Reigning ISP NSW Premiers the Panthers made light work of their first hit out in 2018 with a 38-0 shut out of Wyong Roos in a trial win at Panthers Stadium.
An early double for Ratu Tuisese-Emori set the tone for the match as the Panthers made a perfect return to the paddock in a rematch of the 2017 ISP Grand Final.
Adam Keighran made a promising start in his new colours with a perfectly timed cut-out pass for Tuisese-Emori to stroll over untouched in the 4th minute. Keighran wasn’t able to add the extras, keeping the score at 4-0.
The same combination linked up again ten minutes later when Tuisese-Emori was put in space by his five-eight to score his second. Keighran’s conversion was waved away once more with the Panthers leading 8-0.
Liam Coleman and Chad O’Donnell produced a carbon-copy effort on the opposite flank to extend the Panthers’ lead in the 28th minute. Keighran found the mark with his conversion to extend the lead to 14 points.
HALFTIME: Panthers 14 – 0 Roosters
The onslaught continued following the restart when front-rowers Paea Pua and Nick Lui-Toso combined for the latter to crash over next to the uprights. O’Donnell slotted the simple conversion for a 20-0 lead.
Winger Sam Smith was next to score for the home side in the 53rd minute when he spectacularly latched on to an O'Donnell cross-field kick. O'Donnell stepped up to land the conversion from the sideline to push the score out to 26-0.
Bullocking forward Atonio Pelesasa was next in on the act past the hour mark when he carried three defenders over the line to score. Toby Westcott kicked the extras as the scoreboard read 32-0.
Smith got the better of his opposite man to reach over for his second try in the 75th minute, which Westcott converted, to seal a convincing 38-0 thrashing of Wyong.
FULLTIME: Panthers 38-0 Roosters
