Sydney Roosters claim important win over South Sydney

LEGENDARY coach Phil Gould says South Sydney made a crucial mistake against the Roosters and it could cost them a finals spot.

Aidan Guerra of the Roosters, (second right), celebrates with team mates after scoring a try.

SOUTH Sydney badly needed two points against its fierce rivals in the Sydney Roosters.

Not only due to the rivalry that exists between the two clubs, but also the fact the Rabbitohs’ finals hopes hang in the balance.

With his side missing their representative stars, Jake Friend came up with the big plays and was tireless in defence the Roosters gutsy win.

Friend produced the clutch-play in the second-half, putting Aidan Guerra through a gap to make it 14-6 and take the wind out of a Souths fightback. Again it was what could have been for the Bunnies.

Aidan Guerra of the Roosters, (second right), celebrates with team mates after scoring a try.

Nine commentator Phil Gould said South Sydney made a crucial mistake in not bringing the correct attitude into Friday night’s match.

“I think we picked it in the first few sets of six,” Gould told Nine.

“When South Sydney started the way they did. Very typical of a team that’s won by forty points the previous week, they’re on a big high, they’re on a buzz.

“They come out and take up where they left off last week, they’re off loading the ball, they’re going wide. The Roosters wanted to make it an arm wrestle, South Sydney didn’t come for an arm wrestle tonight, they came to throw the ball and show how talented they were, by the time they realised it was an arm wrestle — they were behind on the scoreboard and chasing all night.

“It’s one that got away from them, because they didn’t have the right attitude.”

Ryan Matterson of the Roosters is tackled by Adam Reynolds, (left), and Aaron Gray.

The Rabbitohs refused to give up and when Angus Crichton skipped across field beating three tacklers, he sent Bryson Goodwin steaming through a gap to reduce the margin to just two points with 12 minutes left.

However, the Roosters held on in front of a crowd of 16,245 to put a huge dent in the Rabbitohs’ top-eight aspirations.

With the Roosters missing Mitchell Pearce, Blake Ferguson, Dylan Napa and Boyd Cordner, Friend was busy in all aspects, setting up both of his side’s four- pointers.

Twice in the second half he came up with a tackle which forced a turnover while the Rabbitohs were inside the Roosters’ half.

He finished with 55 tackles after making 62 tackles the previous two weeks against Cronulla and Melbourne.

Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was immense, making 192m and 28 tackles while Pearce’s replacement Mitchell Cornish looked a likely prospect and produced a first-class kicking performance.

The Roosters took an 8-0 lead into halftime after Friend poked a clever kick through the line with Joseph Manu diving on the spoils.

The Rabbitohs on the defence.

After four sets camped down on the Roosters line and receiving three rapid-fire penalties, Souths finally broke through for their opening try in the 51st minute when Robbie Farah burrowed over from dummy-half to make it 8-6. The Roosters have an injury concern after Michael Gordon came form the field six minutes from time cradling his left arm.

Gould’s commentary counterpart Peter Sterling said the win was crucial for the Roosters and may yet define the club’s season upon reflection.

“It’s a really valuable two points for the Roosters,” Sterling said.

“A big Origin representation, four of their best players not here tonight. At times you felt South Sydney were coming to get them. They may look back and say that’s a kind of two points that meant they finished inside the top four, or outside of that.”

W- AAP