In their first match back at Wentworth Park in 2026, the Roosters experienced a tough weekend, losing both senior games to the Penrith Panthers.
For the Roosters, ranked 2nd, this marked their first loss of the 2026 season as they fell 38-12 to the 9th place Panthers, who led 22-12 at halftime.
Welcoming back hooker Benaiah Ioelu from NRL duty, as well as returning players Hugo Savala and Jake Elliott from injuries, Savala and Elliott began the game on the bench.
Savala contributed 31 minutes at lock, while Elliott played the final 18 minutes at hooker.
Despite early errors, the Roosters briefly rallied, with Toby Rodwell scoring after a great assist from lock Jaxson Rahme, closing the gap to 12-6.
A swift play from Cody Ramsey and Hayden Barton soon leveled the score at 12-12.
However, the Roosters could not maintain momentum, conceding two tries before halftime and failing to score again as the Panthers took control, finishing at 38-12.
Cody Ramsey's solid performance stood out amidst the losses, while the team emerged with no new injuries.