NRL 2021: Wayne Bennett slams NRL bunker, South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Cronulla Sharks 32-22

Wayne Bennett is worried the bunker is robbing rugby league of momentum and warns the NRL ‘they’re not going to have the game they want to entertain the fans if it continues’.

Adam Reynolds of the Rabbitohs is tackled during the round 10 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium, on May 15, 2021, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has blasted the NRL over the bunker’s insistence to stop play – and kill momentum – by reviewing incidents that have occurred up to three and four tackles earlier.

Magic Round has been marred by the bunker halting play for up to a minute after an indiscretion and then forcing referees to return to the spot and punish offending players.

Manly played an entire set before play was stopped and the bunker penalised Brisbane’s Tevita Pangai on Friday night. Cronulla’s Chad Townsend was penalised two tackles after an incident with South’s Cody Walker on Saturday night.

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The Rabbitohs held on after a brave Sharks fight back.

Bennett was talking after his Rabbitohs withstood a late Cronulla surge to record a 32-22 win.

“I’m totally supportive of the head stuff but I’m not supportive of the game letting things go on for a minute after it and we come back and stop the whole game and then we go through the whole video and we put someone on report and give a penalty,” Bennett said.

“You’ve got to understand that the game relies on momentum and for the game to be attractive it needs to have momentum in it. Every time you stop the game, you break the momentum.

“And then everybody has to go back and these guys are so fit and they have to start it all over again. We are in the entertainment business, don’t kid yourselves. If I’m sitting at home with the remote, I can go to any channel I want.

“That’s the problem with the captain’s challenge. There are lots of things I like about the captain’s challenge but it stops the game. Everyone stands around and has a talk. We go up, officiate and back we come.

“If the ref doesn’t see then let’s just get on with it. There were about four tonight when the game went on and we went back … who is reffing the game? Is it the bunker? The bunker is there for the support of the referees.

“If the ref has seen it then they can pick it up tomorrow and they can charge the player tomorrow. They have all those rights.

“We’re not going to have a fast and free-flowing game if we miss the moment, we let another four or five tackles go and then we stop the game, walk back to the point, we walk back, get a penalty and we start over again.

“They’re not going to have the game they want to entertain the fans.

“It’s another piece of the game which stops the whole game.

“I’m a bit worried about it – I’m getting confused. We talk about a fast, open game and that’s not what we’re doing. I repeat, and you have to understand, when the game stops for two or three minutes, these guys can recover and you have to start the arm wrestle all over again.

“It’s a game of attrition and you need to keep at each other for maybe four, five sets to get the game you want. But every time you stop, and we have this two or three minute delay, then we have to virtually start from zero again.”

BRILLIANT BENJI

They were two magic touches by a magic player in Magic Round. And it was all that it took for Souths to bounce back strongly from a horrid 44-point loss to Melbourne last week.

Veteran South Sydney five-eighth Benji Marshall – the oldest player in the NRL by two years – showed class, craftiness and cunning to propel Souths to victory.

Two absolutely delightful Marshall passes, which resulted in two first half Rabbitohs tries, was enough for Souths to hold off a fast-finishing Sharks side. Marshall double-pumped in the 10th minute to send forward Keaon Koloamatangi to score his first NRL try.

“It was tempo and deception from Benji,” former NRL champion Braith Anasta said in commentary on Fox League.

Benji Marshall was at his crafty best against the Sharks.

Marshall did it again midway through the second half with a bullet pass for an Alex Johnston try. “It was a thing of beauty from the master,” Anasta added. “It was too easy for Benji.”

Marshall is 36 years old and still dominating rivals.

Souths were ahead 20-0 before Cronulla posted three unanswered tries to reduce the margin to just two points. The Rabbitohs then scored two late tries to end Cronlla’s comeback.

SHARKS SURGE

Say what you want about Cronulla but they showed plenty of ticker.

The Sharks could have easily slid into the abyss when behind by 20 points but muscled up to ensure a thrilling finish.

“We showed a pulse in that second half,” Sharks coach Josh Hannay said.

Fullback Will Kennedy scored the opening try for the Sharks.

Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita made his long-awaited comeback to the NRL after being banished to reserve grade and had some nice touches.

He was thrown into the game eight minutes into the second and was involved in Cronulla’s second try scored by fellow prop Aaron Woods. He played 20 minutes before returning for a second stint, when he limped off.

NEW BRONCO

Souths halfback Adam Reynolds rejected a larger offer from their opponents on Saturday night, Cronulla, to sign a three-year deal with Brisbane.

Reynolds was solid without being brilliant but landed six goals to post 12 vital points. He was heavily involved in a Walker try which put his side in an unbeatable position.

Adam Reynolds was solid for the Rabbitohs. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

After missing last week’s loss, Souths certainly looked more calm and composed with Reynolds back and taking charge.

“Cronulla kept coming at us,” Reynolds said. “We have to be more clinical.”

Meanwhile, Cronulla’s Briton Nikora was placed on report for a high tackle and Souths’ Jaydn Su’A was sin-binned for a shoulder charge.

Sharks halfback Chad Townsend was controversially placed on report for placing pressure on the neck of Souths fullback Cody Walker. “That decision is a joke,” Anasta said.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Wayne Bennett slams NRL bunker, South Sydney Rabbitohs defeat Cronulla Sharks 32-22