Rampant Roosters say they shouldn't be singled out as favourites

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has hosed down talk his side are the premiership favourites following their 18-14 win over arch rivals South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

The Tricolours were patchy but triumphant in their four-point victory with Robinson - satisfied but not impressed with two lapses in defence that led to Rabbitohs tries.

Many experts have the Roosters pencilled in as the biggest threat for the title following their last month of form, but Robinson was quick to deny claims the side was close.

"No, you can't change within a night," Robinson said.

"We haven't been there all year. It's insignificant, that's changed three weeks in a row hasn't it? Within eight days we've had three [favourites].

"We are where we want to be, probably would have liked to have been there earlier in the season, but we are where we want to be now and are getting better.

"But there is room for improvement, we're not done yet."

The Rabbitohs came home with a wet sail on Friday night as the visitors held their nerve in front of just over 26,000 at Sydney Olympic Park. 

Roosters fullback James Tedesco left the paddock late in the clash as the Bunnies looked to surge home – a try-saving effort from Joseph Manu and Cooper Cronk on Braidon Burns late emphasising the side's never-say-die attitude.

"I feel like we know what we're doing now but you can't be completely happy with that performance because there were opportunities that we missed," Robinson said.

• Player ratings: Rabbitohs v Roosters

"There was enough opportunities that we couldn't execute but we held strong enough. Performance not bad, obviously, defence very good. We've been talking about that I haven't been happy with that for the last month ... much improved, moved well, worked hard.

"Attack was a bit scratchy ... stop-start game. The penalty goals came into it because of the score and tightness of the game. It lacked a bit of flow.

"A lot goes into the different parts of defence. There's how the line moves, how the last plays are. I thought the boys put it together well tonight. They did a fairly good job."

In injury news, Tedesco was sporting a busted nose following the clash but was cleared of any concussion concerns.