawase drops a bomb and Penrith are on the attack inside the 20.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:16pm: Savala can't resist it. A short-side rush on the last ends with Jenkins knocking down a pass to save a try but the Roosters have a full set inside the ten against 12 men.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:12pm: Second half is underway. And we're halfway home - Roosters kick off, Cleary will be missing for the next eight minutes.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 5:05pm: Nathan Cleary on report. I think Cleary will be facing a dangerous contact charge - a Grade 2 would mean he'd be facing a one-match suspension.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 4:57pm: Halftime: Panthers 12 level with Roosters 12. A terrific half of footy and the drama is just getting started.

Sun 13 Sep 2026 at 4:57pm: Sin bin: Nathan Cleary. Cleary clips Savala's kicking leg as he goes to clear it on the final play of the half. That's a penalty but he's also on report and in the bin!