**SYDNEY** — The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ challenging season took a turbulent turn on Thursday night, prompting a furious response from head coach Wayne Bennett. Following a controversial 28-14 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park, an animated Bennett directed his frustration at both the NRL’s video review system and his club’s highest-paid marquee players.
The defeat marks a significant setback for South Sydney, who have noticeably struggled to find consistency on the field during the absence of injured superstar centre Latrell Mitchell.
The Bunker Blunder That Sparked the Rage
The match remained on a knife-edge with the Sea Eagles holding a slim 10-8 lead when the game’s turning point occurred in the 49th minute. Manly fullback Clayton Faulalo crossed the line to extend the hosts’ lead, a try that ultimately shifted the momentum of the entire encounter. However, the lead-up to the four-pointer was marred by what appeared to be a blatant handling error from Manly forward Ben Trbojevic, who seemingly fumbled the football at the play-the-ball.
Neither on-field referee Adam Gee nor the Bunker officials intervened to stop play, allowing the try to stand. This omission came just minutes after Rabbitohs winger Ed Kosi had a potential try of his own disallowed by the officials.
“He didn’t play the ball properly, did he? It’s as simple as that,” Bennett said in a scathing post-match press conference. “They pay all this money for the bunker, and we still don’t get it right. I’m a fan of no bunker, I can tell you. I’d rather the game just played on and we accept the referee’s decision like we always used to.”
Senior Players Put on Notice
While Bennett refused to use the officiating error as a total excuse for the result, his frustration quickly extended to his own roster. With Mitchell unavailable, the Rabbitohs have managed to secure only a single victory in their last four matches, exposing a fragile team dynamic.
Bennett did not hold back when assessing the output of his established squad members, demanding more accountability.
> “I’ve got young guys in that team there that haven’t played a lot of NRL, and I’ll cop that a little bit off them,” Bennett stated. “But the older players are better than that. They’ve got to take some ownership of what their jobs are out there; they get well paid to do it.”
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The loss leaves South Sydney with an even 6-6 record, threatening their positioning within the top eight as other Round 14 results roll in. The club now faces an anxious wait for Mitchell’s anticipated return from injury later this month, while the pressure continues to mount heavily on the remaining leadership group to salvage their campaign.