​Roosters move into top four with win over Dragons

A determined Sydney Roosters outfit has staved off a late Dragons comeback to secure fourth place following a 19-14 victory on Monday night in front of 10,185 supporters at Allianz Stadium.

Having pulled off a last-ditch victory over the Warriors last week, the Roosters were boosted by the return of a number of star players from Origin, however they were without the service of Michael Jennings following disciplinary action taken by the New South Wales star.

In a game dominated by forwards, it was the performance of two unsung heroes for the Bondi club that paved the way for the win.

Without regular props Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspension) and Sam Moa (injury), Issac Liu and Sio Siua Taukeiaho stepped up to carry the load.

With James Maloney opening the scoring with a seventh minute penalty goal, the Dragons were quick to respond through Peter Mata'utia (11th minute). After Blake Ferguson lost possession following a big hit by Jason Nightingale, the underrated centre was awarded the green light by video referees Ashley Klein and Henry Perenara.

Shortly after the Roosters responded through Shaun Kenny-Dowall after the Kiwi flyer outleapt his Test teammate Nightingale to touch down in the 14th minute.

The remainder of the first half was largely played between the two ends, with both sets of forwards looking to gain an advantage.

Ultimately the Roosters were able to capitalise on their wealth of possession through Kane Evans (26th minute), who scored his first try in the NRL.

With Gareth Widdop slotting a penalty goal to round out the half, the Roosters headed into the sheds with a 14-8 lead, despite dominating possession.

The Dragons threatened to hit back shortly after the resumption of play, but Josh Dugan's offload failed to find replacement winger Dylan Farrell, allowing the Roosters to continue grinding away with a forward-dominated game plan.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall looked to have wrapped the match up in the 60th minute, going over for the 105th try of his career, surpassing the record set by Bill Mullins to sit second on the all-time highest try-scorers behind Anthony Minichiello.

While the Roosters appeared set to grind the match out, the Dragons manufactured a scintillating try with seven minutes remaining. Starting off inside their own 20 metre line, the Dragons managed to break away downfield before Gareth Widdop darted away to score next to the posts, reducing the margin to 18-14.

The Dragons may have been in a position to pull off an unlikely victory, but the Roosters class won out in the end following a field-goal from Jake Friend on the siren. With Friend rounding out the scoring, the Roosters came away with a 19-14 victory to move ahead of Melbourne into fourth position.

Big performances from the Roosters forwards, as well as their spine of Roger Tuivasa-Scheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce and Jake Friend paved the way for the Roosters eighth win of 2015.

For the Dragons, Mike Cooper stood tall in defence, amounting 61 tackles in a mammoth performance up front, while Tyson Frizell did his Origin chances no harm with close to 50 tackles.

Next week the Roosters travel to the Central Coast to host the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday afternoon, while the Dragons head to Pirtek Stadium to tackle the Eels on Saturday night.

Match Details

St. George Illawarra Dragons 14 Sydney Roosters 19
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Crowd: 10185
Halftime Score: St. George Illawarra Dragons 8 Sydney Roosters 14

ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (14)
Tries: Peter Mata'utia, Gareth Widdop
Conversions: Gareth Widdop (2/2)
Penalty Goals: Gareth Widdop (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (19)
Tries: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (2), Kane Evans
Field Goals: Jake Friend (1/1)
Conversions: James Maloney (2/3)
Penalty Goals: James Maloney (1/1)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Isaac Liu
2 points - Siosiua Taukeiaho
1 point - Shaun Kenny-Dowall

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Round 15 Monday Night Football between St. George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney Roosters from Allianz Stadium.

Two sides in fine form, the Dragons sit in 3rd place coming off a bye, while the Roosters managed to secure a last-ditch win over the Warriors in Auckland last Saturday.

The Dragons have made a few slight changes with Eto Nabuli rested in place of the experienced Dylan Farrell. Trent Merrin will start from the bench after starring for NSW on Wednesday night with Ben Creagh to captain the side.

For the Roosters, Michael Jennings has been stood down with Shaun Kenny-Dowall moving to the centres and Brendan Elliott getting a call-up on the wing. Sam Moa is also out with Isaac Liu pushing up front, while Mitchell Aubusson and Sio Siua Taukiehao will start in the second row. Aidan Guerra will play off the bench after featuring in Wednesday's Origin clash for Queensland. Suaia Matagi comes onto the bench.

The last time these sides met, the Dragons held on for a narrow 14-12 victory on ANZAC Day in a game where play was suspended for 30 minutes following torrential rain.

Having announced a 3-year deal with Cronulla starting next year, Roosters five-eighth James Maloney will be out to impress in his final season with the Bondi club, hopefully culminating in a second premiership after joining in 2013.

Kick-off only moments away, get set for one of the games of the season.

Roosters onto the field, led out by Jake Friend.

St. George Illawarra led out by Ben Creagh.

LATE CHANGE: Trent Merrin to start at lock. Ben Creagh on the bench..

Gareth Widdop kicks off, Liu takes the first hit up.

1: Maloney's kick ricochets off a Dragons and Dylan Farrell picks the ball up inside the Roosters half.

2: Widdop kicks the ball dead. Roosters 20 metre re-start.

2: Ferguson almost breaks the Dragons defence as the Roosters get over halfway.

3: Phenomenal take by the newly re-signed Jason Nightingale. Dragons on the attack.

4: Marshall's kick hits a Rooster in the back - Roosters scrum inside the Dragons half.

5: Napa taken in a big hit by Leeson Ah Mau close to the line.

5: Dugan beats Kenny-Dowall to the line. Line drop out.

6: Terrific bust by Issac Liu up to the 20 metre line.

6: Gareth Widdop down with a shoulder injury as the Roosters get a penalty.

6: Maloney elects to take the penalty goal from close range.

7: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Penalty goal attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney opens the scoring for the Roosters.

8: Issac Liu stepping up in the absence of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Roosters penalty sees them over halfway.

9: Boyd Cordner held up over the line by Benji Marshall.

10: Pearce bombs, but Kenny-Dowall is ruled to have knocked on trying to catch.

11: Big hit by Jason Nightingale on Blake Ferguson has forced the ball loose allowing Peter Mata'utia to score pending video confirmation.

11: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Peter Mata'utia. Kick to come.
The Dragons centre opens the scoring for St. George Illawarra.

12: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
Once again, Widdop adds the extras.

13: Aidan Guerra on for Blake Ferguson. Possible concussion may rule the centre out.

14: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Kick to come.
Maloney bombs and Kenny-Dowall equals Bill Mullins as the 2nd highest try-scorer for the Roosters.

15: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
From close to the sideline, Maloney makes no mistakes.

16: Issac Liu takes another strong charge into the Dragons defence.

18: Some crazy play from both sides sees the Dragons end up with the ball after Brendan Elliott displayed terrific speed to break open their defence.

21: Marshall kicks straight at Roger Tuivasa-Scheck.

22: Guerra knocks on following some long passes from Mitchell Pearce.

23: Nightingale can't hold onto a high bomb close to the Rooster's tryline.

24: Blake Ferguson set to return, Suaia Matagi takes his first run of the night alongside fellow bench player Kane Evans.

24: Malonley chips but Farrell cleans up close to his own line.

25: Charge down on Benji Marshall's kick gives the Roosters possession inside the Dragons half. Yet another poor clearing kick by the Dragons.

26: Pearce dummies but is collected close to the line by Jack de Belin.

26: Possible try to Kane Evans pending video confirmation of the grounding.

26: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Kane Evans. Kick to come.
Big try from a big man. Roosters kick out to a 12-6 lead. KTC.

27: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
From right in front, Maloney makes no mistake. 14-6.

29: Dragons knock on through Euan Aitken close to their line. Big chance for the Roosters to cross again.

30: Tupou can't pick up a floating pass from Pearce. Chance gone begging for the Bondi Boys.

31: Ben Creagh and Heath L'Estrange on for St. George Illawarra.

32: Penalty to the Roosters coming out of trouble. Big pressure from the Dragons immediately released.

34: Poor end to a set from the Roosters. Friend puts in a nothing grubber kick and the Dragons get out of jail.

35: Changeover for the Roosters after the Dragons run the ball on the last.

36: Elliott trapped on the last tackle. Two poor finishes in a row for the Roosters. Considering the weight of possession in the Roosters favour, 14-6 is quite flattering.

37: 28 tackles inside the Dragons 20 metre zone for the Roosters.

38: L'Estrange opts to tap and run, declining the chance to reduce the margin to 6.

38: Penalty to Dragons in front of the sticks - Widdop will kick to reduce the margin to a try.

39: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Penalty goal attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
From right in front, Widdop converts.

40: Roosters lead 14-8 at the break, but with their mount of possession will it be enough to hold off the Dragons.

40: Colossal effort from Mike Cooper in the first half - 40 tackles already.

40: Big effort from Issac Liu and Suaia Matagi up front from the Roosters.

40: Maloney kicks off for the Roosters.

40: Good dart from L'Estrange takes the Dragons up over halfway.

42: Kenny-Dowall elects to roll the dice, but fortunately the ball bounces over the sideline with on-coming Dragons chasers.

43: Blake Ferguson drops the ball trying to get a quick play-the-ball. Big chance for the Dragons to level up.

44: Peter Mata'utia almost dashes across for another four-pointer.

44: Dugan tries to offload to Dylan Farrell, only to lose the ball on the try-line.

45: Chance goes begging for the Dragons.

46: Ferguson taken over the sideline after a wonderful take from SKD.

47: Tuivasa-Scheck almost gets throygh Ben Creagh's tackle.

49: Dragons inside the Roosters half.

50: Widdop delivers a great cut-out pass to Jason Nightingale, who offloads for his centre, but Kenny-Dowall bats it dead. Line drop out.

52: Marshall grubbers for Dugan, but his opposite number cleans up first.

53: Widdop's kick goes into touch.

55: Tuivasa-Scheck gets an offload away, as Elliott is awarded a penalty 40 metres out.

55: Roosters up to the tryline.

56: Dugan trapped in-goal for a line drop out forced by Jake Friend.

58: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Kick to come.
Take a bow RTS! Kenny-Dowall scores his second and sits alone in 2nd for the Roosters try-scorers.

59: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
From the touchline, the #6 hits the posts. No goal.

60: Big hit from Jack de Belin on Dylan Napa from the restart.

61: Dylan Farrell drops a bomb, giving the Roosters a huge chance to blow the game open.

62: Maloney grubbers for the posts, but Dugan is able to recover and earns a penalty.

64: Dugan tries a wrap-around, but RTS is aware and defuses any potential threat.

66: Widdop tries to run around the Roosters, but there's no way through.

67: Pearce bombs, Dugan catches and the Dragons stay in the fight.

68: Dragons are awarded a penalty but decide to run it from halfway out.

69: Tupou comes away with the ball for the Roosters. The Dragons are going to have to play with some flair in the final 10 minutes if their to come away with an unlikely win.

70: Benji chips for his fullback, but once again SKD is on the spot. Phenomenal game from the winger tonight.

71: Friend elects to run on the last tackle, only to be pulled down short of the try-line.

72: Dragons make a huge break.

73: TRY ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Scored by Gareth Widdop. Kick to come.
It's not over yet baby! From their own end, the Red V score a length of the field special.

73: They haven't looked like winning this whole half, but its still on.

73: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Conversion attempt by Gareth Widdop successful.
It's four point game with 7 minutes remaining.

74: That's the attacking flair that was called for. Can the Dragons pull it off!

75: Nightingale kicks, but RTS is able to get out of his in-goal despite desperate cover defence.

76: Dragons would love a penalty.

76: Nightingale up to the 30 metre line.

77: Marshall bombs, but Will Matthews couldn't take the ball.

79: Aubusson taken metres out from the line. Dragons with 90 seconds to pull off the win.

79: Peter Mata'utia loses the ball. That looks to be it for the Dragons.

80: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Field goal attempt by Jake Friend successful.
From dummy half, Friend slots a one-pointer seal the game for the Roosters.