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The Sydney Roosters have jumped into the NRL top four with a one-point win over Brisbane after a frenzied finish to the game at Suncorp Stadium.

The Sydney Roosters have moved into the NRL's top four with a heart-stopping 21-20 win over Brisbane that was decided by a late penalty.

The Broncos were leading 20-19 off a penalty goal at the other end before Tom Flegler was pinged for a clumsy high shot on Sitili Tupouniua as the Roosters charged back down field.

Adam Keighran smoothly slotted his left-foot kick, 10 metres in from the right sideline, in the dying seconds to snatch the win for injury-depleted Roosters and give life to their unlikely premiership hopes with three games until the finals.

"Always," coach Trent Robinson said when asked if he believes they can win the title over favourites Melbourne and Penrith.

"We're in the fight.

"We understand where we're at, that's why I said last week we know we want to improve but we believe in our team and we believe in the jersey we play for.

"We've just got to keep going and we'll find a way."

But more misery could come.

Victor Radley is facing more time on the sidelines after he was put on report for a dangerous dive at Albert Kelly's legs while the Broncos half was attempting the match-levelling field goal with five minutes to play.

Radley rushed out of the line and threw his body at Kelly, giving away the penalty that Selwyn Cobbo kicked from in front of the posts to give the Broncos the lead.

It was expected to be an easier win for the Roosters.

But for the second time this season the 15th-placed Broncos had their measure for much of the game.

Brisbane pulled off the upset of the season with a 34-16 win over the Roosters in round 11 and showed the same physicality on Friday.

The Broncos were then led by Tevita Pangai Junior up front, but Payne Haas put the side on his shoulders this time with 110 metres, a try and five tackle busts.

The NSW Origin prop was first on the board eight minutes in after being held up over the line in the set before and later dragged down a roaming James Tedesco to save a certain try.

The Roosters soon hit back through Isaac Liu, while tries to the Broncos' Jordan Riki and Dale Copley of the visitors had the scores level at 12-all at halftime.

The dogfight resumed when Flegler ran on the last and offloaded to Kelly to score under the posts before the Roosters did the same at the other end, with Tedesco's try and Keighran's conversion drawing the scores at 18-all with 18 minutes to play.

A field goal from Sam Walker put the Roosters ahead with seven minutes on the clock.

By the Roosters' high standards it was a sloppy game, but the Broncos were as gutsy as they have been all season in the heartbreaking loss.

"I don't really have a grievance with (the final penalty), that's the way the game goes sometimes," coach Kevin Walters said.

"I said to the guys in there that footy can be cruel and it can be a great game."