Star halfback Mitchell Pearce has steered the Sydney Roosters to a 22-18 win over South Sydney at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night.
In the final round showdown between the bitter arch rivals Pearce had a hand in all three of the premiers’ tries and chased down a flying Greg Inglis to save a certain first half four-pointer for the Rabbitohs.
After Kirisome Auva’a was sinbinned for a professional foul the Roosters went out to a 22-2 lead after 51 minutes.
But Souths fought back to post tries to Dylan Walker, Alex Johnston and Lote Tuqiri between the 65th and 75th minutes to set up a grandstand finish.
The Roosters defence was up to the task in the final minutes however, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves catching a John Sutton chip in the dying seconds to secure the win.
The victory pushes the Roosters to the top of the NRL ladder; they will claim the minor premiership for the second successive year if Manly lose to North Queensland on Saturday night in Townsville.
If the Sea Eagles win the Roosters and the Rabbitohs will meet again at Allianz Stadium in the first week of the finals next week.
But there is judiciary trouble looming for the Roosters with Dylan Napa put on report for a shoulder charge on John Sutton in the 15th minute, Aidan Guerra likewise for a ‘chicken wing’ tackle on Kyle Turner in the 21st minute.
In retiring skipper Anthony Minichiello’s and rugby-bound Sonny Bill Williams’s last home game, the Roosters enjoyed the early ascendancy through a brutal early forward display and opened the scoring with a James Maloney penalty goal in the eighth minute.
Souths levelled through Issac Luke before Pearce set up his side’s first try with a stepping effort near the Souths line for Anthony Tupou to score on the left wing.
In wet conditions before an enthusiastic crowd of 32,481 an arm wrestle ensued for the remainder of the first half.
James Maloney was denied a try by Inglis in the 28th minute when the Rabbitohs fullback stopped him just short of the line.
Pearce then chased down a flying Inglis a minute later when he had gathered up a Tupou batdown and raced away with an open field ahead, to save a certain try.
The Roosters led 8-2 at the break and after Auva’a was binned the points flowed.
A Maloney penalty goal, and converted tries to Minichiello and Maloney almost put the match out of Souths’ reach.
Injured Roosters hooker Jake Friend sat alongside coach Trent Robinson in the coaches’ box and the premiership winning mentor said his side had work to do before the finals.
“I think both teams can take some advantages out of that tonight,” he said.
“We probably opened them up just before the sinbinning and opened them up in the next 20 minute.
“They fought back and opened us up after we gifted them that first try.”
“Pearce wasn’t outstanding but again he guided us well.”
Souths coach Michael Maguire said the binning of Auva’a was: “crucial”.
“They scored two tries then … but the boys worked hard and showed a lot of character in the back end of the game,” he said.
“The boys stuck at it.”
paul
Guest
How was nsw going to beat a team of the following champions in ther prime slater smith cronk ingliss hodges lockyer thaiday . Pleeease!!!!! mitchell was on a hiding to nothing and now all u petty minded little people are getting your karma !!!!! cronk cmes back fr 3rd game this year and we get smashed. We fluked series win based on queensland past prime and aging and cronk injury. Good luck hodgko I hope the a!@#! Holes leave u alone mate.
KB
Guest
They don't blame the forwards for the losses because they are gronk$ who know very little about football...
paul
Guest
I love jealous petty minded womanly fans. At the mo hes best half in comp with cronk on form .
Mike from Tari
Guest
Don't know what your talking about
harryroosterof ryde
Guest
Why dont you blame the NSW forwards instead of blaming Mitchell Pearce for the previous series defeats.
theHunter
Guest
yeh we know those 2 tries came when there were 12 players but you have to admit that those 2 tries were through the defense not around the defense. Most tries scored when there is a man short in the opposite team is usually around the defense as there is an overlap but looking at the replay, rabbits should have stopped those tries
Charles NSW
Guest
Spot on with your comments!
rvm99
Guest
Pearce had a strong final series last year, where he didn’t over play his hand and minimized his errors. It looks like he is coming into that same vein of form again at the right time of the year. I don’t believe that he will ever be a representative half in the mould of a JT or DCE however he is demonstrating in the big games at the back end of the year that he is a vital cog for his team.
Manly Man
Guest
That was the best game he will ever play. And it wasn't even that impressive. For him yes. The first try was a knock on.
Brendan
Guest
As good as Pearce was last night, all NSW fans deserve to ask, where was that kinda display the last few years? Its been sorely lacking when it mattered for the Blues
cecil
Guest
Pearce was sensational last night. His try was a knock on though, there is nearly nothing worse then a loose carry getting called a strip, a loose carry of the ball is a plain as day a loose carry. Looks like the chooks will be without a few, Guerra will be lucky to play again this year. He held the chicken wing for a few seconds and could of done serious damage. On a bright note for Souths and NSW, Walker carved Jennings which is no easy feat.
Mike from Tari
Guest
If Souths don't play Easts next week then they had no advantage for Easts players put on report for a shoulder charge & chicken wing tackle whereas Easts got advantage over a dubious sin binning, can't see any equality these decisions, 2 penalties do not equal 1 penalty & a sin binning, time the NRLC looked into this anomaly.
KB
Guest
Junior Junior left a lot of people with egg on their faces, not only last night but last week against the Storm. The chooks were awesome. Mitchell, like any 7 cant do the work without the engine room paving the way. Sonny and Sammy Moa along with Aubbo and Jackson Hastings , what a debut in the big time... Easts forwards were on top the whole game..CHOOKSback2BACK
dallas
Guest
Pearce and maloney were dangerous all night. The rabbitohs halves were pretty much non existent. Inglis and Luke tryed hard and were in everything but there halves didnt take control and sutton barely ran the footy.
Manly Man
Guest
I was very impressed with pearce. His knockon try was laughable though.