Crazy scenes as players rushed off field as bizarre 29-min lightning delay halts NRL clash

The Bulldogs and Rabbitohs game was brought to a bizarre almost half an hour halt as players were rushed off the field.

The Bulldogs have cemented their place at the top of the NRL ladder on a drama filled Sunday afternoon that saw play suspended for almost half an hour in the first half as lightning threatened Accor Stadium.

Playing without Origin-bound quartet Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Max King and Kurt Mann, Canterbury were too good for Souths, claiming their 11th win of the season, 24-18.

While the action on field was largely unremarkable, it was the severe weather event that was the headline act.

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Play was sensationally stopped in the 32nd minute when the NRL ground manager entered the field of play and ordered referee Adam Gee to bring the players off the field due to lightning in proximity of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct.

“We’ve got to go in, the ground manager has said, because of the lightning,” Gee could be heard telling players.

Off the field security guards rushed to usher fans to areas under cover, while team and match officials, as well as camera operators and photographers were all forced to find safety.

Visible lightning and thunder followed before the storm front passed without further issue, play recommencing after a 28-minute hiatus.

The game was delayed by lightning.

The last time a NRL match was stopped in similar circumstances was on ANZAC Day in 2015 when the Roosters and Dragons left the field when a massive thunderstorm hammered Allianz Stadium. On that occasion play was suspended for half an hour.

Earlier, Toby Sexton got things going for the Bulldogs in the seventh minute, feigning to kick on the last tackle before turning the ball inside to Jacob Kiraz, who in turn drew Jye Gray and shovelled it back to Sexton in support to cross over.

Tries soon followed to Marcelo Montoya and Connor Tracey and inside 16 minutes the Dogs were outscoring the clock before rain began teeming down and play slowed ahead of the delay.

Once the action restarted, Viliame Kikau crossed the line three times in five minutes for no points – twice held up and once called back for an obstruction, before Alex Johnston scored at the other end, grabbing a fortuitous bounce after Dogs winger Blake Wilson spilt a bomb.

Both teams scored tries in the third quarter of the game and when Souths took advantage of the sin binning of Bulldogs’ interchange forward Jake Turpin to score via Jack Wighton, they were within eight points with as many minutes remaining and the game was still there to be snatched.

Tyrone Munro then touched down in the 78th minute after Isaiah Tass kicked from a scrum 40 metres out to get even closer, but in the end they ran out of time.

The victory, following a 32-0 demolition in their annual Good Friday clash, ensured the Bulldogs won both regular season games against the Rabbitohs for the first time since 2011.

Originally published as Crazy scenes as players rushed off field as bizarre 29-min lightning delay halts NRL clash