While the Panthers only arrived with the bare 13 players, the two sides went try for try well into the second half before the Roosters left the visitors behind at 18-all to finish with a big 42-18 win.

Bradbury was on the charge from the whistle, wrapping up the legs of the Panthers early, before showing plenty of courage to continue after watching his brother Grayson and his front row partner Leroy Murray collide in a sickening head clash that saw Murray taken to hospital after convulsing and struggling to draw breath on the field, and Grayson spend the rest of the game on the sideline with concussion. 

For Bradbury, it was a welcome return to the fold at the Roosters, the lock signing up again last year to play alongside his brother before breaking his hand in the first match and sitting out the remainder of the premiership season.

“We are lacking a bit of depth but held up pretty well for our first game,” Bradbury said.

“We knew we had to beat them in defence and we were pretty good.”

Bradbury led that charge, as well as adding some bustling runs in attack to break open the Panthers’ defence in the second half and took the referee’s three points for his effort.

Halves Jordan Sharpe and Ben Williams were back to their old tricks, steering the Roosters around the park, while Sharpe’s long ball came into play as the Roosters looked to move the short Panthers outfit around.

“We wanted to spread it more and move it around but, to their credit, they kept going,” Bradbury said.

“We did well to come over them for the win in the end.” 

The Roosters were also a bit short, with four players on the bench having their first game of rugby league as well as the early loss of the two props.

Second-rower Dan Greenwood stepped up, taking the ball forward up the middle all game as the rotation dried up and both sides got into the grind after  an exciting to and fro early on.

“Dan (Greenwood) led us pretty well in the forwards,” Bradbury said.

All Group 4 will have next weekend off for the  City-Country clash at Scully Park before Kootingal resumes the following week with a grand final replay against the luckless Werris Creek.

The Magpies started the season as the team to beat after making the grand final of the Wests Knockout, although two tough losses against form sides Dungowan and Uralla will leave them even hungrier for revenge over the Roosters, who came back from a 22-point deficit to win the grand final in extra time.

“I think Uralla will be the team to beat but there will be no easy games in the competition this year,” Bradbury said.