SYDNEY ROOSTERS will host Brisbane in next Friday night's opening finals match, but the 10-0 defeat of the Dragons that clinched their top-four berth came at a huge cost, with Willie Mason suffering a season-ending knee injury and Mark O'Meley facing suspension.
Mason, whose move to the Roosters after quitting the Bulldogs during the off-season has helped propel the Bondi Junction club into the finals for the first time since 2004, is expected to undergo surgery next week and will miss the start of next season.
The 28-year-old Test forward suffered the injury in the ninth minute when tackled by St George Illawarra second-rower Ben Creagh and centre Matt Cooper. He immediately clutched at his right knee.
After receiving treatment on the field, Mason decided to play on but the Test forward lasted just two minutes before he was again writhing on the ground in pain after bumping his knee in an attempted tackle on Creagh.
This time there was no doubt about the severity of his injury and, after being assisted up the tunnel, Mason was diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, which will sideline him for about eight months.
The injury is a major blow, not just to the Roosters but also to World Cup organisers and Australia's chances of success at the tournament.
With Roosters officials confirming at half-time that Mason would require a full reconstruction, coach Brad Fittler will now be sweating on the availability next week of former Test prop Mark O'Meley after he was placed on report by referee Shayne Hayne for a high tackle on Jason Ryles.
Utility Setaimata Sa will also have an anxious wait until the match review committee announces charges from the round on Monday after an off-the-ball tackle on Creagh just before the interval.
Hayne and video referee Paul Simpkins did not take any action at the time, but Creagh, who was trailing five-eighth Ben Rogers near the Roosters' line, was assisted from the field in a concussed state and did not return.
Looking sick and sorry as he sat shivering in the Dragons' dressing room at half-time, Creagh must also be in doubt for the opening round of the finals.
Rogers was also fortunate not to have joined the casualty list after crashing into an advertising hoarding at the southern end of the ground while attempting to cover a kick in his own goal.
The incident is likely to result in a complaint being lodged with stadium management, while the Roosters will also question officialdom after Hayne failed to refer to video referee Paul Simpkins when Craig Fitzgibbon crossed early in what was to be a scoreless first half.
Hayne ruled that Fitzgibbon had been held up by St George Illawarra winger Josh Morris and prop Dan Hunt but replays suggested further scrutiny of whether the NSW Origin lock had grounded the ball was warranted.
Tries to Anthony Minichiello and Braith Anasta after the interval secured the Roosters' win and means they will play the Broncos at Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night in the first qualifying final.
The Dragons, who would have finished fifth had they won, and also given Brisbane's defeat of Newcastle last night, are now in danger of slipping to seventh place if the Raiders beat the Bulldogs by 17 points or more in Canberra tomorrow.
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