Trent Robinson and James Tedesco called their first win over the Panthers in six seasons the proudest win of their career after they were written off after their thrashing in Round 1.
Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
The Roosters beat the Panthers for the first time in six years with a 38-32 result against the odds a week after having 50 points put on them by the Broncos.
“It feels like it at the moment,” Robinson said if it was his proudest win.
“What has happened between this game and the last game and players being in and out and the amount of guys under five games.
“It feels really nice when 17 guys have belief in the jersey and in the game plan and they go about executing it and nailing it, so it was really nice to watch.”
Tedesco couldn’t recall a prouder win in his Roosters career.
“I feel like it’s the most proudest I’ve been of a win,” Tedesco said.
“Obviously, after last week with the leaders and experience we had out this week, with the young guys who had to play big minutes against a team that’s been dominant the last four years.
“They came out and executed a game plan. Just 17 of us doing our job, working for each other and playing footy.
“So I’m very proud to captain those boys and I said that after the game. It’s probably the proudest win I’ve had with the club.”
MORE NRL NEWS
‘UPSET OF SEASON’: $11 Roosters’ boilover as Panthers miracle comeback falls short
‘CARNAGE’: Panthers’ mammoth blow as superstar fullback leaves field injured
‘TIGHTNESS’: Sea Eagles’ Turbo mystery deepens as Seibold gives nothing away
Tedesco had a message for the critics who put a line through the Roosters after one week.
“That’s what media does and people do,” Tedesco said.
“They are quick to judge, so it’s on us as leaders to instill that belief in these young boys and as I said, we showed that belief tonight after that performance.
“We’ve set ourselves up with the performance like that we have to keep building on that and keep getting better to produce more wins like that.”
Robinson paid tribute to the senior members of the team for giving the younger Roosters the belief.
“I think it doesn’t come in a week,” Robinson said.
“I think those guys have been training really well throughout the whole pre-season a then I gave a big wrap to the leaders between Teddy, Crichton, Connor (Watson) and Chad (Townsend).
“They led from the front, but they also bought the guys with them and gave them confidence to play.
“Half a metre” Roosters try under fire | 00:45
“They didn’t cap them. They didn’t say you’re only capable of this. They gave them confidence to play. And you could see the way that those guys led on the field as well and it’s a credit to them.”
Mark Nawaqanitawase was impressive in his third game of NRL, while a number of young forwards impressed Robinson after being called on to start up front.
“Yes, definitely is,” Robinson said.
“He’s learning rugby league. I think that’s game three and so from a 15-year-old to game three and so you can see there’s a real creativity to the way that he plays, but then he also had to defend really well out there at different times.
“He’s only going to get better, which is really good.
“In the forwards White led really well to start. He hasn’t started many games, but I thought he was outstanding tonight.
“We’ve got Taylor Losalu, who played his second game and started at front row and Salesi Foketi.
Manly sweat on DCE & Turbo injuries | 02:14
“Taylor will be on the tools at 7am tomorrow morning concreting and that shows insight into how he goes about his game and his training and his life, so there’s future there.”
“But we’re not sitting around waiting for it. Those guys, we’ve just got to give them an opportunity and they can play like that, so keep coaching and keep believing in them and keep getting better.”
The game came down to a try-saving tackle from Origin winger Daniel Tupou on Panthers counterpart Brian To’o, which could have forced golden point if converted.
“I think Tupou has saved a lot in that corner and Brian scored a lot in that corner,” Robinson said.
“It’s quite funny, it comes down to that play in that corner. Brian has scored many in that corner, but Toops needed to get that job done to finish the game off for us and he did, so it was a nice way to finish.”
Webster delighted with Vegas bounce back | 06:34
Tedesco admits he was nervous at the end, but was just glad his side held on for a famous win.
“We made it hard for ourselves with the sin bin in and the man down,” Tedesco said.
“We just had to do whatever it takes to hold on and they were throwing everything at us there.
“I think Dom Young made a try saver in the corner first with the grubber and then Toops at the end there.
“We just had to keep scrambling and it was just pure joy at the end there, getting the win and celebrating with the boys.
“I think spoke about we wanted to believe in each other and we did that and to put a performance like that against a top side like Penrith, that’s gonna make our belief bigger and bigger.
“And I know there was a lot of people doubting us after last week and no one gave us a shot, so there was plenty of belief inside our four walls and that’s how we played, so we’ll keep building off that and keep getting more wins.”
Discussion about this post