Sydney City returned to the top of the National Rugby League table on points difference thanks to a 28-20 victory at North Sydney Oval yesterday.
The Roosters leapfrogged the Sharks, who had been in top spot since their 24-8 win over Canberra on Friday night.
Sydney City, with skipper Brad Fittler back from injury, looked to be cruising against North Sydney when they led 22-8 at halftime.
But the Bears, under new coach Keiran Dempsey, closed to within two points with tries to standoff Ben Ikin and fullback Matt Seers, before the Roosters made the game safe when Jack Elsegood scored.
Newcastle, who had a bye, stayed in third place, while St George-Illawarra remained in the top four by beating Penrith 38-24.
The Steelers and the Panthers produced an absorbing contest, but Penrith were upset at two controversial decisions - one from the video referee, the other from a touch judge - that went against them.
South Sydney stayed in playoff contention when they produced a strong second-half performance to overcome Balmain.
With prop Mark Carroll leading the way and second rower Tony Iro also prominent, the Rabbitohs overturned a 0-12 halftime deficit to win 22-12 at Sydney Football Stadium.
Third-to-last Manly celebrated veteran Cliff Lyons' 300th first-grade game for the club by beating bottom-of-the-table Western Suburbs 48-32 at Brookvale Oval.
Manly looked to be inflicting a massive defeat on Wests when they led 48-8 early in the second spell, but the Magpies mounted a huge comeback.
Fifteen tries were scored, with Manly second rower Steve Menzies getting four of his side's nine.
Parramatta's charge towards the minor premiership continued on Saturday night when they overcame the sending-off of halfback David Penna to beat North Queensland 24-12 at Parramatta Stadium.
The Eels led 14-8 at halftime, but Penna was given his marching orders by referee Sean Hampstead early in the second half for a high tackle on North Queensland's Brian Jellick.
The Cowboys winger recovered to score in the corner off a Noel Goldthorpe grubber in the 51st minute, when Jellick outpaced Parramatta's first-grade debutant Eric Grothe - the 18-year-old son of the former Eels great of the same name.
Parramatta's Clinton Schifcofske made it 16-12 shortly after with a penalty, and the 12-man Eels outfit virtually secured the two points 12 minutes from fulltime when Queensland State Of Origin star Jason Smith opened up the Cowboys from 40m out before setting up replacement forward Dallas Weston.
Parramatta's victory, their eighth in their last 10 games, puts the Eels within striking distance for the minor premiership, while the Cowboys' main aim is now to avoid another dreaded wooden spoon.
Melbourne righted their ship after some mixed recent form by pipping Canterbury 24-20 in a meeting of two top-eight teams at Stadium Australia.
The Storm were going along comfortably at 24-8 ahead with 10 minutes to go, but they had to survive some nervous final moments as the Bulldogs, for whom Daryl Halligan scored 12 points with a try and four goals, staged a late revival. - NZPA
Rugby League: Roosters on top in league juggle
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