The South Sydney Rabbitohs have overcome having four players sent to the sin bin to down arch rivals the Roosters 30-14.
In what proved to be a spiteful affair between the two foundation clubs, seven players were sent to the sin bin, with the Rabbitohs having to defend their line with 11 players on multiple occasions during the match.
They defied the odds, however, scoring two tries in periods while down two players, including the match-sealing try to Isaiah Tass to seal the win inside the final nine minutes.
With the Roosters hanging around and within two tries, the Rabbitohs were able to secure possession late in the contest, with Tass selling a dummy to the defence and making his way over to ensure South Sydney progressed to the second round of the finals.
In a heated affair it was the Roosters that found themselves reduced to just 12 men after a brain explosion from Victor Radley saw him sent to the sin bin.
That resulted immediately in Alex Johnston crossing for his first try and getting the scoring underway.
The Roosters immediately hit back with two tries of their own to take an 8-6 lead through the first 20 minutes, before the Rabbitohs flipped the script to take the ascendancy once again with Tom Burgess and Taane Milne in the sin bin.
Latrell Mitchell sold the dummy to the defence and was able to crash his way over in the 22nd minute to help the Rabbitohs take a 12-8 lead, a score they would take into the break.
That lead was pushed out further as Johnston crossed for his second try of the afternoon on the back of a lovely Cody Walker pass to extend the lead out to 10 points.
The fourth player of the afternoon was sent to the sin bin as Jared Warea-Hargreaves was given a breather for a dangerous tackle, giving South Sydney a golden chance to push their lead out further.
They did just that, with a Walker grubber close to the line pounced upon by Jai Arrow to lift the lead to 24-8 with 28 minutes left to play.
The ensuing kick-off was unable to be caught by Lachlan Ilias, and that was the opportunity the Roosters needed to hit back and keep the Rabbitohs on their toes, cutting the lead back to 10 approaching the final quarter.
A traditional arm wrestle followed, before Tevita Tatola and Radley were sent to the sin bin for a scuffle soon after.
That advantage was enhanced for the Roosters when Milne was sent from the field for a second time, but once again the visitors were able to respond to the call and fight off the charge.
That was capitalised upon by Tass, who busted through the line to barge his way over and put the result beyond doubt with nine minutes to play, sending the Rabbitohs into the second week of the finals.
They will now play Cronulla on Saturday night for the right to play Penrith in the grand final qualifier.
