Roosters through to NRL grand final after fiery clash with Melbourne

The Sydney Roosters will face Canberra in next Sunday's NRL decider after defeating Melbourne 14-6 in a gripping preliminary final.

The Roosters were leading by two points with just 12 minutes left on Saturday night at the SCG when James Tedesco sealed their passage with a decisive four-pointer.

However, five-eighth Luke Keary faces a nervous wait over his availability for the grand final after his high shot on Felise Kaufusi knocked him out of the match.

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The match got off to a fiery start from the first hit-up, with rival forwards Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Sio Siua Taukeiaho sent from the ground after just 20 seconds of play.

The pair clashed in the first tackle of the match, with Storm prop Asofa-Solomona striking Taukeiaho twice in the face with an open hand.

Taukeiaho sized up to throw a punch but did not connect.

Melbourne veteran Will Chambers played on the wing for the injured Suliasi Vunivalu, with winger Sandor Earl the new player on the bench at the SCG.

The Storm finished Saturday night's match with just two men on the bench after losing Felise Kaufusi and Ryan Papenhuyzen to head knocks, while Roosters veteran Mitchell Aubusson also ended the game watching from the sheds with a concussion.

Robinson has a big decision on his hands whether to bring co-captain Jake Friend back into the side, having missed the past two months with a fractured forearm.

The Storm were gutsy in the second half but James Tedesco's 69th-minute try gave his side the knockout blow and set up a date with Canberra in next Sunday's season decider at ANZ Stadium.

Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary faces a nervous wait for a 24th-minute incident which left Kaufusi concussed and forced him off for the rest of the game.

After Keary took offence to a fend to the face, he pulled out a clump of Kaufusi's hair before hitting him around the neck with a swinging arm.

Roosters prop Zane Tetevano will also be scrutinised after being put on report for a high shot on Papenhuyzen.

The only try of the first half came when Daniel Tupou leapt above the Storm pack and batted it back to Roosters skipper Boyd Cordner, giving his side an 8-0 lead at the break.

Asofa-Solomona had only been back on the field for two minutes, after replacing Jesse Bromwich who was temporarily off for a head injury assessment, when he crashed over to make it 8-6 in the 49th minute.

After a Jahrome Hughes break gave his side field position, Brandon Smith gave his side a quick play-the-ball and Cameron Smith sent his prop hurtling over Cronk and Aubusson.

Joey Manu looked like he had extended his side's advantage but was turned down by the bunker after Tedesco was ruled to have knocked it on in an aerial contest with Cameron Munster.

But Tedesco soon made amends, sliding over after an Angus Crichton break, sending the 32,814-strong crowd into raptures.

WITH AAP