Bennett Lambasts Rabbitohs Errors as Sharks Dominate and Eels Edge Out Tigers in NRL Thriller
Wayne Bennett slammed his side's costly mistakes following South Sydney's defeat to Cronulla, while Parramatta snatched a dramatic late victory over the Wests Tigers. Meanwhile, the Brisbane Broncos continued their dominant run during the NRLW Magic Round.
South Sydney head coach Wayne Bennett did not hold back after the Rabbitohs fell 32-16 to the Cronulla Sharks, describing the self-inflicted mistakes plaguing his side as "rubbish" that continues to hamper their top-eight aspirations.
Sharks Surge as Hynes Nears Kicking History
The Rabbitohs initially opened the scoring and found themselves with a numerical advantage when Cronulla's Teig Wilton was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle. However, Cronulla responded ruthlessly, running in 18 unanswered points before the interval and controlling the second half.
South Sydney struggled defensively throughout the encounter, missing over 50 tackles while conceding six penalties and three set restarts. The defeat leaves the Rabbitohs clinging to seventh place on the NRL ladder with a 10-9 record, just one victory clear of the tenth-placed Manly Sea Eagles in a tight race for the finals.
Sharks star halfback Nicho Hynes stood out once again, converting all six of his attempts to extend his streak to 32 consecutive successful goal kicks. Hynes now sits just three kicks shy of Canterbury legend Hazem El Masri’s all-time record of 35, set in 2003.
Eels Snatch Late Victory Over Tigers
In Sunday's final fixture, the Parramatta Eels secured a dramatic 16-13 win over the Wests Tigers thanks to a 76th-minute try from fullback Isaiah Iongi.
The Eels took a 12-0 lead into halftime before second-half errors allowed the Tigers back into the contest. Adam Doueihi, returning to the lineup following a high-profile internal dispute, scored a try and slotted a 72nd-minute field goal to give the Tigers a late lead. However, Iongi’s late effort delivered Parramatta the two points, leaving the Tigers with their seventh consecutive defeat.
Broncos Maintain NRLW Dominance Amid Salary Cap Debate
In the NRLW, the Brisbane Broncos further cemented their premiership credentials with a resounding 34-4 victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs during Magic Round. The win keeps the Broncos undefeated alongside the Sydney Roosters, rekindling debate among pundits and officials over competition balance and salary cap settings within the women's game.
Elsewhere in NRLW action, the Gold Coast Titans edged out the New Zealand Warriors 18-16, while the Newcastle Knights handed Parramatta a 32-12 defeat.