​Roosters keep Rabbitohs scoreless to claim third straight Minor Premiership

The Sydney Roosters have kept South Sydney scoreless in a 30-0 win at Allianz Stadium in front of 25,019 fans to claim their third straight minor premiership.

With Brisbane going down last night, the Roosters were guaranteed to finish first but showed no signs of complacency to produce a clinical performance at home.

Four tries in the opening 20 minutes laid the platform for the Roosters, beginning in the seventh minute through Michael Jennings, further four pointers to Blake Ferguson (11th minute), Boyd Cordner (17th minute) and Jake Friend (21st minute) helped establish a 24-0 lead.

While the Rabbitohs tried to work their way into the contest, the Roosters simply outmuscled the reigning premiers to suggest South Sydney are playing on borrowed time without the services of Greg Inglis, John Sutton and Issac Luke.

A short pass from Roger Tuivasa-Scheck to Aidan Guerra rounded out the first half scoring, with Maloney, playing his final regular season game for the club, maintain a perfect record with the boot, the Roosters took a 30-0 lead into the break.

While neither side could get on the scoreboard in the second half, the Roosters produced a clinical defensive effort in showing sure to please coach Trent Robinson.

Jackson Hastings looked to round out the scoring just before fulltime, but video replays indicated the stand-in halfback failed to hold onto the ball.

In the only worrying sign for the Roosters, James Maloney was placed on report for tripping Kyle Turner; with Mitchell Pearce unlikely to return next week, the Roosters will be hoping Maloney isn't cited heading into the finals.

For the Rabbitohs, their hopes of defending their title appear to be in tatters.

Having been thoroughly beaten last week, they showed little signs of improvement in a worrying sign for coach Michael Maguire.

Both sides are assured of featuring next week; the Roosters will play a home final at Allianz Stadium against either Cronulla or Melbourne, while the Rabbitohs are all but assured of finishing seventh, meaning they will likely come up against Canterbury in a Grand Final rematch at ANZ Stadium.

Dates and Times for next weeks fixtures will be confirmed on Sunday night following the Bulldogs v Warriors match at ANZ Stadium.

Match Details

Sydney Roosters 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0
Venue: Allianz Stadium
Crowd: 25019
Halftime Score: Sydney Roosters 30 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0

SYDNEY ROOSTERS (30)
Tries: Michael Jennings, Blake Ferguson, Boyd Cordner, Jake Friend, Aidan Guerra
Field Goals: James Maloney (0/1)
Conversions: James Maloney (5/5)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (0)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
2 points - James Maloney
1 point - Boyd Cordner

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to League Unlimited's coverage of Round 26 Friday Night Football between Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs at Allianz Stadium.

LATE MAIL: The Sydney Roosters have just the single change with Shaun Kenny-Dowall coming into the side tonight for Brendan Elliot. Matt McIlwrick not required on off the five-man bench named on Tuesday.

Thomas Burgess starts for South Sydney Rabbitohs with Dave Tyrrell ruled out. Paul Carter fills the vacant interchange bench spot in jersey #18.

After Brisbane were unable to overcome Melbourne last night, the Roosters will claim their third consecutive minor premiership regardless of tonight's result.

South Sydney will need to win by 92 points and hope Cronulla lose on Sunday to finish in the top four. A more realistic outcome from tonight would result in the Rabbitohs securing a home final, but they will need to wait until Sunday night to know their fate; their most likely Week One match-up would be against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.

In a major boost for the Roosters, Shaun Kenny-Dowall returns after last playing two months ago. Before his stint on the sidelines, the Kiwi international was among the Roosters top performers.

The Rabbitohs face an uphill battle with John Sutton and Issac Luke both sidelined, while Greg Inglis' return is unknown at this stage.

South Sydney come onto Allianz Stadium, led out by Adam Reynolds.

Jake Friend takes the Roosters out to the applause of the crowd.

Reynolds kicks off, Napa takes the first run of the night.

Taukeiaho comes up with an error inside his own 20. Big chance for the Rabbitohs to strike early.

2: Roger Tuivasa-Scheck gets out of his in-goal by putting on a nice step.

3: Hastings belts the ball down into the Rabbitohs territory, Johnston is tackled close to the halfway line.

3: Reynolds bombs, but Boyd Cordner is able to clean up after a bat back from Joel Reddy.

3: Penalty to the Roosters.

4: Roosters start a set 40 metres out from the South Sydney line.

5: Sam Moa does well to hold onto a pass close to the tryline.

5: Souths hold on and will start a set 10 metres out.

6: Kyle Turner is met by two Roosters forcing the ball loose. Scrum on halfway.

6: Penalty to the Roosters.

7: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Michael Jennings. Kick to come.
Speed. Speed. Speed. Great work by the flyer to break free of Joel Reddy to open the scoring.

9: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Kick successful.

10: Dylan Walker comes up with a chargedown, but Tuivasa-Scheck is able to regather the ball.

11: Kenny-Dowall makes a nice run with his first touch.

11: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Blake Ferguson. Kick to come.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No. It's Blake Ferguson flying through the air to score. 10-0 Roosters.

12: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
From adjacent to the posts, Maloney add the extras. Warning signs for the Rabbitohs. 12-0.

13: Jake Friend cops a hit, but he keeps on running to take the Roosters over halfway.

14: Boyd Cordner is claiming a try. We'll just see whether Daniel Tupou knocked on trying to bat the ball back.

14: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Boyd Cordner. Kick to come.
The Roosters are crowing tonight. It's 16-0. KTC.

15: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
3/3. The Roosters are on fire!

17: Maloney's kick bounces back towards the Roosters, but Goodwin is able to come up with possession.

17: Johnston punts the ball straight at Tuivasa-Scheck.

19: Jake Friends bombs, Ferguson comes up with the ball. The Roosters spread the ball, but the pass goes to ground.

20: Tim Grant on.

20: Shaun Kenny-Dowall gets a penalty right in-front of the sticks.

20: Maloney kicks for touch, the Roosters can smell blood.

21: Jake Friend is over, but the referee wants to check that Boyd Cordner wasn't held before offloading.

21: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Jake Friend. Kick to come.
Friend scores. Stop the fight. This isn't even a contest.

22: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Maloney adds another two points.

23: Alex Johnston is able to clean up an attempts 40/20 from Jake Friend.

24: Reynolds kicks straight to Tuivasa-Scheck.

25: Tupou kicks ahead, Johnston tries to pick up the ball but ends up in touch.

27: Maloney is on report for tripping Kyle Turner. That might bring about a suspension.

27: If Maloney is hit with any suspension that would have a huge impact on the Roosters finals chances.

28: Tupou gets a penalty after being tackled in mid-air by Joel Reddy.

29: Kane Evans on for the Roosters.

29: Hastings bombs, but Reddy comes up with possession.

30: Paul Carter on for Cameron McInnes.

30: Souths get a chance inside the Roosters half after a bad pass from James Maloney goes to ground.

30: Carter is tackled a metre short of the tryline.

31: Aubusson, Matagi and Liu on for the Roosters.

32: Souths try a set play and get a penalty 30 metres out.

33: Reynolds kick for Walker, but RTS is able to bat the ball dead. Line drop out.

34: Souths are being manhandled by the Roosters.

34: Jennings slams Johnston into the Allianz Stadium turf.

35: Kenny-Dowall leaps to regain possession for the Red, White and Blues.

35: Hastings bombs, once again the Rabbitohs allow the ball to bounce.

36: Adam Reynolds knocks on trying to play the ball quickly.

37: TRY SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Scored by Aidan Guerra. Kick to come.
Awesome short ball from Tuivasa-Scheck to put Guerra into a gap. The Roosters keep the points flowing.

38: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
That's 5/5 for Maloney. He's having a great night with the boot.

40: Maloney kicks for RTS, but the fullbacks pass travels forward. Roosters take a 30-0 lead into the break.

40: Based on tonight's performance you would be hard pressed to think the Roosters won't feature in the Grand Final.

40: The Roosters have changed into their regular jerseys - that would have to be a first, changing jerseys at halftime in a game!

40: Souths get a penalty.

41: Chris McQueen drops the ball on the second tackle.

41: Matagi puts Liu into a gap. Roosters into South Sydney territory.

42: Kenny-Dowall is now wearing jersey #21.

42: Joel Reddy dives on a Hastings grubber and manages to stay out of the in-goal.

43: Kenny-Dowall makes a tremendous kick return before offloading to his fullback.

44: Aubusson is claiming a try, but the referee will check for a double movement.

44: Souths will get a penalty.

44: No Try. Rabbitohs penalty for promoting the ball after Aubusson grounded the ball.

45: Tuivasa-Scheck puts some fancy footwork on before finally being grounded 40 metres out.

46: Maloney bombs, but Joel Reddy catches in-goal resulting in a seven-tackle restart.

47: Paul Carter gets a penalty.

47: Souths contemplate kicking for two.

47: Surprisingly, the Rabbitohs opt to kick for touch.

48: Reynolds is held up over the line.

48: Issac Liu does a fantastic job to hold the ball up over the line.

48: No Try.

48: Tim Grant is off with injury.

48: Glenn Stewart kicks in-goal for Grevsmuhl, but the ball goes dead. Line drop out.

50: What a shambolic end to a set. Souths couldn't put a kick in or put it through the hands!

51: Tupou embarrasses Joel Reddy and Dylan Walker with footwork.

52: The Roosters get a scrum 15 out from the tryline.

52: Kane Evans loses the ball.

54: Keary bombs, but RTS has no issues coming up with possession.

54: Boyd Cordner off, as the Roosters get another penalty.

55: Hastings kicks for the in-goal, but Ferguson can't get to it before the ball rolls dead.

56: Reynolds tries a chip and chase, but Taukeiaho has the ball.

57: The sting has gone out of this match. Souths have nothing to offer and the Roosters don't want to risk injuries.

58: Paul Carter and Siosiua Taukeiaho start mouthing off at each other.

58: Liu and Matagi off for the Roosters.

59: Glenn Stewart off for South Sydney after being smashed by Samuel Moa.

61: The Roosters are full of energy with their defence.

62: Great desperation from Jake Friend to dive on a South Sydney grubber.

63: Michael Jennings is penalised for diving on the South Sydney play-the-ball.

64: Rabbitohs get a penalty. Can they get a try!

65: Walker goes close, but the Roosters hold him out.

66: Souths knock-on. The Roosters fans rise as one to applaud the great defence.

67: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Field goal attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Maloney goes for a one-pointer, but it falls short. Score remains 30-0.

68: The Roosters are off and running.

68: Aubusson is denied the try of the year.

68: SIN BIN
Chris McQueen is sent to the sin bin.
Professional foul from McQueen.

69: From the in-goal, RTS gets a pass away - Tupou, Jennings and Aubusson make 90 metres. Awesome work from the Roosters.

69: Jake Friend loses the ball. Good work from South Sydney to pressure the hooker.

71: With the hands of a surgeon, RTS picks the ball up from around his bootlaces.

72: Maloney has the ball on a string, the ball pulls up in-goal but the Rabbitohs come up with possession.

72: Dylan Napa is on-report for a crusher tackle.

72: Carter is dragged down close to the posts.

73: Tom Burgess offloads to Mitchell Aubusson.

73: Roosters penalty.

74: RTS can't hold onto an inside pass. Souths will a scrum feed inside their own half.

75: Carter loses the ball. This has been a shocking performance from the Rabbitohs tonight.

76: The Rabbitohs have had the toughest run home of all 16 clubs, but their form over the past month suggests they aren't up to defending their title. They look tired, players are missing through injury and suspension. They look like a spent force.

78: Hastings takes on the line. We'll check for an obstruction, but the stand-in halfback looks to have scored his second career try.

78: The grounding is suspicious.

78: The ball has bounced! No Try for Hastings.

78: Tim Grant back on.

79: Reynolds bombs, but once again RTS has it covered for the Roosters.

80: Jake Friend takes the final tackle of the night. What an emphatic performance.

80: Fulltime: Roosters 30. Rabbitohs 0. For the other seven finalists, the Roosters have sent out a warning sign.