Young five-eighth Sam Walker has starred for the Sydney Roosters in their 26-12 victory over Manly, the result leaving the Sea Eagles winless after the opening two rounds of the season.

In Friday night’s earlier match, defending premiers Penrith survived a late fightback from St George Illawarra to win 20-16 in Kogarah.

At the SCG, Walker and James Tedesco both made statements for the Roosters, who led 22-0 at half-time en route to recording their first win of the season.

The Roosters were forced to withstand a brutal second half in which Manly had the majority of the ball, while losing both Connor Watson (shoulder) and Sitili Tupouniua (concussion).

Walker laid on the Roosters’ first try when he took the defensive line on with confidence, stepping his way through before putting Drew Hutchison over.

He almost set up another try when he again stepped before the line and put on a shallow chip kick, only for Jason Saab to just save the day for Manly.

On another occasion Walker linked nicely with halves partner Luke Keary, going to the line and finding his halfback and allowing Nat Butcher to go over.

The 19-year-old also had a key moment after half-time, anticipating a Sea Eagles kick from a scrum and turning early to beat a sprinting Saab to the ball.

Tedesco was also brilliant after being quiet in the Roosters’ first-round loss to Newcastle.

He sent Daniel Tupou for a try, and twice forced line dropouts.

Butcher and Tupouniua bagged first-half tries as part of a dominant Roosters pack, while Siosiua Taukeiaho totalled 199 metres.

Among the premiership favourites, the difference in the Roosters was clear when they broke the line six times in the first half after not doing so at all last week against the Knights.

They also ran more than double the amount of metres than the Sea Eagles before the break, controlling 65 per cent of possession.

Injuries aside, their only other problem could be Victor Radley being placed on report for a high shot after also being penalised for a late hit.

Tom Trbojevic was again quiet for the Sea Eagles as the Roosters constantly piled numbers on him in defence, while more stoppages in the game this year appear to be limiting his impact on tired defenders.

The fullback bombed the Sea Eagles’ best chance of the first half when he dropped a Daly Cherry-Evans grubber under the post.

Their first try arrived through Karl Lawton out of dummy-half, while Cherry-Evans bagged one late off the back of kicks from Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick.

Panthers down Dragons

Penrith has made it two wins in a row by holding on to defeat St George Illawarra off the back of a double from Viliame Kikau.

Kikau helped himself to two first-half tries at Kogarah Jubilee Stadium, before the Dragons almost chased the Panthers down, with a late try to Zac Lomax setting up a frantic final four minutes.

Celebrating his 100th NRL match, Kikau charged down a Ben Hunt kick in the 10th minute to run 40 metres untouched.

His second try in the 33rd minute was trademark Kikau, when he charged onto the ball on the left edge to barge over for a try.

Both sides enjoyed round-one wins but by half-time on Friday night the Panthers appeared headed towards a comfortable victory.

They scooted out to a 20-6 lead, scoring two of their tries while Dragons forward Jaydn Su’a was in the sin-bin for a late tackle on half Sean O’Sullivan.

The one bright spot for St George Illawarra was 19-year-old fullback Tyrell Sloan scoring a fine try as he flew through the air to collect a Hunt kick in the 23rd minute.

The second half brought some worrying injury news for both sides.

Dragons hooker Andrew McCullough was helped off with an arm injury, before Panthers winger Brian To’o left the field with an ankle complaint.

Prop James Fisher-Harris did not return after half-time due to a head knock.

The Dragons kept probing with a wealth of possession and Su’a scored down the right edge.

They lost Lomax to the sin-bin for an obstruction, but unlike the first half they did not surrender any points while a player down.

With the Dragons trying to find a way through the Panthers defence, Jack Bird was ordered from the field by the independent doctor.

Tariq Sims made his return to first grade after playing in the NSW Cup last week, while George Burgess could come under the match review committee microscope for late and high contact on Jarome Luai.

Penrith heads to Bathurst next round to take on Newcastle. The Dragons meet local rivals Cronulla in Wollongong.

AAP/ABC