NRL 2023 LIVE updates: Tedesco try nudges Roosters further ahead after half-time, Rabbitohs lose fullback after Blake Taaffe fails HIA

NRL 2023 LIVE updates: Tedesco try nudges Roosters further ahead after half-time, Rabbitohs lose fullback after Blake Taaffe fails HIA

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Chee Kam scores for South Sydney after fresh set

Michael Chee Kam has gone across to close the gap with the Roosters in the second half.

The pass from Damien Cook and Cody Walker set Chee Kam up, with the forward charging across the line.

The fresh set for South Sydney came after they successfully used their captain’s challenge to get a scrum feed just 10 metres out from the Roosters line.

It’s Chee Kam’s first try of the year, and firs try for the Rabbitohs.

The kick from Lachlan Ilias goes over, and the gap is just four.

Roosters 16, Rabbitohs 12 after 58 minutes

Rabbitohs waste chance to score

The Rabbitohs get a fresh set of six after a penalty, and they have their best chance to score in this second half.

Cody Walker throws the pass out to the left-wing – where there are numbers on the outside – but he can’t find his man and the ball goes over the sideline.

Isaiah Tass and Michael Chee Kam outnumberd the Roosters defenders on the outside, but they just couldn’t come up with the finish.

Roosters 16, Rabbitohs 6 after 53 minutes

Tedesco scores to widen gap for the Roosters

James Tedesco has scored to put the Roosters on the board first in this second half.

It comes off teh back of a penalty given to Joseph Suaalii, who was tackled by Isaiah Tass in the air.

Once the Roosters got on a roll, they steamed over the Rabbitohs, and Tedesco widens the gap between them and South Sydney.

The kick from Suaalii soars over and the Roosters are nudging closer to a potential spot in the finals.

Roosters 16, Rabbitohs 6 after 47 minutes

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Second half under way

And we’re back on at Olympic Park.

Sam Walker kicks to the Rabbitohs, and Cody Walker takes the catch.

It’s a clean first set for South Sydney to start the second half, and the Roosters are back on the attack.

Roosters 10, Rabbitohs 6 after 41 minutes

How do the teams compare at half-time?

Roosters lead 10-6 at half-time

The Rabbitohs had a scrambling last play to even the score ahead of the half-time siren, but it’s the Roosters that have the lead when they go to the sheds.

It’s been a close contest so far tonight – what else would you expect?

Souths have had a few magical plays, but they’ve lacked patience, and it’s meant their error count is too high – the Rabbitohs completed just three of their first six sets.

As for the Roosters, they haven’t been without their own errors, but they’ve managed to ice the moments that count.

Half-time: Roosters 10, Rabbitohs 6

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Pauga puts Roosters in front ahead of half-time

A harbour bridge pass from Sam Walker, and Junior Pauga soars over in the corner to put the Roosters ahead just before half-time.

The opportunity initially came from a fresh set for the Roosters, who got a scrum feed after Izaac Thompson accidentally knocks the ball on right on the Rabbitohs line.

The kick from Suaalii doesn’t quite get there, and the difference is just four.

Roosters 10, Rabbitohs 6 after 39 minutes

Junior Pauga dives across in the corner to put the Roosters ahead at half-time.Credit: Getty

Blake Taaffe fails HIA – won’t return

South Sydney have just come up with the ball after an explosive tackle on Billy Smith, but there’s some bad news out of the Rabbitohs camp.

Blake Taaffe has failed his HIA and won’t return to the field.

Roosters 6, Rabbitohs 6 after 34 minutes

Scoreboard locked after Roosters take penalty kick

Cody Walker takes out James Tedesco during the Roosters kick chase, and the eastern suburbs club gets a penalty for an escort.

The Roosters decide to take the penalty kick to even up the score, and Joseph Suaalii sends it over the posts to lock the score up 12 minutes out from half-time.

Roosters 6, Rabbitohs 6 after 27 minutes

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Taaffe showing category two symptoms – chance to return

An update on Blake Taaffe – he has been deemed as showing category two concussion symptoms, which means he has 15 minutes to come good.

Rabbitohs 6, Roosters 4 after 23 minutes

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