NRL: Roosters survive Rabbitohs fightback

Tom Symonds of the Rosters is congratulated by his team mates Braith Anasta and Mose Masoe after scoring a try. Photo / Getty Images

The Sydney Roosters survived the mother of all comebacks to down local rivals South Sydney 40-29 in an enthralling opening to the NRL season on Friday night.

Seemingly home and hosed after running up a 28-6 second-half lead over a Rabbitohs side down to just one fit interchange player on the bench, the Roosters were forced to come from behind to snatch a dramatic win at the death.

Four tries in 19 minutes brought the Rabbitohs level at 28-all and when Chris Sandow capped a brilliant night with a 73rd minute field goal, the red and green faithful were already celebrating the miracle comeback.

It wasn't to be, however, unlikely hero Tom Symonds barrelling over after the Roosters benefited from a short kick-off to put the home side back in front before doubling the dose on the stroke of fulltime to complete a heartstopping first night.

Any chance of a second-half Souths comeback was seemingly snuffed out when Sam Perrett extended the lead to 22-points six minutes after the restart, but they didn't count on a stinging blast from coach John Lang inspiring the undermanned Rabbitohs.

With one player left on the bench after Ben Lowe joined first-half casualties Sam Burgess (shoulder) and Scott Geddes (Achilles tendon), the Bunnies somehow dragged themselves back into the contest sparked by Nathan Merritt's 51st minute four-pointer.

Star off-season recruit Greg Inglis then made his first impact of the match to reel in a Sandow kick before Eddy Pettybourne crashed over to drag the home side to within four points with 13 minutes on the clock.

Having played a pivotal role in engineering the comeback, Sandow capped the surge with a 90-metre try after cleaning up a grubber, the cheeky halfback with enough energy to salute the crowd on his run to the line but not enough to take the conversion, which Issac Luke missed from wide out to leave the scores level at 28-28.

There was little sense of what was to unfold as the Roosters ran riot over the opening 40 minutes.

Braith Anasta, Anthony Minichiello, Joseph Leilua and Frank Paul Nuuausala all scored to set up what looked like being a long night for Souths.

As if the scoreboard wasn't bad enough, there was further drama for the Bunnies after they were found to have 14 players on the field for four tackles midway through the opening stanza.

Sydney Roosters 40 (T Symonds 2 B Anasta J Leilua A Minichiello F Nuuausala S Perrett tries B Anasta 6 goals) bt South Sydney 29 (G Inglis N Merritt E Pettybourne C Sandow J Sutton tries C Sandow 4 goals C Sandow field goal) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: Tony Archer, Alan Shortall.

- AAP