NRL finals week 1, 2020: Panthers v Roosters betting tips, prediction & odds

Welcome to our Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters preview, prediction and odds update for their NRL finals clash at Panthers Stadium on Friday, October 2.

This Panthers-Roosters clash is qualifying final 1, with the winners to advance to the preliminary finals and the losers to play the winners of Saturday’s elimination final between Canberra Raiders and Cronulla Sharks.

This is arguably the most enticing match-up in the first week of the finals, with the two-time reigning champions the Roosters up against the league’s emerging powerhouse Penrith.

The Panthers and Roosters could hardly be going into this match in more different circumstances.

The Panthers are on a club record winning streak of 15, and last week crushed the Bulldogs 42-0 to round out a near perfect regular season. The Roosters were sailing along beautifully but ran into the red-hot Rabbitohs and were embarrassed 60-8 in their last rehearsal for the finals.

Penrith and the Roosters are split 5-5 in the past 10 matches between the teams and in only one of those matches was more than 40 points in total scored. The Panthers have won three of the past five matches between the teams at Panthers Stadium.

Penrith finished the regular season on top of the ladder with 17 wins, a draw and one loss from 19 matches, with that lone reversal coming against Parramatta. They have been wonderful in attack but their defence has come to the fore in the second half of the season and they have conceded the fewed points of any team this season.

The Roosters are the only team to have scored more points than the Panthers this season.

---

READ: NRL match betting previews and tips
NRL finals week one schedule, title odds update
NRL Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks betting preview, tips
Melbourne Storm v Parramatta betting preview, tips

---

The Panthers regain several of their big guns who were rested for the final-round 42-0 win again Canterbury-Bankstown.

Fullback Dylan Edwards, boom centre Stephen Crichton, and second-rower Viliame Kikau are all back in the starting line-up, with Mitch Kenny and Dean Whare added to the reserves.

Tyrone May and Kurt Capewell move back to the bench, with Matt Burton and Spencer Leniu missing selection.

The Roosters have also called back a few rested stars, with Brett Morris back on the wing, Freddy Lussick straight in at hooker for the injured Jake Friend (head knock), Isaac Liu at lock, and Joseph Manu back at centre. Prop Lindsay Collins was named on the bench. Angus Crichton is back on the pine, with veteran Mitch Aubusson, Nat Butcher, Poasa Faamausili and Matt Ikuvalu outside the top 17.

Read on for our Panthers v Roosters tips and winner prediction for their NRL clash on Friday, October 2.

---

Panthers v Roosters odds

Kick-off: 7.50pm local time
Venue: Panthers Stadium, Sydney
Head to head odds: Penrith $1.74, Sydney Roosters $2.12
Line betting: Penrith (-1.5 points) $1.80, Sydney Roosters (+1.5 points) $2
Match total: 35.5 points: over $1.80, under $2

---

Panthers v Roosters free betting tips

Below our NRL betting expert has highlighted his free Penrith-Sydney Roosters betting tips for Friday’s game.

---

Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters prediction 2-10-2020

The Roosters are the kings in pressure, finals football, but we simply can’t tip a team beaten so badly a week ago and now missing workhorse hooker Jake Friend. There is little doubt they will be a different team this week in terms of attitude, but we will stick with the Panthers to continue their march towards a title. They just look impregnable at the moment and unless they get a severe case of nerves heading into such a big final, we expect them the to win well. Our Panthers v Roosters prediction: Panthers by 8 points.

---

Panthers v Roosters lowdown

Relevant news