Trent Robinson and James Tedesco called their first win over the Panthers in six seasons the proudest win of their career after they were written off after their thrashing in Round 1.

The Roosters beat the Panthers for the first time in six years with a 38-32 result against the odds a week after having 50 points put on them by the Broncos.

“It feels like it at the moment,” Robinson said if it was his proudest win.

“What has happened between this game and the last game and players being in and out and the amount of guys under five games.

“It feels really nice when 17 guys have belief in the jersey and in the game plan and they go about executing it and nailing it, so it was really nice to watch.”

Tedesco couldn’t recall a prouder win in his Roosters career.

“I feel like it’s the most proudest I’ve been of a win,” Tedesco said.

“Obviously, after last week with the leaders and experience we had out this week, with the young guys who had to play big minutes against a team that’s been dominant the last four years.

“They came out and executed a game plan. Just 17 of us doing our job, working for each other and playing footy.

“So I’m very proud to captain those boys and I said that after the game. It’s probably the proudest win I’ve had with the club.”

Tedesco had a message for the critics who put a line through the Roosters after one week.

“That’s what media does and people do,” Tedesco said.

“They are quick to judge, so it’s on us as leaders to instill that belief in these young boys and as I said, we showed that belief tonight after that performance.

“We’ve set ourselves up with the performance like that we have to keep building on that and keep getting better to produce more wins like that.”

Robinson paid tribute to the senior members of the team for giving the younger Roosters the belief.

“I think it doesn’t come in a week,” Robinson said.

“I think those guys have been training really well throughout the whole pre-season a then I gave a big wrap to the leaders between Teddy, Crichton, Connor (Watson) and Chad (Townsend).

“They led from the front, but they also bought the guys with them and gave them confidence to play.

“They didn’t cap them. They didn’t say you’re only capable of this. They gave them confidence to play. And you could see the way that those guys led on the field as well and it’s a credit to them.”

Mark Nawaqanitawase was impressive in his third game of NRL, while a number of young forwards impressed Robinson after being called on to start up front.

“Yes, definitely is,” Robinson said.

“He’s learning rugby league. I think that’s game three and so from a 15-year-old to game three and so you can see there’s a real creativity to the way that he plays, but then he also had to defend really well out there at different times.

“He’s only going to get better, which is really good.

“In the forwards White led really well to start. He hasn’t started many games, but I thought he was outstanding tonight.

“We’ve got Taylor Losalu, who played his second game and started at front row and Salesi Foketi.