NRL live updates: Sydney Roosters vs Wests Tigers, Manly Sea Eagles vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

Halfway home, let’s make some plays out there team!

Sea Eagles kick us off running right to left.

Manly are 1-17 but a heap of changes for Souths.

Euan Aitken is out with Tallis Duncan shifting out to the centres and Jacob Host replacing him at second row, Brandon Smith starts at hooker in his Rabbitohs debut and Siliva Havili drops back to the bench and Peter Mamouzelous is out of the team.

Lewis Dodd is 18th man with Ryan Gray replacing him on the bench.

It was a strong team effort from the Tigers but their young halfback was the best player on the field.

Fainu ran well, kept the attack nice and straight and made several key defensive plays to boot. This was the best game of his young career, a reminder of why he was such an acclaimed junior and some sorely needed good news for the Tigers – after the Lachlan Galvin and Talyn da Silva situations, they needed this.

The Roosters last attack falls short and after six straight defeats – two months without a win! – the Tigers have a sensational win!

An exceptional performance and an awesome game of footy.

Tedesco scores off a great flick pass from King and the Roosters are STILL alive! Tedesco considers declining the kick, but they don’t, Smith nails it and the Roosters will get the kick off back with five seconds left on the clock

Rodwell gets bundled over the sideline after Nawaqanitawase ran him out of room and a few tackles later May gets hit late and the Tigers will take the two. Doueihi makes no mistake, Tigers lead extended to 30-22. 

Not long left now, Roosters get the short kick off back though!

Tedesco pulls through the middle and earns a set restart, if the Roosters are to win this they need to score right now.

And they do! They swing it right and get some early ball to Nawaqanitawase and he skips on the outside of Laulilii to score a brilliant solo try! It’s his second of the day.

Smith has to get this, it’s right on the sideline….AND HE NAILS IT!

Tigers lead by six, four minutes remaining, let’s goooooooooooo.

Latu Fainu ducks down the blindside on the last, he offloads it inside to Samuela Fainu who pokes in a grubber to force a drop out.

Roosters go short, but the Tigers recover. They look like they’re setting for a field goal but a couple of loose passes kill off the chance. Doueihi puts in another grubber but Nawaqanitawase gets back into the field of play.

Turuva drops a bomb, Smith picks up the scraps and just drops it with the line at his mercy! That’s a shocker, a chance gone begging. Tigers hang on.

The Roosters run it down their right, Tedesco links with Savala and puts Rodwell away down the sideline and he goes back inside to Savala for the try! Good footy from the rookie, feels like there’s a big finish brewing here.

Smith converts and it’s 28-16 Tigers. 

Tigers concede a set restart on the fourth, Roosters on the attack. Tedesco throws a great cut out pass Rodwell, he looks certain to score but Latu Fainu comes across in cover and smashes him into touch! What a game from the young fella! He’s a bit shook up after and no surprise, it was a heavy collision, but he’ll play on.

Latu Fainu looks to charge through, he nearly busts up the middle and he’s clipped high by Dockar-Clay as he goes down. Tigers will take the two to extend the lead to 28-10. 

Butcher strips the ball but Fainu picks it up and it’s a fresh set for the Tigers on the attack.

Latu Fainu goes to the line, straights it up for Doueihi and he puts Samuela Fainu over for a well-constructed try. Very nice stuff, Latu is having a hell of a game.

Doueihi makes no mistake and it’s 26-10 Tigers. 

Roosters kick us off to start the second half.

Tigers get pinged for offside and the Roosters will get one last set on the attack before halftime. Feels like an important one.

They head down the left and there’s not much on but Nawaqanitawase swats away Laulilii, fends off Fainu and gets over the top of Turuva to score! The Roosters are right back in it and Smith converts from out wide to narrow the gap to 20-10 at halftime.

Kit Laulilii charges it back off the kick off as hard as he can, but he loses the ball as he goes up to play it. Tough start for the young fella.

Roosters on the attack, Losalu nearly plunges over but he’s held up. Fainu runs Nawaqanitawase off the ball on the last and the Roosters get another set.

Savala goes high on the last and Tupou takes a screamer to score! My word, that was a hell of a catch!

That keeps the Roosters in the hunt, Smith’s kick hits the post and it’s 20-4 Tigers. 

Another error from the Roosters, a cold drop from Whyte and the Tigers have a chance to extend their lead. Tell you what, 20-0 would be very hard to run down…..

And they get it! Siona Fainu bashes his way over from close range! Strong effort from the big man, it’s right near the posts as well, Doueihi makes no mistake and it’s 20-0 Tigers! 

Savala drops it cold around halfway, Latu Fainu picks it up and he runs 50 metres to score! Well earned try that, Fainu’s been very handy early.

Kick is good and it’s 14-0 Tigers.

Turuva drops a clearing kick from Savala cold and the Roosters get a full set in the Tigers 20.

Ioelu puts in a grubber on the second tackle and it’s a shocker, Laulilii picks it off and the Tigers work it out. Poor option from the young fella.

Latu Fainua links with Samuela Fainu and he breaks into space! Tigers are on the attack again, Hope puts in a bad grubber on the last but the Roosters get pinged for offside.

Doueihi surges for the line and nearly gets there but Makatoa makes a strong tackle and forces the ball free. Roosters hang on.