Great Britain international Adrian Morley has had a bittersweet 80 minutes at Aussie Stadium, going on report for a high tackle and scoring a match-winning NRL try as the Sydney Roosters beat St George Illawarra 18-14.

The match was played at a frenetic pace before a crowd in excess of 27,000, with the Dragons taking a 14-0 lead into halftime before being mowed down in the second half by the inspired Roosters.

The rampaging Morley was the Roosters' inspiration, charging onto a pass in the 64th minute, surging through a gap and brushing off Dragons fullback Clint Greenshields to score under the posts in what proved to be the match-winning try.

Craig Fitzgibbon's conversion put the Roosters in front 18-14.

But the legacy of Morley's performance may linger into next week with the hard-hitting 27-year-old going on report in the 46th minute following a tackle on Dragons rookie Aaron Wheatley.

Morley - suspended twice already this season - was also warned to "watch the swinging arm" in the first half following a tackle on St George Illawarra prop Jason Ryles.

There was no sign of what was to come from the Roosters in the opening 40 minutes, with the league leaders comprehensively outplayed in the first half.

But they gave their supporters hope when they found a reply 14 minutes into the second half through an unlikely source - front rower Peter Cusack.

Cusack, who had one try this season going into tonight's match, charged over in the 54th minute with the Dragons reduced to 12 men following the sin-binning of Greenshields for a professional foul.

Fitzgibbon converted the try and the Roosters were within eight points.

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