NRL: 12-man Roosters beat Manly

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves of the Roosters is sent off by referee Matt Cecchin. Photo / Getty Images

Twelve-man Sydney Roosters have secured a first victory at Brookvale in nine years after chalking up a 16-4 win over Manly in Monday's NRL encounter.

The Roosters were forced to play the final 10 minutes a man down after Jared Waerea-Hargreaves became the first player to be sent off this season following a high tackle to the head of George Rose.

The front-rower was given his marching orders for deliberate contact with the head by referee Matt Cecchin but the Roosters held on comfortably to move into second spot on the ladder.

Waerea-Hargreaves is the first player to sent off since Travis Burns for Penrith last season against the Roosters, but his absence caused them few problems as they held firm to score eight points in his absence with a try from Jake Friend and two successful kicks from James Maloney.

An encounter between two of the best defensive sides in the game was always likely to be a low-scoring affair, but both created plenty of opportunities - only to also be guilty of poor handling.

Michael Jennings opened the scoring in the 12th minute after scooping up a loose Daly Cherry-Evans pass and racing 95 metres to score.

The visitors should have increased their lead through Boyd Cordner and Shaun Kenny-Dowall but both dropped the ball when in great positions to score, before Maloney added a penalty to give his side an 8-0 lead at the break.

Steve Matai hit back for Manly after the interval when he rose high to haul in a Cherry-Evans kick, as the hosts laid siege to the Roosters line.

However, they were unable to break through for a second try, despite looking the favourites to win the game after the Waerea-Hargreaves send off.

The Roosters relieved the pressure with a Maloney penalty after Brenton Lawrence was caught offside, and Friend wrapped up a famous win in the last minute when he got the final touch to a bouncing ball.

Friend had earlier been placed on report for a high shot on Brent Kite.

- AAP