The Sydney Roosters secured their spot in the NRL finals with a commanding 36-6 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night at Allianz Stadium, marking both a statement win and a season-defining moment in front of more than 41,000 passionate fans.
For the Roosters, the stakes were simple: win and they were in the top eight. For Souths, there was pride on the line and the historic milestone of Alex Johnston’s pursuit of Ken Irvine’s all-time try-scoring record.
What was at stake
The pre-game atmosphere was electric. Roosters fans turned Allianz into a wall of sound, their boos reverberating as the Rabbitohs were announced. On the other side, Bunnies fans lived every moment Johnston touched the ball, desperate to see him inch closer to Irvine’s long-standing record of 212 tries.
While Souths threw everything at their archrivals, their season ultimately ended in disappointment, while the Roosters surged into September with the kind of form no finals team can ignore.
The game unfolds
The opening half was tight and tense. Mark Nawaqanitawase’s early double gave the Roosters momentum, but a breathtaking run from Jye Gray set up rookie Ashton Ward for Souths’ first try.
With Cameron Murray and Cody Walker combining late in the half, the Rabbitohs repeatedly threatened and nearly had Johnston over just before the break. They trailed only 10-6 at halftime, with the contest delicately poised.
Then came the avalanche. South Sydney’s Jamie Humphreys was sin-binned early in the second half, and the Roosters pounced. Tupou, Watson, Nawaqanitawase again, and Crichton all crossed in a dazzling 20-minute burst, with Sam Walker steering play beautifully and James Tedesco lifting the tempo.
What had been an arm-in-formwrestle turned into one-way traffic, the Roosters piling on four unanswered tries to seal a crushing 30-point win.
The real Roosters emerged
On a weekend where none of the top four sides secured a win and every team ranked five to eight made a statement, none struck harder than the Tricolours.
That second half showcased the real Roosters: fast, clinical, and ruthless. Even though they will begin the finals from eighth, they suddenly look one of the most dangerous contenders in the premiership race.
Rebuilt and ready
Remarkably, this has been described as a rebuilding year for the Roosters, yet eight debutants and a rejuvenated academy system have not just filled gaps but built a foundation for success.
Backed by record-breaking crowds, with more than 310,000 fans attending home games this season, the Roosters have rebuilt on the run while blending fresh talent with proven leaders.
For the Rabbitohs, there were admirable performances from Gray and Koloamatangi, and Johnston’s pursuit of history will be celebrated next year.
For now, the spotlight belongs to the Roosters, who storm into the finals as one of the competition’s in form teams, ready to prove that even from eighth they can go all the way.
