NRL 2020 as it happened: Roosters, Cowboys claim Friday night spoils

That's full time. The Roosters were far too good for their arch rivals, claiming a 28-12 win.

After a slow start to the season, that performance was much closer to the level of football they played on their way to last year's premiership.

Souths were off kilter from kick off tonight and there will be plenty of talk this week about another quiet night at fullback for Latrell Mitchell.

Thanks for following along tonight. Two quality matches to bring Friday night football back into the spotlight.

God bless rugby league.

Jake Friend may have won the match up the other end of the field with a successful captain's challenge but he put the result beyond all doubt when he grubbered, re-gathered and scored.

Kyle Flanagan slots the conversion to take the lead out to 28-12 and in two minutes time, the premiers will register their first win of the season.

The first captain's challenge of the night has been run and won by Jake Friend.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves seemed to lose the ball while trying to stand up and referee Ashley Klein gave Souths a scrum but Bailey Sironen had a hand on the ball and the bunker subsequently gave the ball back to the premiers.

A huge call which will likely be enough to hand the Roosters the win.

The bunker was convinced Burgess grounded the ball but there is a growing school of thought on Twitter the Englishman may have lost control of the pill before it touched a blade of grass.

You make your own mind up. Try or no try?

Tom Burgess has followed the lead of Cam Murray in the first half and staved off three Roosters defenders to wrestle the ball to the ground.

Adam Reynolds converts and Souths have a pulse. It's 22-12 with 20 to play.

The Roosters may well be without their chief enforcer for a week or two.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves just clobbered Alex Johnston across the head with a swinging arm and was subsequently placed on report.

The star prop escaped suspension after last year's preliminary final for a similar tackle on Liam Knight in the final round of last season.

The Roosters are in again, this time through Boyd Cordner - who has been superb in his first match of the season.

Luke Keary set the Kangaroos and NSW Origin skipper up with a perfect pass but it was a sharp Cordner line which allowed him to split Souths through the middle and force his way over the line.

The Rabbitohs have a sizeable mountain to climb now. They trail 22-6.