Just one point separates four teams vying for the top eight after Penrith ensured the NRL finals race tightened even further with a crushing win over Sydney Roosters.
The Panthers took a commanding position in the hunt for finals football after leapfrogging Wests Tigers, Gold Coast Titans and New Zealand Warriors into seventh spot with a dominant 38-18 win at home on Monday night.
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Panthers dominant in win over Roosters
Penrith Panthers have thrashed Sydney Roosters 38-18 to move into the NRL top eight.
Penrith go into the final four games of the season with a positive points differential after their seven-try win that was inspired by 18-year-old rising star Nathan Cleary.
The stature of young halfback continues to grow with each week and the teenager showed why he's one of the most promising players in the league by breaking the deadlock after four minutes. It wasn't the fast dummy that was most impressive, but the power as he barraged over.
The Roosters hit back immediately through Dale Copley who put the sloppy defence on display, slicing through to draw level. The visitors failed to build on that momentum and too many frail moments gave the Panthers a chance to restore their lead through Tyrone Peachey, who sealed a sweeping move with a try.
Penrith extended their lead to 12 when Chris Grevsmuhl burst through the to score his fourth try of the season with a valuable touchdown beside the upright. A try-saving tackle from Waqa Blake on Copley ensured the hosts took a two-try buffer into the break.
Three consecutive penalties early into the second half kept the Roosters on the back foot and after a sluggish opening half, Bryce Cartwright began to finally take on the line after the restart.
Following instructions from his coach, the rising star immediately reaped the reward for more attacking and aggressive play with a short-range try five minutes into the second half that extended the Panthers' comfortable lead.
That opened the floodgates for the home side with Cartwright again the architect with another direct run at the Roosters line. An offload to to Blake caused a moment of confusion for the defensive line and the Panthers centre pounced on that lapse, reaching out to score their fifth four-pointer of the night. A sideline conversion by Cleary made it 28-6 but the teenager's best moment with the boot came minutes later.
Cleary showed why he's rated so highly with an incredible show of vision to create the Panthers' sixth try. After bursting through the Roosters line at full pace, the youngster sensationally chipped across the length of the field to pick-out the run of Peachey on the flank on the other side of the field, allowing the centre to score in the corner.
It soon became embarrassing for the Roosters when Isaah Yeo ran half the field unopposed from dummy-half to score their seventh.
Daniel Tupou and Boyd Cordner restored some pride for the visitors with late consolation tries but it proved too little, too late to stop Penrith making a giant stride towards the finals.
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