Panthers shrug off Cleary’s absence to beat Roosters

Sunia Turuva achieved his first NRL hat-trick as Penrith defeated the Sydney Roosters 22-16, despite Nathan Cleary’s absence.

Cleary, along with Scott Sorensen and James Fisher-Harris, was sidelined due to injury, but Penrith showcased their strength against the Roosters.

Dylan Edwards and Brad Schneider stepped up in Cleary’s absence, leading the Panthers to an early lead that they maintained throughout the game.

The Roosters struggled to catch up after a slow start, despite scoring late tries from Brandon Smith and Daniel Tupou.

Penrith’s defense held strong, with Schneider’s precise kicking keeping the Roosters at bay.

Turuva’s performance, supported by Edwards and Schneider, secured Penrith’s victory and extended the Roosters’ losing streak against them.

Despite injuries to key players, Penrith showed resilience and depth in their squad, with young talents like Mavrik Geyer making impressive NRL debuts.