“I don’t think Jared did anything wrong in any of it. Guys tried to race out of the line and belt him and that’s really unfortunate for Liam. He just copped a hip and then Jared was getting his bumpers up like every guy does in every tackle that they run into and copped Moses there.

“That’s a forwards’ battle and then it flared up. Good theatre, move on.”

Panthers coach didn’t see it quite the same way, describing Waerea-Hargreaves’ elbow as “questionable”.

“Look, it started from Jared,” Cleary said. “He was just looking for trouble, that was obvious - and he found it.

“There were numerous incidents and the balance of probability is that Jared was probably the one initiating it.”

The late fireworks overshadowed another listless Roosters performance - a side that many tipped to go all the way currently sits outside the top eight.

After the latest loss to the Panthers in a fortnight - this time a 30-6 capitulation - they may well finish there. The outcome of this was as concerning for Trent Robinson as for Fittler. This is what happens when the worst attacking team in the NRL comes up against the best defensive outfit.

Jarome Luai, playing in the headgear for the first time, turned any debate about his place in the NSW side on its head. The conversation is now Luai and Cody Walker rather than Luai or Walker.

This is further proof he and his Panthers can play without Nathan Cleary. The mountain men have now won 10 of their last 12 matches with the champion halfback.

The Penrith platform was laid early by Leota. The Kiwi prop steamrolled his way to 50 metres from five runs before 10 minutes had even expired on the clock. Shown the way forward, the rest of his teammates followed. Martin left defenders in his wake, Scott Sorensen underscored his reputation as the most underrated player in the game and, after some initial Roosters resistance, the floodgates opened. During a horror 17-minute period in the second half, they conceded four tries.

James Tedesco bagged the one and only Roosters try, a late consolation well after the game was decided.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.