‘I honestly give up’: Rabbitohs coach fumes at Bunker call in loss to Panthers

South Sydney put up a fight against Penrith but a controversial call by the Bunker left Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou frustrated.

Jason Demetriou and Cameron Murray.

South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has expressed his frustration at a controversial try in the Rabbitohs 26-22 loss to Penrith on Thursday night.

The Rabbitohs led 22-20 late in the game before losing the lead with three minutes to go after Latrell Mitchell gave away a penalty and Liam Martin scored to seal the win for Penrith.

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But it was the Bunker’s interpretation of the obstruction rule in Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards’ try in the first half that had the Rabbitohs coach fuming.

In the lead-up to Edwards’ try in the 28th minute, Souths’ Lachlan Ilias was taken out by the lead runner Izack Tago.

But the Bunker ruled Ilias wouldn’t have been able to make the tackle and Campbell Graham made the wrong decision to come in, which left a huge hole for Edwards to score.

“I don’t know I honestly give up trying to figure out what that rule is,” Demetriou said.

“He stops in the line and there is no effort or way Lachie (Ilias) can get off that.

Dylan Edwards waltzed straight through. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“But we conceded 26 points and we shouldn’t be conceding 26 points in a game when they are missing their two most creative players, so a few blokes missed their assignments in defence tonight and that’s what cost us.”

Demetriou was frustrated his team edged ahead through a clutch sideline conversion by Mitchell but was unable to secure the win.

“When we get to 22-20 we should put that game away,” he said.

“It is probably three or four games this year we have lost by a point or in the dying stages where we have come up with individual errors and off the back of that conceded points, so it something we need to fix going into the big games.”

Souths winger Jaxson Paulo had an absolute shocker, dropping a regulation kick that led to Martin’s matchwinning try.

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou was a frustrated man. Photo: Fox Sports.

“We will sit down and have a conversation, but against the best teams that is the level that you have got to get to,” Demetriou said of Paulo.

“As a young bloke you understand every error makes a difference and has an impact on the game.

“But I still think we should have defended better. Liam Martin scores a barge over to win the game. We have got to nail that.

“That’s a tackle that we should make and we don’t make it.”

It was redemption for Martin, who bombed two tries before he eventually crashed over with two minutes to go.

The win means sealed the minor premiership for the Panthers, who are now eight points clear on top of the ladder.

Originally published as ‘I honestly give up’: Rabbitohs coach fumes at Bunker call in loss to Panthers