Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has dragged Sydney Roosters to their ninth successive NRL win as they survived a first half scare to prevail 28-18 over Parramatta at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

Waerea-Hargreaves’ bullocking 72nd minute try, in which he shrugged off four Parramatta defenders in a 25m run, put the home side 22-18 ahead; their first lead of the game. A late Jake Friend effort sealed the Tricolours’ victory in front of a crowd of 11,255 and created their longest winning streak in 13 years.

The win moves the Roosters into the top two on the NRL ladder for the first time since round one.

But it did not come easily, after Parramatta dominated the first half to lead 18-4 at the break and threaten one of the upsets of the season.

The Roosters though found form in the second half scoring four-tries-to-none.

Elsewhere, the Warriors’ NRL top-eight hopes are officially on life support after falling 24-10 to Penrith.

The loss extends the Warriors’ winless streak to five and leaves them two points behind eighth-placed Canterbury, who meet Gold Coast on Sunday.

Penrith, who led 20-10 at halftime, snapped their own five-game losing streak that temporarily lifted them out of wooden spoon contention with three regular-season games left.

Two long-range efforts either side of halftime set up the Panthers win, including a David Simmons special in the 49th minute.

A Bryce Cartwright offload deep in his own territory sent Tyrone Peachey into the backfield, before the veteran winger expertly finished off a James Segeyaro grubber one play later.

Meanwhile Danny Buderus described his Newcastle side’s win over the Wests Tigers as the most frustrating and enjoyable experience of his distinguished rugby league career.

The Knights downed Wests 24-18 at Campbelltown on Saturday, allowing Newcastle club legend Buderus to celebrate his first victory as caretaker coach, in his third game at the helm, since taking over from Rick Stone.

Buderus, who played more than 200 games for the club, couldn’t hide his delight after the four-tries-to-three thriller.

It lifted Newcastle off the bottom of the ladder and ahead of now bottom-placed Gold Coast who play Canterbury on Sunday.

“Yeah, it’s the best day of my career, that’s for sure … as a coach,” Buderus said.

“It was the most frustrating and enjoyable experience I’ve had.

“As a player, you are in the game and you can take control a little bit, but when you are up the top there, you are just riding it, it’s so hard.”

– with AAP