The Sydney Roosters won the 2017 NRL Auckland 9’s tournament after defeating the Penrith Panthers, 10-8.
Down by 10 points at half time, Panthers hit back with two second-half tries and had a chance to send the game into extra time, but missed the conversion attempts.
The Roosters didn’t have to wait long to score as tournament MVP, Connor Watson, threw a perfect cut-out pass to send Daniel Tupou over in just the third minute.
Watson showed he was equally adept throwing right to left as he put a spiral pass onto the chest of Bernard Lewis, who touched down in the opposite corner to open up an early 10-point lead at the break.
This is the first time the Roosters have won the Auckland 9’s tournament.
