Maloney and Cleary back to their best in Penrith Panthers' win over Roosters

James Maloney has staked a claim for a State of Origin recall after engineering Penrith to a desperate 19-10 NRL upset of a depleted Sydney Roosters.

Just days after NSW lost the series opener without him, Maloney set up all three of the Panthers' tries on Sunday in a vintage display alongside halfback Nathan Cleary.

Last year's Blues five-eighth might come into calculations for Origin II in Perth as coach Brad Fittler searches for ways to send the series to a decider. And the 32-year-old reminded selectors of his worth with a man-of-the-match effort.

He iced his performance, which included a critical 40-20, with a late field goal.

Cleary too was on song fresh of Origin duties, and though he was in doubt, as soon as fulltime of Game 1 in Brisbane, the Penrith half knew he'd be playing Sunday.

"It's been a pretty big week. Disappointed on Wednesday night but really good to get a win like that against a top Roosters side," Cleary said after the game.

"Dad [Panthers coach Ivan Cleary] said straight after the game [1 of State of Origin], 'Are you alright?'

"After an Origin game you're pretty sore but didn't have anything too overwhelming so I said, 'Yeh sweet, I'm good to go'."

Cleary said the Panthers have finally clicked into gear following a disappointing start to the season.

"I think it's mainly attitude," Cleary said.

"That's one thing we've nailed down and addressed - our start to the season and why it was so bad."

The no.7 said it was positive to be finding his rhythm again with five-eighth Maloney.

"I thought it was good today. We were combining well, talking well and he was back to his best punching holes," Cleary said.

"We had a few weeks there where things weren't working," Maloney said.

"But we work hard and things are building. We're still not exactly where we need to be and it's a hard win against a good Roosters side even though they were missing a bit of star-power."

The Roosters were in the contest for the opening hour despite being without Latrell Mitchell, Angus Crichton, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary.

But, with his team holding a delicate two-point lead with 20 minutes remaining, Maloney grubbered on a dime for rookie Brent Naden to claim a crucial try

The defeat for the defending premiers was their third in succession - their longest losing streak in three years - although they remain in third spot.

Playing in front of their biggest crowd of the year, the Panthers flew off the blocks when Maloney put a barnstorming Viliame Kikau over in the second minute.

They should've doubled the advantage when Dylan Edwards broke into the backfield, but threw his pass forward to a supporting Cleary.

A signature Daniel Tupou try in the corner reduced the deficit to two points at halftime.

The game turned when Joseph Manu was sin-binned for a professional foul in the 48th minute, and Kikau crossed for his second not long after.

Despite being down a man, the Roosters responded through Victor Radley.

But Maloney sealed the win with a field goal in the closing stages, and the Panthers held on for their third-straight victory.

- With AAP