The Sydney Roosters have sent a chilling message to their NRL rivals with a 44-12 demolition of defending premier Penrith in their grand final rematch at Aussie Stadium.

The relentless Roosters set up their landslide victory with an exhilarating opening 40 minutes, racing in seven tries to take an unassailable 38-0 lead into the break.

They took their foot off the pedal in the second half but there was no return for the Panthers.

The win moved the Roosters back to the top of the NRL ladder, although the Bulldogs can move two points clear again with a win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

More importantly for coach Ricky Stuart, it was the perfect response following last weekend's loss to Cronulla.

Penrith's premiership defence, on the other hand, is now on life support.

They looked on-song after smashing Manly 72-12 last weekend but were given a lesson and now find their place in the top four in serious jeopardy.

St George Illawarra, boasting a far superior points differential, can pull within two points of the fourth-placed Panthers on the NRL ladder with a win over the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday.

The Panthers were never in the hunt, with their porous defence failing miserably and their attack rarely troubling the Roosters.

Winger Amos Roberts scored the Panthers' two tries, the first in the 64th minute when he somehow managed to get the ball down with half his body in mid-air over the sideline and the second five minutes later - his 22nd of the season in only his 20th game.

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