FROM THE COOP: Sydney Roosters dominate Penrith Panthers

So far we have easily accounted for bogey teams the Bulldogs, Dragons and Penrith. Next stop is Manly at Brookvale Oval.

Michael Jennings

So far we have easily accounted for bogey teams the Bulldogs, Dragons and Penrith. Next stop is Manly at Brookvale Oval.

On a beautiful autumn's day the players stormed out to an empty stadium and the home side could have been forgiven for thinking that they were at the wrong ground.

Playing in front of 11, 000 people would have been a let down after having a full house a week earlier.
 
The match was an arm wrestle early on and the Panthers showed that they could match the Roosters, and remained in the contest until early in the second half. Once the Roosters had gained the ascendancy the tries began to flow.

The Roosters showed why they will go a long way in this year's competition. Last year the players would have fallen into the habits that crippled them so often and kept the opposition in the game.

The class of 2013 are a different kettle of fish and once they began to click they quickly put the result beyond doubt. This team has come a long way in a short time and there is still plenty of improvement left.
 
Now for our next trick. Our record against Manly over the last two decades is not good. In fact the Roosters have only won nine out of the last thirty. I think it is safe to label them as a bogey team.

There have been some memorable matches between these two sides. Two that spring to mind were during the Super League War when there was a strong rivalry between the two ARL aligned clubs.

The first encounter occurred in 1995 when the Roosters halted a long winning streak by a dominant Manly team. Despite the home side getting all the favours from the officials, the Roosters prevailed 21-16 in a thrilling match. Coach Phil Gould came out of the coach's box and attempted to get his players off the field in protest for what he believed to be bias refereeing against his players. Few could argue with him.

The other match took place two years later in 1997. A tense semi final match was decided by a field goal, ironically kicked by an Easts junior in Craig Field.

So everything points to a big game on Monday night. Getting to Brookvale Oval in peak hour traffic does not sound too appealing so it could be one for the lounge room.