NRL: Win ends Bunnies' 43-year finals wait

Lote Tuqiri of the Rabbitohs scores a try during the First Preliminary Final match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters. Photo / Getty Images

South Sydney ended the Sydney Roosters' NRL title defence to surge into their first grand final in 43 years with a stirring comeback win over their century-old rivals late last night.

Finals bunnies no more, Souths will take on either Penrith or Canterbury in next weekend's premiership decider after recovering from an early 12-point deficit to power to a 32-22 victory at ANZ Stadium.

The thumping win atoned for painful preliminary finals losses to Canterbury and Manly in 2012 and 2013 and denied the Roosters a shot at becoming the first team since Brisbane in 1992-93 to secure back-to-back titles in a united competition.

The Rabbitohs' five-tries-to-two triumph also ended the stellar NRL careers of the Roosters' record-setting captain, Anthony Minichiello, and NZ-bound Sonny Bill Williams.

But the win gives veteran winger Lote Tuqiri and rugby-bound forward enforcers Sam Burgess and Ben Te'o a dream opportunity of farewelling the code with a premiership.

After being stripped of two titles for Melbourne's salary-cap rorting, Greg Inglis is also just 80 minutes away from earning his "first" premiership ring after his second-half double clinched Souths' win.

Souths will be chasing a record 21st title -- but first since 1971. They may be without Issac Luke, though, after the hooker was put on report for a first-half dangerous tackle on Williams.

Like Rabbits caught in headlights, Souths initially presented more like road kill than premiership favourites.

From nothing, Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce left back-rower Kyle Turner clutching at air with a brilliant right-foot step before wrong-footing Inglis off his left to score under the posts in the fifth minute.

Then, playing his milestone 200th NRL match and 20th finals game, Inglis was out-leapt by Roosters opposite Minichiello three minutes later while trying to defuse a James Maloney bomb to gift the premiers their second try.

With Maloney slotting both conversions, the Roosters were flying at 12-0 and the Rabbitohs were floundering once again on the big stage.

Desperate for inspiration, it was Souths' oldest and youngest players, a pair of wingers on the opposite sides of the field and at the opposite ends of their careers, who sparked the fightback.

First, 35-year-old Tuqiri squeezed over in the right-hand corner off a Dylan Walker pass in the 20th minute before first-season rookie Alex Johnston, 19, touched down on the half hour for his 20th four-pointer in just his 17th NRL start.

Halfback Adam Reynolds nailed both sideline conversions to leave the Sydney neighbours locked up at 12-all at halftime.

Returning from a month-long suspension, Te'o was a man on a mission and carried Roosters hooker Jake Friend over with a barnstorming run to give the Rabbitohs the lead for the first time shortly after halftime.

Inglis bagged his first four-pointer in the 52nd minute and then put the issue beyond doubt when he soared high to score off a Reynolds bomb 15 minutes from fulltime.

A four-pointer from Aidan Guerra in the penultimate minute was too little for the Roosters.

Surpassing Luke Ricketson as the Roosters' most-capped player with his 302nd appearance for the tri-colours, Minichiello ended his distinguished career with a double after also crossing for a late consolation try in the final minute.

But there will be no fairytale record seventh grand final for the 34-year-old.

- AAP