Mitchell Pearce leads Roosters to victory

The Sydney Roosters now rely on the North Queensland Cowboys beating the Sea Eagles to claim the 2014 Minor Premiership after they held on against the Rabbitohs 28-18 at Allianz Stadium.

Wet conditions saw soaked turf in Moore Park as 32,481 fans braved the weather to witness what ended in a heart racer. Mitchell Pearce was the clear stand out on the field as his return to form saw the Roosters run riot for the majority of the game.

The game started slowly with both sides opting with penalties goals in the opening minutes to see the game locked up at 2-all.

Daniel Tuopu claimed the first four-pointer of the match mid-way through the first half. Tupou was awarded the points by the video referee after he cleaned up a one-on-one strip forced by Luke Keary.

Aidan Guerra will have a visit to the NRL Judiciary after this weekend as he was placed on report for a chicken wing tackle on Rabbitoh, Kyle Turner in the 21st minute.

The Roosters took an 8-2 lead into the half time break.

The second half didn't start well for the Rabbitohs as Kirisome Auva'a found himself sin binned for a professional foul. Auva'a pinged as he held down Mitchell Pearce after a making a line break. South Sydney down to 12 men as the Roosters capitalised and extended the lead to 10-2 with a penalty goal.

Anthony Minichiello celebrated his final regular season game with a try as Pearce provided the broken play to set up the points. This was followed up by James Maloney who scored the second try in five minutes to give the home side a 22-2 lead.

The game looked over with the Roosters in firm control of the game. However, it took a harsh turn in favour of the visitors as the Rabbitohs raced in three tries in 10 minutes. Dylan Walker (65th minute), Alex Johnston (71st minute) and Lote Tuqiri (75th minute) all breaking through the retreating Roosters defence to give them a scare in the final minutes.

The Roosters managed to hold onto the lead as they claimed victory, 22-18 with the Rabbitohs just falling short of stealing the two premiership points

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (22)
Tries: James Maloney, Daniel Tupou, Anthony Minichiello
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (3/3)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (2/2)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (18)
Tries: Dylan Walker, Alex Johnston, Lote Tuqiri
Field Goals:
Conversions: Issac Luke (2/3)
Penalty Goals: Issac Luke (1/1)

LATE MAIL: Rabbitohs - Sam Burgess will take his place in the side with rumours circling this afternoon he would. Bryson Goodwin and Joe Picker drop out of the extend side which see the Rabbitohs take to the field, 1-17.

LATE MAIL: Roosters - Jackson Hastings will debut tonight off the bench in jersey 18. Heath L'Estrange has ben ruled out. Dylan Napa starts for Sam Moa

Welcome to LeagueUnlimited.com's LIVE coverage from Allianz Stadium as the rain belts down in this top of the table clash with the minor premiership effectively on the line. The winner of this game requires Manly to lose this weekend and they will claim top spot.

Kick off is coming soon as Anthony Minichiello runs out for his final home game of regular season

1: We are UNDERWAY at ALLIANZ Stadium as Greg Inglis kicks off for the Rabbitohs to give the Roosters first use of the ball.

1: Touch by the Rabbitohs off the kick from Maloney. Scrum for the Roosters 40m out

3: Michael Jennings is caught on last tackle. Change over inside the 10 metre zone for the Rabbitohs.

4: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Shaun Kenny-Dowall makes an unforced error.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall knocks on the bat back in field off the Mitchell Pearce cross field kick. Change over again for the Rabbitohs at the 10 metre line.

5: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
David Tyrrell makes an unforced error.
David Tyrrell fails with the play of the ball and the Roosters have possession again in the Rabbitohs half.

6: First penalty of the game against the Rabbitohs, strip is the call… penalty goal coming as Sam Burgess ruled to rack the ball out

7: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
James Maloney slots the first points of the night via the penalty goal from right in front

9: Penalty to the Rabbitohs, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves pinged for a high tackle on Kirisome Auva'a. No report given.

12: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Boyd Cordner makes an unforced error.
Boyd Cordner fumbles the ball in a tackle of three. Scrum for the Rabbitohs 40m out from the try line.

13: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Penalty goal attempt by Issac Luke successful.
Penalty to the Rabbitohs 10 metres out from the try line. Two points being taken to give us a locked up game

15: Penalty for a shoulder charge against Dylan Napa, he didn't attempt a tackle at all. Souths advance to the half way line.

16: Penalty to the Roosters, markers not square. Roosters 10 metres short of half way.

17: VIDEO REFEREE for the Roosters, Daniel Tupou is claiming. Looking at Pearce knock on after a strip from Luke Keary

19: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Daniel Tupou. Kick to come.
Daniel Tupou gets GREEN LIGHTS for the Roosters as he took a floating pass from Mitchell Pearce as he cleaned up from a one-on-one strip with Luke Keary

19: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
James Maloney from the western sideline slots the conversion attempt to extend the lead

20: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Shaun Kenny-Dowall makes an unforced error.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall comes up with a mistake and the Rabbitohs have possession on half way

21: ON REPORT: Aidan Guerra is penalised for a chicken wing on Kyle Turner. Looked very nasty. Rabbitohs attacking 10 metres out

22: Michael Jennings forces the line drop out as Luke Keary placed a grubber kick in goal. Repeat set for the Rabbitohs now

23: Greg Inglis has butchered a try… he threw it over the sideline. It may have been pulled back for obstruction, however it's know a scrum for the Roosters.

26: Dylan has Walker-ed Anthony Minichiello back in goal. Line drop out here to give the Rabbitohs a repeat set

27: Luke Keary aims for a kick at the corner for Kirsome Avua'a. 20 metre tap, however it's now a penalty for Greg Inglis throwing the ball away.

29: VIDEO REFEREE for the Roosters, it's NO TRY for James Maloney. Looking at the grounding.

30: Mitchell Pearce has chased down Greg Inglis in a massive run down field. Inglis bolted 80 metres before being collared. It's followed up by a penalty for offside. Rabbitohs attack 10 metres out from a quick tap

32: INJURY UPDATE: Kyle Turner has returned to the field for the Rabbitohs after suffering a chicken wing tackle

35: Penalty to Rabbitohs, offside from the kick here… but GI has hooked the touch finder and the Roosters pick up possession just inside their own half

36: Penalty to the Rabbitohs, hand on the ball in the ruck. This time Inglis finds touch and the Rabbitohs have possession at their 30m line.

36: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Sam Burgess makes an unforced error.
Sam Burgess has fumbled the ball and it's ZERO TACKLE for the Roosters at their 20 metre line.

38: Penalty to the Roosters, Dylan Walker offside from the kick. Roosters march to half way

40: HALF TIME at Allianz Stadium sees the Sydney Roosters leading the Rabbitohs 8-2.

41: Second half is UNDERWAY at Allianz with the Roosters kicking off and leading 8-2

41: SIN BIN
Kirisome Auva'a is sent to the sin bin.
Kirisome Auva'a has been marched for 10 minutes for a professional foul as he held down Mitchell Pearce after a line break from SBW. Penalty goal coming up.

43: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
James Maloney slots the penalty goal from in front to extend the lead to 8 points

45: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Anthony Minichiello. Kick to come.
Anthony Minichiello has bolted away off a flat pass from Mitchell Pearce and the Roosters breaking the Rabbitohs defence to score their second try

46: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
James Maloney slots the conversion and he extends the lead again

50: VIDEO REFEREE for the Roosters, we have TRY for James Maloney. Mitchell Pearce putting a little kick through the line on last tackle

50: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by James Maloney. Kick to come.
James Maloney cleans up a rebounded grubber kick rushed on last tackle and dives in under the posts.

51: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
James Maloney slots the conversion attempt to extend this lead to 20 points

52: Kirisome Auva'a is back on the field after being sin binned. Rabbitohs on the attack from a scrum feed 20 metres out

57: Luke Keary misguided with a chip kick on last tackle and the Roosters have possession 35 metres out

58: Michael Jennings forces another line drop out. Auva'a caught in goal to concede the Roosters' repeat set

59: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck makes an unforced error.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ruled to have knocked down as he tipped on to Anthony Minichiello. Scrum for the Rabbitohs deep in their own half.

62: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Daniel Tupou makes an unforced error.
ZERO TACKLE for the Rabbitohs 40 metres out from the line as Daniel Tupou knocked on an almost intercept pass.

65: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Dylan Walker. Kick to come.
Daniel Tupou offloaded straight into the hands of Issac Luke and the Rabbitohs spread to find Dylan Walker who races 20 metres untouched to score.

66: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
Issac Luke slots the conversion attempt from the sideline and the gap is reduced to 14 points

67: Lote Tuqiri is forced over the sideline. Scrum Roosters on half way as a result.

68: Aidan Guerra is HELD UP in goal by Inglis, brilliant effort. Roosters back to the 10m line

69: UNFORCED ERROR SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Mitchell Aubusson makes an unforced error.
Mitchell Aubusson has fumbled the ball and it's a scrum feed on half way

71: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Alex Johnston has taken an inside pass beautifully from Luke Keary and he bolts 20 metres through the line to score

71: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Issac Luke successful.
Issac Luke quickly converts to close the gap again

73: 7 minutes left, 7 tackles for the Rabbitohs as Maloney's kick is too long

75: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Lote Tuqiri. Kick to come.
Lote Tuqiri takes a short pass from Dylan Walker after he was linked from Luke Keary. The quick passes from the Rabbitohs create the overlay on the eastern side

75: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Issac Luke unsuccessful.
Issac Luke from the sideline is unable to slot the conversion and it's a 4 point game

77: Mitchell Pearce aims the long kick for the sideline. Scrum for the Rabbitohs deep in their own half

78: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Kirisome Auva'a makes an unforced error.
Kirisome Auva'a juggled and lost it as the Rabbitohs allowed the last tackle kick to bounce. They shifted wide and almost came up with points. Roosters with possession

79: Time off and it's a scrum for the Rabbitohs 13 metres short of half way

80: FULL TIME at Allianz Stadium sees the Sydney Roosters in with a chance to steal the Minor Premiership as they claim a 22-18 victory over the Rabbitohs