NRL: Roosters edge out Bulldogs

Nate Myles of the Roosters is tackled. Photo / Getty Images

Roosters 32
Bulldogs 28

Sydney Roosters put a dagger through Canterbury's NRL finals aspirations with a 32-28 win.

The performance from the Bulldogs showed they have individual brilliance, but they're a long way from having the game smarts to make the top eight.

Despite hitting the lead 24-22 with a quarter of the match remaining, the Bulldogs crumbled with ill-discipline and unforgivable errors.

With the match on the line, the Bulldogs gave away four crucial penalties - two resulting in Roosters penalty goals and another leading directly to the winning try.

The Bulldogs looked terrified under the high ball all match, with their back three refusing to attempt catches on the full.

It eventually proved their downfall in the 66th minute with the scores locked 24-24 - when Roosters second rower Aiden Guerra was allowed to catch a Mitchell Pearce ball uncontested before throwing it out for Sam Perrett to score.

Another penalty given away while defending their own line with eight minutes to go, allowed Todd Carney to put the result beyond doubt as they boosted to an eight-point gap - enough to cover a late try from Dogs' winger Jonathan Wright.

Canterbury looked shot when Nate Myles scored to put the Roosters up 22-12 to start the second half, but despite his indecision under the high ball, Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba showed Canterbury had enough raw talent to still win the match.

Just like he'd done in the first half when he sprinted nearly 100 metres to score, Barba was away again off a kick return in the 50th minute.

An incredible chase from props Myles and Mose Masoe bundled Barba into touch, but it stung the Bulldogs into action.

Hodkinson popped an incredible flick pass in the 53rd minute to see Idris away, before the big centre kicked in-field for Steve Turner to touch down and cut the margin to four.

The Bulldogs went to the lead minutes later when Pritchard broke into the open and sent Joel Romelo over under the posts.

However, their lead was short-lived when Pritchard gave away a stupid penalty 30 metres out and directly in front of his own posts. After looking as though they'd earned a scrum feed, replays showed Pritchard had come down with his elbow on Roosters front rower Jason Ryles.

Pritchard was on report, Ryles taken from the field, and Carney kicked true to square the ledger at 24-24.

Canterbury's finals aspirations now hang by a thread as they could be as many as two wins out of the eight by the end of the weekend. They also have Idris on report, while Ben Roberts (quad) and Aiden Tolman (shoulder) suffered injuries.

Boom centre Tim Lafai scored a wonderful try in the first half for the Dogs to go with Barba's magic, while BJ Leilua and a double from Guerra kept the Roosters in front.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS 32 (A Guerra 2 J Leilua N Myles S Perrett tries T Carney 6 goals) BULLDOGS 28 (B Barba T Lafai J Romelo S Turner J Wright tries S Turner 4 goals).