NRL: Pearce the hero in Roosters narrow victory

Dylan Napa of the Roosters is taken down in the clash. Photo / Getty Images

Star halfback Mitchell Pearce steered the Sydney Roosters to a 22-18 win over South Sydney last night.

In the final-round showdown between the arch rivals, Pearce had a hand in all three of the premiers' tries and chased down a flying Greg Inglis to save a certain first-half four-pointer for the Rabbitohs.

After Kirisome Auva'a was sinbinned for a professional foul, the Roosters went out to a 22-2 lead after 51 minutes.

But Souths fought back to post tries to Dylan Walker, Alex Johnston and Lote Tuqiri between the 65th and 75th minutes to set up a grandstand finish.

The Roosters' defence was up to the task in the final minutes, however, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves catching a John Sutton chip in the dying seconds to secure the win.

The victory pushes the Roosters to the top of the NRL ladder; they will claim the minor premiership for the second successive year if Manly lose to North Queensland tomorrow night.

If the Sea Eagles win, the Roosters and the Rabbitohs will meet again at Allianz Stadium in the first week of the finals next week.

But there is judiciary trouble looming for the Roosters, with Dylan Napa and Aidan Guerra both put on report.

In rugby-bound Sonny Bill Williams' last home game, the Roosters enjoyed the early ascendancy through a brutal early forward display and opened the scoring with a James Maloney penalty goal in the eighth minute.

Souths levelled through Issac Luke before Pearce set up his side's first try with a stepping effort near the Souths line for Anthony Tupou to score.

In the wet conditions, an arm wrestle ensued for the remainder of the first half.

James Maloney was denied a try by Inglis in the 28th minute when the Rabbitohs fullback stopped him just short of the line.

Pearce then prevented a certain try by chasing down a flying Inglis a minute later after he had gathered up a Tupou batdown and raced away with an open field ahead.

The Roosters led 8-2 at the break, and after Auva'a was binned, the points flowed. A Maloney penalty goal and converted tries to Anthony Minichiello and Maloney almost put the match out of Souths' reach.

- AAP