Leading 10-6 at half-time, Roosters halves Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce put the accelerator to the floor in the second half to steer their side to its fourth win of the season.

Anasta and Pearce are rating mentions in State of Origin discussions with the in-form Anasta looking a special for Blues selection and a real chance for Test selection because of Darren Lockyer's knee problem.

Anasta admitted last week's encounter with fierce rivals the Bulldogs had taken a lot out of his side and it faced an uphill battle without injured pair Willie Mason and Anthony Minichiello.

"Last week was a pretty draining week, it got built up all week and it took a lot out of us," he told ABC Grandstand.

"Missing Mason and Minichiello, when we get those boys back we're even harder to beat."

Pearce seemed embarassed by suggestions he could find himself playing half-back for New South Wales.

"I'm just working the boys around in this team," he said.

"We've just got to keep working hard, I think there's a lot of improvement in us."

Penrith would have held hope of victory at half-time, but Roosters winger Amos Roberts snuffed that out when he was gifted a try three minutes into the second half.

Panthers full-back Michael Gordon failed to cleanly field a kick into his in-goal area, losing it over his shoulder and into the waiting arms of the chasing Roberts.

Off-contract second rower Anthony Tupou turned in another fine performance in the absence of Mason and the suspended David Shillington, but admitted he was unsure of his future at the club.

"I'm just playing good, I don't really know myself, I wish I knew," he said.

"I just thought I'll concentrate on my footy and see what happens. Hopefully I can decide pretty soon."

Sydney Roosters: 28 (S Kenny-Dowall, FP Nuuausala, A Roberts, C Fitzgibbon, M Pearce tries; C Fitzgibbon 3 conversions, penalty goal)

Penrith: 12 (L Lewis, G Daniela tries; J Sammut 2 conversions)

Source: By Australian Broadcasting Corporation