Rabbitohs dominate Roosters to book Grand Final spot

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are into their first Grand Final since 1971 after a bruising victory over the defending Premiers the Sydney Roosters in front of 52,592 fans at ANZ Stadium tonight.

Long suffering South Sydney fans can dare to dream now after their side won the preliminary final tonight after losing in the past two seasons at the same stage. In one of the most dominant forward displays of the year the Rabbitohs had too much grunt for the Roosters who tried to match the Rabbitohs forwards but came up well short.

The Roosters started the better and it was in form halfback Mitchell Pearce who opened up the Rabbitohs defence with a scything run to beat the first line of defence then stepping easily around the 200 gamer, Greg Inglis to score in the 5th minute. Souths fans were quietened further a couple of minutes later when, on the end of a 70 metre set the Roosters bombed Inglis who was comprehensively outjumped by the retiring Roosters custodian Anthony Minichiello. A lead of 12 nil early on soon changed however as the Roosters gave away cheap territory with consecutive penalties. The Rabbitohs worked their big men back into the game and from then on the second half was all Rabbitohs as the Roosters big men consistently found themselves going backwards in defence and, more worryingly, attack. South Sydney capitalised on their forward dominance through tries to their old and young wingers. Lote Tuquiri - the old - scored in the 21st minute and Alex Johnston - the young - touched down from a neat short side play in the 30th minute.

Though the game was level at 12 a piece at the break it was the Rabbitohs who had all the momentum, and they capped off another dominant period with the rampaging Ben Te'o holding off four defenders to score in the 44th minute. Eight minutes later Greg Inglis had the chance to show the fans his ‘Goanna' try celebration after running onto an inside ball from his skipper John Sutton. With Adam Reynolds not looking like missing the conversions it looked to be a long way back for the 2013 Premiers. So it proved to be in the 65th minute when Inglis latched onto a cross field kick and used the posts to shield himself from Minichiello to score the match winner. The Red and Green faithful began singing in earnest from that point and despite two late consolation tries to Aidan Guerra and Minichiello making the score line look flattering it was apparent there was only going to be one winner from early on in the second half.

Isaac Luke was particularly good tonight but he will await the Match Review Committee decision nervously after being placed on report for a lifting tackle in the second half.

The Rabbitohs can now sit back and wait to see who they will face next Sunday evening in the big dance, with the Panthers and Bulldogs to do battle Saturday night to book the remaining spot.

Match Details
South Sydney Rabbitohs 32 Sydney Roosters 22
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Crowd: 0
Halftime Score: South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 Sydney Roosters 12

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Issac Luke
2 points - Ben Te'o
1 point - Sam Burgess

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (32)
Tries: Lote Tuqiri, Alex Johnston, Ben Te'o, Greg Inglis (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (5/5)
Penalty Goals: Adam Reynolds (1/1)

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (22)
Tries: Mitchell Pearce, Anthony Minichiello (2), Aidan Guerra
Field Goals:
Conversions: James Maloney (3/4)
Penalty Goals:

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Good evening to you all and a very, very big welcome to ANZ Stadium in Sydney for the big one tonight. By big, I really mean GARGANTUAN. This is it folks. It's the game the NRL wants, it's the game Channel 9 wants, it's the game we all want to see. The South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the defending premiers, Sydney Roosters for a spot in the big dance, the Gee Eff, the Granny, the Grand Final.
There are matchups all over the park tonight, though one in particular stands out... Yes, you know who I'm talking about.. The two Rugby bound Superstars, Sonny Bill Williams for the Roosters and Sam Burgess for the Rabbitohs.
For the Rabbitohs it will be their third straight Prelim and they'll be hoping for third time lucky for sure, having had the week off after doing a job on Manly in week 1. The Roosters will be hoping to build on their dramatic 1 point win over the hapless Cowboys last week and go into their third Grand Final in 5 years.
At the ground we've got a temperature of 16 degrees with the slight possibility of showers later on tonight. My name is Luke Wenitong and I'll be with you throughout. I'll be back just before kick off with final team lists, please do join me then.

TEAM LISTS: South Sydney are 1-17 per program, with Ben Te'o returning from suspension to take his place on the bench at the expense of Luke Burgess who misses out tonight. For the Roosters Dylan Napa returns from suspension and will run on at prop with Sam Moa going to the bench. That seems to be it folks, all that's left is to grab your beverage of choice, put the cat outside, kids inside, hope that your partner doesn't find the remote you've stashed, and...enjoy. By the way, remember people...It's just a game.

Kickoff just a few minutes away. Awesome atmosphere at ANZ tonight, a real buzz in the air.

Mini leads the Roosters onto ANZ. Fireworks, smoke and all that jazz. Here come the Rabbits, lead by John Sutton. The Gladiator applauds in the stands.

Kickoff by Greg Inglis and we're underway at ANZ!

2: Roosters make it to half way on their first set. Nice composed opening from both sides, as Souths return serve.

3: Roosters bomb on the last and Inglis flies above the crowd to take it beautifully and defuse the danger. Souths work it from their own line.

5: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Mitchell Pearce. Kick to come.
WOW. Mitchell Pearce steps inside some lazy defence from Isaac Luke and he steps again past Inglis to score under the posts! Sensational effort from the enigmatic Junior Junior,

5: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
To easy for James Maloney from in front.

7: VIDEO REF - Possible Roosters try to Anthony Minichiello, checking onside. On field ref says try.

8: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Anthony Minichiello. Kick to come.
Minichiello plucks a towering bomb from Inglis' hands and touches it down to the left of the posts.

9: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Straight over the black one from Maloney.

9: Bad start from Inglis tonight.

11: Look out Rabbits! A 70 metre set from the Roosters after the try. Lote Tuquiri saves the day with a nice take of the Pearce bomb.

11: Rabbitohs find the right touchline on the last and they get a breather, can they compose themselves...? They look nervous.

13: Roosters will have a scrum feed inside the Souths red zone after an Inglis error again from the bomb.

14: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves loses the ball in the tackle and it's a relieving scrum feed to the Rabbits.

15: PENALTY - Souths. Pearce used his knee to slow the play the ball illegally.

15: PENALTY - Dylan Napa with his hands on the ball in the tackle. Souths marched down the filed by the refs.

17: PENALTY - Roosters. Ben Te'o lifts Maloney twice in the tackle.

18: James Maloney loses the ball in the tackle. Good pressure from Adam Reynolds helped. Rabbits scrum feed on half way.

19: PENALTY - Souths. Last tackle penalty for offside defence on Dylan Walker who was close to the line.

20: VIDEO REF - Possible South Sydney try to Lote Tuquiri in the right corner. On field ref says try.

21: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Lote Tuqiri. Kick to come.
Simple right side spread on the last finds Tuquiri with just enough space to place it inside the touchline. Good work by the old fella.

22: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Lovely sideline conversion from Reynolds.

22: PENALTY - Souths. Boyd Cordner raked it in the tackle.

23: Hang on... Waerea-Hargreaves has head butted Ben Te'o off the ball. He's on report.

25: Souths have gone up a level or two now. Some heavy hits coming in.

27: PENALTY - Roosters. Rabbits players offside from a last tackle kick. Ball looked to have been touched and the ref called it as such, a bit perplexing that call.

27: Roosters lose it on the 2nd tackle. Souths on half way with tackles in credit.

28: Roosters play the ball on their own 10 metre line after a last tackle knock on by the Rabbits.

30: VIDEO REF - Possible Rabbitohs try to Alex Johnston. On field ref says try.

31: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Superb short side play on the last and the Rabbits use their one man overlap to set Johnston free and he's good enough to score in the left corner.

32: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds adds the extras from the left touchline this time. It's all square at ANZ.

33: Raining heavily as the Roosters lose it on the last. South Sydney on the attack again.

35: Sliding covering effort sees Minichiello defuse a Reynolds grubber under his posts. Well done Mini.

35: PENALTY - Roosters. Rabbitohs offside. Roosters will start the set in the Souths red zone.

37: Johnston defuses a Tuivasa-Sheck grubber and makes it back into the field of play. Good Dee from the Rabbits in that set.

38: PENALTY - Roosters. Lifting tackle on Sonny Bill. Isaac Luke on report.

39: VIDEO REF - Possible Roosters try to Daniel Tupou. On field ref says try.

39: DECISION - NO TRY. James Maloney is ruled to have just knocked on. Pity for Pearce as he jinked through 4 or 5 Souths defenders and set up his outside men well.

40: HALF TIME: South Sydney Rabbitohs 12 Sydney Roosters 12.
Wow, that was a seriously good half of football. The Roosters out of the blocks early and the Rabbitohs dominated the second quarter to level it up. Phew, take a breath lads..! I'll see you all in a few minutes for the second half.

40: Teams coming back to the field now. Roosters to get us underway.

40: Maloney kicks off and we're underway at ANZ.

41: Good set to open the second half is undone by a charge down on the last. The Roosters start their set on half way.

42: PENALTY - Souths. Sonny Bill is ruled to have passed off the ground. Good call by the refs.

43: PENALTY - Souths. Sam Moa smashed Luke Keary. What a mismatch as it crept high.

44: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Ben Te'o. Kick to come.
Strong stuff from Ben Te'o who runs onto an inside ball from 10 metres out. He is too strong for the defence and drags them over the line.

45: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds adds the extras.

49: Roosters knock on through Minichiello in front of their posts and it's the Rabbitohs who have it on attack.

50: Rabbitohs with another set as Tuivasa-Sheck knocks down a dangerous looking ball.

52: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Greg Inglis. Kick to come.
He couldn't stay out of the game big Greg. John Sutton shuffled and gave a late inside ball to Inglis who falls over the line and does his Goanna celebration to the joy of the Rabbitohs faithful.

53: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds converts from close in and to the left of the uprights.

55: Jake Friend has gone to the sheds with an unspecified injury.

56: Isaac Luke throws it over the sideline in a good position. If he had found his winger there were metres to be made. Roosters start their set on half way.

58: Dylan Walker defuses a tricky Pearce bomb.

58: PENALTY - South Sydney. Dylan Napa holding on too long in the tackle.

59: You get the feeling if the Rabbitohs go over here that's all she wrote. Roosters are out on their feet.

61: PENALTY - South Sydney. Inglis was taken out early by Minichiello.

63: PENALTY - Roosters. Alex Johnston is ruled to have been in front of the kicker. Roosters with it just inside their half. What can they do?

63: And the Roosters lose it on half way. Rabbitohs feed. The premiers are looking shaky.

64: VIDEO REF - Possible Rabbitohs try to Greg Inglis. On field ref says try.

65: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Greg Inglis. Kick to come.
Inglis flies high to grab a cross-field kick just beside the left upright.

65: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds adds the two and probably ices the game for the Rabbits.

69: Souths with some razzle dazzle on the last sees Tuquiri kick ahead but it's knocked into touch by the Roosters.

71: PENALTY - South Sydney. Obstruction in attack inside their own half. Souths taking the two on offer.

73: SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Penalty goal attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Reynolds sends the Rabbitohs into the Grand Final with the penalty two points.

73: PENALTY - Rabbitohs. Refs holding up play to look at a Sam Moa hit on Auva'a.

73: Moa on report. Waerea-Hargreaves told to 'stay cool'.

75: Waerea-Hargraves loses it in the tackle of Sam Burgess. Souths with another shot.

75: VIDEO REF - Possible Souths try to Sam Burgess. On field ref says no try.

75: DECISION - NO TRY. Sam loses it on the line. 20 metre restart for the Roosters.

77: Jake Friend caught on the last in attack. Souths work it out of their own end.

78: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Aidan Guerra. Kick to come.
Good opportunistic try by the QLD origin forward Guerra. He runs through a yawning gap after a Souths error. A consolation try at best.

78: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney adds the two.

80: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Anthony Minichiello. Kick to come.
The Count goes over in the left corner after a break from Jake Friend.

80: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Maloney misses the conversion from wide left.

80: FULL TIME: South Sydney Rabbitohs 32 defeated Sydney Roosters 22.

Well well well, the Rabbitohs are into their first Grand Final in a LOOONG time. Well done the Rabbits. Too strong. I'm Luke Wenitong and it's been an absolute pleasure to have you with us at leagueunlimited.com. Please keep an eye out for our match article shortly.