Resilient Roosters Reign Supreme in South Sydney Showdown

Trading blows in the early exchanges, South Sydney made the first error - kicking the ball through the Roosters defence and into the in-goal for Fetalaiga Pauga, resulting in a 20-metre restart. 

The Roosters applied the pressure after receiving a penalty immediately following Pauga's tap with the Rabbitohs called offside, but the momentum came to a screeching halt when a pass from Brandon Smith was ruled forward out of dummy half. 

An error from Cody Walker on the ensuing set afforded the Tricolours another opportunity and they took full advantage through a pin-point Sam Walker kick that was spilled by Alex Johnson. 

Corey Allan raced through to clean up the scraps and claim first points in the seventh minute, but Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's conversion waved away leaving the score at 4-0.

James Tedesco produced a miraculous try-saving tackle on Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson as the Rabbitohs winger raced towards the stripe before Sam Walker took on a Cody Walker kick, playing the ball soccer-style after it ricocheted off his knee before diving down and beating his opposing half to gain possession. 

South Sydney hit back in the 19th minute after forcing the Tricolours into the in-goal with a team effort in defence before capitalising off a set restart to send Cam Murray over beside the posts for a score-levelling try. Lachlan Ilias slotted the conversion to give the hosts a two-point lead. 

Suaalii levelled the scores with a penalty goal six minutes later after Cody Walker escorted James Tedesco off the ball on the fifth tackle. 

A couple of errors from the Rabbitohs laid the platform for Easts to re-assert their dominance through an inch-perfect try from Pauga who latched onto a Harbour Bridge pass from Sam Walker and flew into the corner three minutes before the break. 

Pauga opened the second half with a blitzing run down the touchline after Luke Keary sold a double-dummy to set the winger free. Looking back on the inside to find his Skipper, Tedesco produced a miraculous try - carrying a few defenders on his back to stretch out his arm and plant the ball down. Suaalii added the extras to give the Roosters a much-needed boost. 

An awful pass from Cody Walker allowed the Tricolours some breathing space after defending back-to-back sets on their line, with the Rabbitohs five-eighth sending the ball straight into touch from close range. 

The hosts broke through five minutes later after successfully challenging a knock-on call against Campbell Graham to gain field-position and possession within 10 metres of their try-line. 

Ill-discipline from the Tricolours allowed South Sydney to creep back into the contest with a left-edge play that saw Michael Chee Kam muscle his way over. Ilias converted to bring the score within four. 

The Tricolours absorbed an insurmountable amount of pressure to deny Souths another raid with Angus Crichton and Corey Allan both making try-saving tackles before Brandon Smith pounced on a loose ball to turn the hosts away once more. 

A piece of brilliance from Sam Walker following a Suaalii line-break pinned the Rabbitohs back in-goal to gain more possession in the 68th minute before Billy Smith fended off Graham to open a clear path to the stripe. 

Walker provided the spark again five minutes later, producing a phenomenal solo try after Jai Arrow fumbled the young half's chip-and-chase attempt with the ball bouncing back into the rising star's hands for him to crash down in-goal. 

Suaalii converted the try to put the nail in the coffin and end the Rabbitohs' season.

Sydney Roosters 26 (Corey Allan, Fetalaiga Pauga, James Tedesco, Billy Smith, Sam Walker tries, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 2 goals, 1 penalty goal) def South Sydney Rabbitohs 12.