Fiji Bati fullback Sunia Turuva scored his first career hat-trick last night as the Panthers withstood a late second-half surge from the Roosters to claim their third win of the season and their ninth win in a row against the Tri Colours.
Turuva’s hat-trick in the 22-16 win adds to his impressive try-scoring streak which has seen him cross for 11 tries in his past eight NRL games.
The 21-year-old started the point-scoring in the 10th minute, before Dylan Edwards crossed soon after to put the Panthers out to a 12-0 lead early.
Edwards took on the goal kicking duties for the night and converted both tries, then extended the lead with a successful penalty kick in the 32nd minute.
An impressive try to Sitili Tupouniua 30 seconds out from the half-time break gave the Roosters hope, with Sam Walker’s conversion seeing the home side trail only 14-6 at the break.
In the second half, the Roosters started with intent, but a successful Captain’s Challenge by Panthers winger Brian To’o contesting a call of a knock on relieved the pressure for his team who were otherwise looking at defending three sets in a row on their tryline.
With the momentum now again in their favour, the Panthers continued to work their way into a winning lead, with Turuva scoring two more well-worked tries off the back of some fast passing, adding to his impressive tally so far this season.
A late try to Brandon Smith from dummyhalf saw the Roosters narrow the gap and somehow once again breath life into their hopes when flying winger Daniel Tupou scored with 25 seconds left on the clock, it was still game on.
The Roosters declined the attempt at conversion to squeeze as much time as they could with the ball to launch an attack, but the Panthers were able to hold them out to claim their third straight win.
