All eyes may have been on the other number one, but Panthers full-back Lachlan Coote stole the show as Penrith surged to a 28-6 NRL win over the Sydney Roosters at Penrith Stadium.

Coote scored one try and set up another in spectacular fashion just before half-time when he reeled in a Luke Walsh bomb and flicked out a miraculous pass in one movement for Adrian Purtell to make it 16-0 at the break.

Walsh’s boot contributed to three of the five tries the Panthers scored, with Roosters full-back Todd Carney and his wing partners given a thorough test under the high ball.

It was Carney’s least influential performance since his off-season move to the club, but he was not on his own as the Roosters slumped to their second loss of the season.

Panthers coach Matt Elliott labelled Coote a “freak”.

“I’ve been telling everyone who wants to listen he’s a freak – you just saw some of the stuff that he can do,” Elliott said of his young charge,” he said.

“Unfortunately you guys don’t see him at training when we play skills games – some of the stuff he does there is just ridiculous. That was part of the ridiculous repertoire that you saw just before half-time.

“I’m not sure how you compete for a ball with it is going over your head in the same direction and leap over people.

“He’s got more to offer than you’ve seen … his full game’s not quite there but we’re pretty content with what he’s doing at the moment.”

Just as they did in their round three encounter against the Canterbury, the Roosters looked off the pace and it was almost a surprise when Mitchell Aubusson found a way through a Panthers defence that looked like it was still enjoying the mandatory drinks break just after the hour-mark.

That left the Roosters trailing 22-6, but they soon returned to their clueless and error-riddled ways as Luke Lewis put the result beyond doubt when he popped a ball for Michael Gordon to score seven minutes from full-time.

A Walsh high ball brought about the opening try with Sam Perrett fumbling the ball into the hands of Joseph Paulo, who could not believe his luck as he fell over to make it 4-0 after eight minutes.

Michael Jennings did it all on is own to push the lead out to 10 before Coote’s piece of brilliance put the home side well on top.

Walsh again turned provider after the break when he grubbered for Coote to pounce, the Panthers custodian beating Mitchell Pearce to the rolling ball to make it 22-0.

Coote, who missed large portions of the past two seasons with serious knee and shoulder injuries, said he was gaining in the confidence brought about by an injury-free run and an extra nine-and-a-half kilos on his small frame.

“I’m feeling really good, I’ve put on a little bit of weight and I’m not getting rag-dolled as I did last year,” the full-back said.

“It was probably the most satisfying (performance) so far – obviously I haven’t played much football the last couple of years.”

Question marks continue to surround the Roosters following their round three capitulation at the hands of the Bulldogs, with a win over the cellar-dwelling Broncos their only joy since.

Penrith in contrast has enjoyed three classy victories with two narrow away defeats coming in Townsville and Melbourne.

Its next task is a tough Sunday visit to Auckland, while the Roosters host Canberra on Saturday evening.

Panthers: 28 (L Coote, M Gordon, M Jennings, J Paulo, A Purtell tries; M Gordon 4 goals)

Roosters: 6 (M Aubusson try; T Carney goal)