South Sydney grind out ugly 14-6 win over Canterbury in Good Friday showdown

Wayne Bennett has handed the NRL a massive reality check, declaring the decision to stop blowing penalties this year is ruining the game as a spectacle following South Sydney’s dull 14-6 win over Canterbury.

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Wayne Bennett has handed the NRL a massive reality check, declaring the decision to stop blowing penalties this year is ruining the game as a spectacle.

On a Good Friday that was frustratingly dull for a crowd of 30,040 at ANZ Stadium, the Rabbitohs got home in a scrappy 14-6 victory over the Bulldogs but it came on the back of the first scoreless second half since round one in 2017.

Instead of blaming his players for the substandard performance, Bennett pointed the finger at the Bulldogs’ go-slow tactics he described as “the worst I have seen” this year.

Bennett claimed he didn’t want to cop a fine for his comments but told the media post-match: “I have got to talk about it. If I didn’t talk about it not one of you would write about it.”

Asked what the solution was, the super coach said: “The solution is ref what is in front of you. It has always been the solution … blow the whistle.”

WINNING UGLY

The Rabbitohs started the season like a house on fire with terrific wins over the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra.

But in the weeks since their performances have got progressively ugly, and Bennett has no doubt it is because of players running roughshod of the rules.

New NRL head of football Graham Annesley arrived this year and after last year’s penalty crackdown wanted to put common sense back in the officiating.

But instead of it resulting in a better brand of footy, Bennett reckons it is now having the opposite impact.

Bennett labelled the win his team’s best defensive performance of the season but said of the lacklustre attack: “Look, I don’t intend to get myself fined. But I have been supportive of what the refs are trying to do, give us more football.

The Rabbitohs started well but couldn’t go on with it. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

“But I told them early when I knew what was going down that the issue was going to be for us what was happening in the tackle.

“And you all saw today.

“That had a huge impact on the game because of what was going on in the ruck and the play-the-ball area.

“I have never been in an era of the game when I thought players were less compliant.

“They stretch everything they possibly can out there on the field and that puts more pressure on the referees.

“It is not a criticism, it is a fact.

“It is just what I am seeing and today I thought was the worst I have seen.

“The game never flowed.”

Bennett said “of course” it has got progressively worse as the season rolled on “because players are players and once they realise a bit of slack is being cut for them they will take advantage.

LITTLE DOG’S BIG FIGHT

The old saying it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog summed up Lachlan Lewis’ performance perfectly.

The lightweight Canterbury halfback had a running battle with Rabbitohs enforcer Sam Burgess and in the end Lewis probably got home on a split points decision.

Big Sam picked the Bulldogs playmaker out from pretty much the opening minute when he put the bumper bars up and steamrolled straight at Lewis.

But instead of backing down, Lewis stood his ground all afternoon.

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The two became embroiled in a heated incident just before halftime that saw players from both teams rush into the melee. Bennett believed that was again the result of the lack of respect for the rules.

“If you talk about the Lachlan Lewis-Sam Burgess blow up coming into halftime, that was all about what happened at the play-the-ball,” Bennett said.

“Sam didn’t want to tolerate it. That is what we are going to see a lot more of.”

Burgess took a hit up soon after and Lewis went in low and hard, with Burgess left wincing in pain.

Asked what he thought of the young half’s performance, Dean Pay said: “That’s his job”.

The Bulldogs battled hard but couldn’t find top gear. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

“LACKED RESPECT”

Despite Bennett’s frustration, the Bulldogs did incredibly well to stay in the match despite the Rabbitohs having a huge 65-35 per cent first half split of possession.

Darren Lockyer summed it up in Channel 9 commentary: “I don’t think they are respecting the Bulldogs … they just need to roll up their sleeves”.

While Bennett said the Rabbitohs’ lack of cohesion was a result of the opposition’s frustrating tactics, Pay was proud of the effort in defence: “Look, they fought really hard. The first half possession was really lopsided. That was a bit of our doing.

“But some of the 50-50s out there at the moment we just don’t get.”

It was a grim struggle at ANZ Stadium. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

TIRELESS TOLMAN

Aiden Tolman is not the sort of player that gets the headlines for the big plays but you’d put his workload up against any forward in the game.

Dean Pay praised Tolman after an unstopped 68 minute spell before he came back for a final spell near the end.

Tolman finished with 17 runs for 157m and 44 tackles.

“He is such a wonderful competitor,” Pay said.

SOUTH SYDNEY 14 (C Graham A Johnston tries A Reynolds 3 goals) bt CANTERBURY 6 (O Ogden try K Holland goal) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Henry Perenara, Tim Roby. Crowd: 30,040