The Sydney Roosters have won the 2013 Minor Premiership by defeating the South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-12 at ANZ Stadium.
In the biggest game of the year, the Tricolours went in to the break behind by two but came out firing keeping the home side scoreless in the second half to come away with the victory.
The Tricolours forwards were outstanding on the night constantly pushing the Rabbitohs forwards backwards.
Some individual brilliance from Maloney and Sonny-Bill Williams helped sway the result but it was two great try savers first from Dylan Napa and then from captain Anthony Minichiello that set up a memorable victory.
It was nothing but the tough stuff in the opening exchanges as both sides felt each other out, with some predictable nerves ensuring the ball generally stayed in the middle of the park early on.
The home side was the first to score when Greg Inglis barged his way past two Roosters defenders to make it 6-0 after thirteen minutes.
Minutes later after a clever back line play where they used the run of Williams as a decoy, James Maloney slid through the defence as he has done all season to make it 6-6.
Off the very next set playing in the unfamiliar position of centre, Aidan Guerra found himself charging at the line and after throwing a dummy he muscled over to have the Tricolours in front by four.
Some great defence followed as the Roosters held strong, Nuuausala's hit on one of the Burgess twins, we couldn't quite tell who, forcing a knock on close to the Rabbitohs line a highlight.
Constant penalties however continued to hamper the visitors, a 6-2 count eventually taking its tole when when Jason Clark evaded one tackler to reach out and have South Sydney up by two.
The Tricolours levelled the scores early in the second when Maloney slotted two after the visitors received a penalty for offside.
A knock on from the very next set had the home side in a promising position and Sam Burgess nearly took full advantage before a brilliant last ditch effort from Dylan Napa knocked the ball loose over the try line.
James Maloney then placed his stamp on the match when he ran 60m after picking up a grubber before finishing the set with another brilliant solo run to plant the ball down and put the Tricolours in front by six.
Off the very next set Sonny-Bill Williams took matters in to his own hands, busting through the line and finding a flying Pearce to have the Tricolours in front by two converted tries.
The Rabbitohs looked to have scored soon after only for the play to be pulled back for ashore in the back of Tupou as he went to catch a bomb.
Waerea-Hargreaves was then placed on report late in the game for an elbow whilst in possession of the ball with a push and shove erupting due to Sam Burgess throwing an unnecessary shove.
A rampaging Nathan Merritt then looked to bring one back for the Rabbitohs only for Anthony Minicheillo to pull of a classic tackle to bundle the winger in to touch and seal the result for the Tricolours.
In the biggest game of the year, the Tricolours went in to the break behind by two but came out firing keeping the home side scoreless in the second half to come away with the victory.
The Tricolours forwards were outstanding on the night constantly pushing the Rabbitohs forwards backwards.
Some individual brilliance from Maloney and Sonny-Bill Williams helped sway the result but it was two great try savers first from Dylan Napa and then from captain Anthony Minichiello that set up a memorable victory.
It was nothing but the tough stuff in the opening exchanges as both sides felt each other out, with some predictable nerves ensuring the ball generally stayed in the middle of the park early on.
The home side was the first to score when Greg Inglis barged his way past two Roosters defenders to make it 6-0 after thirteen minutes.
Minutes later after a clever back line play where they used the run of Williams as a decoy, James Maloney slid through the defence as he has done all season to make it 6-6.
Off the very next set playing in the unfamiliar position of centre, Aidan Guerra found himself charging at the line and after throwing a dummy he muscled over to have the Tricolours in front by four.
Some great defence followed as the Roosters held strong, Nuuausala's hit on one of the Burgess twins, we couldn't quite tell who, forcing a knock on close to the Rabbitohs line a highlight.
Constant penalties however continued to hamper the visitors, a 6-2 count eventually taking its tole when when Jason Clark evaded one tackler to reach out and have South Sydney up by two.
The Tricolours levelled the scores early in the second when Maloney slotted two after the visitors received a penalty for offside.
A knock on from the very next set had the home side in a promising position and Sam Burgess nearly took full advantage before a brilliant last ditch effort from Dylan Napa knocked the ball loose over the try line.
James Maloney then placed his stamp on the match when he ran 60m after picking up a grubber before finishing the set with another brilliant solo run to plant the ball down and put the Tricolours in front by six.
Off the very next set Sonny-Bill Williams took matters in to his own hands, busting through the line and finding a flying Pearce to have the Tricolours in front by two converted tries.
The Rabbitohs looked to have scored soon after only for the play to be pulled back for ashore in the back of Tupou as he went to catch a bomb.
Waerea-Hargreaves was then placed on report late in the game for an elbow whilst in possession of the ball with a push and shove erupting due to Sam Burgess throwing an unnecessary shove.
A rampaging Nathan Merritt then looked to bring one back for the Rabbitohs only for Anthony Minicheillo to pull of a classic tackle to bundle the winger in to touch and seal the result for the Tricolours.
