Craig Fitzgibbon is a gem.
The Roosters survived a danger match at the foot of the mountains thanks in no small part to a man running on oldish legs.
Missing Willie Mason, Anthony Minichiello and David Shillington, and surely suffering some sort of let-down after the hyped-up stoush against the Bulldogs last round, the Roosters risked being ambushed.
But Fitzgibbon, 30, did what all the truly inspirational captains do, rolling up his sleeves and doing the kind of hard yakka that grinding wins like this are made of.
Panthers skipper Petero Civoniceva, who has vowed to mow the lawns and wash the cars of club officials if they re-signed rugged hooker Luke Priddis, is not exactly invaluable himself, but it was Fitzgibbon who took the game by the scruff of the neck.
He kept having two and three hit-ups every set of six tackles.
He hit hard in defence and scored a late try after video referee Russell Smith took forever and a day to make up his mind.
The Panthers resurrection in the past fortnight had been built around a toughening up in attitude, and defence. They go hand in hand.
Apart from Fitzgibbon, the Roosters seemed half a step off the pace in the opening 20 minutes.
Civoniceva, The Lawnmower Man, and the Panthers were up for the fight in front of 16,924 fans. Four Panthers pummelled Roosters fullback Sam Perrett back into his in-goal. Attitude and defence.
The Roosters went 4-0 ahead against the run of play when Test hopeful and Roosters five-eighth Braith Anasta gave a leaping pass for winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall to score in the corner despite the ball probably going forward.
The try came shortly after Mark O'Meley had come on from the bench.
It was no coincidence.
Panthers back-rower Luke Lewis levelled proceedings and saved himself an ear-bashing from coach Matthew Elliott in the 30th minute.
He had support all around him after pushing past Anasta and breaking into open space, only to throw a dummy and go himself.
He looked like he'd blown it, but looks can be deceiving. The Panthers were 6-0 up when Jarrod Sammut added the extras.
Giant Roosters replacement Frank Paul Nuuausala took a hit-up near the Panthers line - and scored. It was a nothing run for field position but he ended up on the money side of the try line.
He looked as shocked as anyone. It was a soft try just when the Panthers had been gaining momentum.
Where was the attitude? Gone. The defence? Vanished.
It was 10-6 to the Roosters at the break and The Lawnmower Man was in for a heartbreaking second half.
Panthers winger Luke Rooney made a hash of a grubber kick from Anasta, with the ball bouncing straight from his arms into the hands of Amos Roberts for a crucial try.
A previously tight contest was suddenly 16-6 to the Roosters. They rediscovered their zing and skipped away as the Panthers fell flat on their face. Perrett escaped the in-goal and the contrast with the opening period was stark.
Earlier, he had been trapped. Roosters bench man James Aubusson hammered Michael Jennings just as Setaimata Sa came off with a suspected leg injury.
Panthers five-eighth Maurice Blair was pinged for a grapple tackle allowing the Roosters to escape their own half.
The Lawnmower Man received a penalty but Sammut failed to find touch with his kick and the Roosters were back on the attack.
Sammut was caught on the last tackle inside his own half.
He was trying hard but nothing was coming off.
Almost immediately, Kenny-Dowall was inches away from his second try, but spilled possession right when it mattered.
A Fitzgibbon penalty put the Roosters 18-6 up with 20 minutes on the clock. Two more tries followed. All over.
Fitzgibbon is deserving of the kind of admiration The Lawnmower Man gives Priddis.
He's into the twilight of his career and is playing as though he knows his days are running out.
His ageing bones will be aching this morning. Someone go over and wash his car for him. And then do his lawn.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 28 (S Kenny-Dowall F Nuuausala A Roberts C Fitzgibbon M Pearce tries C Fitzgibbon 4 goals) bt PENRITH 12 (L Lewis G Daniela tries J Sammut 2 goals) at CUA Stadium. Referee: B Sutton. Crowd: 16,924.
