Sydney Roosters

The Panthers racked up a third straight win by downing the defending premiers at Panthers Stadium, with Maloney providing three try assists and a field goal in an impressive showing to enhance his claims for a State of Origin recall.

Nathan Cleary came in for criticism following the Blues' State of Origin I defeat to Queensland in midweek, but he also put in a strong showing against the high-flying Roosters.

The 35-year-old, who won two premierships with the Melbourne Storm and then another last season with the Sydney Roosters, will hang up his boots at the end of the current campaign.

Cronk's retirement comes 16 years after he first pulled on a Storm jersey and, in the years since, only Johnathan Thurston has received as many plaudits as one of the NRL's very best playmakers.

Through 360 NRL games, 22 Origins and 38 Tests for Australia, Cronk has won it all.

In the second minute of extra time, all eyes were on Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk, who was playing in his first game back at AAMI Park since his 2017 departure from the Storm.

But the premiers turned to Mitchell, who slotted over the match winner from 40m out to end Melbourne's unbeaten start to the season.

It ended an epic comeback from the Storm, who trailed 20-8 at halftime as they failed to keep pace with the champions early on.

"It was uncomfortable and beautiful all in one," said Roosters coach Trent Robinson.

Inspirational Queensland star Cronk incredibly featured for all but the final two minutes as Trent Robinson's side set up the 21-6 win with a dominant first-half display.

The victory came despite their half-back being forced to the fringes for much of contest, as he was nursed through at just "30 per cent" fitness according to Cordner.

Cronk had been a major doubt leading into the match after seriously injuring his shoulder in the Preliminary Final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs eight days earlier.

The Roosters could have gone a game clear on top of the ladder with a win at GIO Stadium.

Instead, their poor record in the nation's capital continued, where they haven't won since 2010.

The Roosters are locked in a three-way battle at the top of the table for the minor premiership with Melbourne and South Sydney.

The Storm are ahead because of their superior points difference.

Radley will receive a one-match suspension if he enters an early guilty plea or is found guilty at the judiciary, after being hit with a grade two charge.

His Roosters teammate Joseph Manu can avoid a suspension with an early plea after being charged with dangerous contact over a tackle on Manly's Dylan Walker that drew criticism from Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett. 

Given South Sydney's dominance in the first two or three decades from the inception of the code in Australia and a strong record through the middle of last century, they hold the edge over the Roosters with 112 wins.

However it is the Roosters who boast the record for the most ever wins against one club, with 117 victories against the North Sydney Bears. The Bunnies downed Norths 104 times and the Balmain Tigers got the better of the Bears on 102 occasions.

It has always had the characteristics of a match made in heaven and the combination clicked into gear perfectly on Friday night to ruthlessly put Cronulla to the sword 28-10.

With an aerial target like Blake Ferguson and a lethal sweep runner like James Tedesco to throw into the mix, the blueprint for a premiership contender was finally rolled out by Trent Robinson’s men.

While questions about the Roosters salary cap is one of the most common topics raised with NRL officials and media commentators by fans of rival clubs, the reality is that the roster at the Bondi-based club has one of the fewest number of players with first-grade experience in the competition.

After recruiting Australian halfback Cooper Cronk and NSW fullback James Tedesco, the Roosters are many people's premiership favourites, but the club's losses significantly outnumber their gains and they will be relying heavily on rookies to cover injuries.

Nuuausala, who played 153 games for the Roosters between 2007 and 2014, was released by English Super League club Wigan last week citing homesickness.

The 31 year old Nuuausala, who was part of the Roosters' premiership-winning team in 2013, toured Australia with Wigan earlier this month and decided to stay behind, in a bid to make a return to the NRL after last playing for Canberra in 2016.

He will start training with the Roosters immediately and will add strength to Trent Robinson's bench, which could also possibly include Jared Waerea- Hargreaves and Zane Tetevano.