Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters
2nd October 1050hrs
Rugby League – Australia – NRL
Pick Penrith -2 Handicap
Bookmaker Bet365
Odds: Even Money odds taken 0300 GMT, Wednesday 29th September
This is it then, the business end of the NRL season. The Finals bracket begins with this massive double-chance match.
The winner of this fixture between the Panthers and Roosters will go through to the preliminary finals.
The loser won’t be out. Instead they will get a second chance in a semi final fixture against either Canberra or Cronulla.
Table of Contents
Penrith Panthers Preview – Will minor premiers land themselves a free weekend?
The Penrith Panthers finished the regular season of the NRL at the top of the table, getting there with a couple of games to spare.
So it was a comfortable and brilliant campaign from them. They posted a W18 D1 L1 record across the course of the season.
So as the top seeds they will play fourth-placed Sydney Roosters in this double chance match.
The loser will then get a second chance against either the 7th placed Knights or 8th place Cronulla Sharks in the semis.
So back to Penrith and the fantastic season that they have had.
The Panthers are the 3/4 odds-on favourites for this clash* (odds taken 0300 GMT, Wednesday 29th September).
Earlier this season when they met the Roosters for the first and only time for this shortened campaign, Penrith collected a 20-14 success.
Interestingly though each of the last four meetings have been split evenly between them with two wins each.
Even with the minor premiership wrapped up, Penrith still didn’t take their foot off the gas, winning their remaining matches.
Their either-try win over the Canterbury Bulldogs in the final round of action, moved Penrith onto a fifteen match winning streak.
That’s a club record and they are going to take some stopping.
Given that the fist meeting this season between them was in Round 1 when both were coming in cold, it’ll be interesting to see the increased intensity here.
A Panthers -2 handicap is at evens* (odds taken 0300 GMT, Wednesday 29th September).
Even though they are the favourites, they are not going to get an easy game here against the Roosters.
Sydney Roosters Preview – Can reigning champions make their mark?
The Roosters were crushed 60-8 in the final round of action against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
But it was a game that was of little importance really because things were unlikely to work out for them getting third place in the ladder.
So fourth place it was and this is where they are. The Roosters did rest some of their key players last week, but then so did the Panthers.
The big positive for the Sydney Roosters is that they were the top scoring team in the regular season of the NRL.
They ended up with an average of 27.6 points per game, that tally being let down a bit by that massive crash in the final round.
It was a W14 L6 record that the Roosters closed out the regular season with, but they got their top-four spot and now the real business starts.
The Roosters are the 11/10 underdogs in the match outright, but not without their appeal really* (odds taken 0300 GMT, Wednesday 29th September).
This is going to be some clash.
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Back in the 2014 season was the last time that Penrith and the Roosters clashed in the opening week of the finals.
The Panthers got a one-point win in that one thanks to a field goal from Jamie Soward in what was a brilliantly intense match.
The Roosters were in red hot form down the final stretch of the regular campaign, putting five wins on the spin together before that strange blowout against the Rabbitohs.
It’s a W6 L2 record that they have taken in their last eight fixtures played. That’s a very good record, but still pales to that of the Panthers.
Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters Betting Advice
This is some clash and we would just have to swing with Penrith continuing the huge momentum that they have.
A victory coming their way won’t likely come by a big margin, but they are good enough to get another one over the reigning double-Premiers.
The visiting Tricolours are not going to be a pushover, as they have proven in the last couple of campaigns that this where they really come alive.
Key Facts – Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters Betting Tip
- Penrith Panthers beat the Roosters in round one of this season’s NRL
- Penrith Panthers and the Roosters have each won two of the last four meetings
- Sydney Roosters are the reigning back to back Premiers
There is enough in that handicap line of a Panthers -2 to have a look at for even money against the match outright for Penrith* (odds taken 0300 GMT, Wednesday 29th September).
So that is where we are going to settle in terms of an outcome in this one. Backing that up is that each of the last four (and five of the last seven) meetings have gone the way of the home team.
So a punt at longer odds in NRL betting then we are going to have a look at the Panthers 1-10 winning margin at 7/4 *(odds taken 0300 GMT, Wednesday 29th September)
The best betting odds for Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters
Penrith Panthers to win: 3/4 at Bet365
Draw: 20/1 at Bet365
Sydney Roosters to win: 11/10 at Bet365
