Finals footy at CommBank Stadium delivered a tight, bruising contest as the Penrith Panthers edged past the Sydney Roosters 19–12 in Finals Week 1. In a match where defences largely dominated, the Panthers' polish told when it mattered most, securing the hard-fought victory.
Pre-match markets saw Penrith Panthers open at 1.34 before drifting out to 1.36 (drifted), while the Sydney Roosters attracted late backing, moving from 3.15 in to 3.1 (firmed). Ultimately, the market got the head-to-head winner right, but it was a much closer affair than the odds initially suggested.
How the tips went
Looking back at our published selections for this Finals Week 1 showdown, it was a mixed bag across the major markets.
The head-to-head selection on the Penrith Panthers at 1.34 delivered a win as the minor premiers got the job done. However, the line selection supporting Penrith Panthers -9.5 ended in a loss, as the Roosters kept the margin well within the double-digit mark. Finally, the total points market went our way, with Under 42.5 saluting as the defensive battle kept the combined score down to 31 total points.