SYDNEY ROOSTERS 4 PENRITH PANTHERS 40
TOM SMITH, Allianz Stadium, Friday

THOMAS JENKINS snared four tries as the Panthers cemented their status as the team to beat in 2026 with a comprehensive defeat of the vaunted Roosters. 

The Chooks were tipped as a title contender but the men in pink swept them aside on their own turf, with Jenkins crossing four times and Dylan Edwards twice. 

Penrith have now beaten Trent Robinson’s men in twelve of their last 13 meetings. 

Both clubs enjoyed big boosts with NSW hooker Reece Robson making his Roosters debut and Blues team-mate Liam Martin returning from a calf complaint for the Panthers. 

The hosts opened the scoring inside five minutes via Robert Toia, who brushed off Casey McLean – but it was their only joy for the evening. 

Jenkins replied in the left corner thanks to a neat pass by Mitch Kenny down the short side. 

Then Penrith’s other flanker Brian To’o supplied the highlight of the evening, regathering his own kick twice to seal a superb solo try. 

Edwards turned a Paul Alamoti bust into four points, Jenkins nabbed another and Nathan Cleary booted a penalty goal to make it 24-4 at the break. 

Jenkins snaffled another two in the second half – the latter a runaway effort with the Roosters on the attack – before Edwards completed the rout late.

ROOSTERS: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Fetalaiga Pauga, 4 Robert Toia, 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6 Daly Cherry-Evans, 7 Sam Walker, 8 Naufahu Whyte, 9 Reece Robson, 10 Lindsay Collins, 11 Angus Crichton, 12 Siua Wong, 13 Egan Butcher. Subs: 14 Connor Watson, 15 Blake Steep, 16 Nat Butcher, 17 Salesi Foketi, 18 Cody Ramsey (not used), 20 Toby Rodwell (not used) 

Tries: Toia (5); Goals: Walker 0/1 

PANTHERS: 1 Dylan Edwards, 2 Thomas Jenkins, 3 Paul Alamoti, 4 Casey McLean, 5 Brian To’o, 6 Blaize Talagi, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Moses Leota, 9 Mitch Kenny, 10 Lindsay Smith, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Liam Martin, 13 Isaah Yeo. Subs: 14 Freddy Lussick, 15 Billy Phillips, 16 Scott Sorensen, 17 Luke Garner, 18 Izack Tago (not used), 21 Jack Cole (not used) 

Tries: Jenkins (16, 28, 45, 65), To’o (20), Edwards (23, 71); Goals: Cleary 6/8

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-4, 4-10, 4-16, 4-22, 4-24; 4-28, 4-34, 4-40 

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Roosters: James Tedesco; Panthers: Thomas Jenkins

Penalty count: 3-7; Half-time: 4-24; Referee: Grant Atkins; Attendance: 22,128