With a month to go in the regular season we have an absolute blockbuster to launch Round 24 with the top two teams facing off at CommBank Stadium.<\/p>\n
The Panthers have lost four of their past seven matches to throw the minor premiership race wide open and now face four weeks without skipper Isaah Yeo due to a pectoral injury.<\/p>\n
In stark contrast the Roosters are riding a seven-game winning streak and welcome back their own skipper James Tedesco after he sat out the Bulldogs game with an ankle injury.<\/p>\n
The Roosters’ last minor premiership came in 2018 when they went on to claim the title with a win over the Storm in the decider.<\/p>\n
A victory this week against the Panthers would have Trent Robinson’s men in prime position to take the JJ Giltinan Shield with matches against Wests Tigers, Dolphins and Rabbitohs to come, all at Allianz Stadium.<\/p>\n
Team News<\/p>\n
Panthers: Gun fullback Dylan Edwards (shoulder) remains a chance of playing his first game since Round 20 after staying in the extended squad in Wednesday’s 24-hour update. There were no changes in the team update, with Penrith 1-20.\u00a0 Jaxen Edgar will again wear the No.1 should Edwards fail to come up. The loss of Isaah Yeo (pectoral) sees Lindsay Smith shift to lock and Liam Henry join the starting side in the front row. Jack Cogger has been named in the No.6 jersey after missing last week’s trip to Auckland to remain in Sydney with his pregnant wife who is yet to give birth. “There is a chance [he misses the game], this one’s anyone’s guess,” coach Ivan Cleary said on Wednesday. “We’ve got contingency plans, sometimes some things are more important than footy.”<\/p>\n
Roosters: Skipper James Tedesco has fallen short in his bid to return from an ankle injury and dropped out of the squad in Wednesday’s update. Cody Ramsey steps into the fullback role, with Rex Bassingthwaite coming into the six-man bench. No further changes to the squad, with Benaiah Ioelu remaining in the reserves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stat Attack<\/p>\n
The Panthers have won 12 of their last 13 games against the Roosters.
\nThe Roosters are chasing eight straight wins for the first time since 2022.
\nThe Panthers have scored 142 points in their last four games against the Roosters.
\nRoosters halfback Sam Walker has yet to achieve a win over Nathan Cleary at NRL level.
\nPanthers winger Brian To\u2019o requires one try for 100 NRL tries.<\/p>\n
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services,\u00a0author of the\u00a0official annual of the NRL.<\/a><\/p>\n