Rabbitohs head coach Wayne Bennett made a bold move by leaving his players in the dressing sheds during a 29-minute lightning delay as they were down 18-0 against the Bulldogs. Canterbury took a commanding lead with three quick tries in the opening 15 minutes, catching Souths off guard.

As the storm intensified, NRL officials instructed the players to leave the field for safety reasons. After the delay, Souths managed to score two tries and narrow the gap, but ultimately fell short with Canterbury securing a 24-18 victory.

During the lightning delay, Bennett chose not to address his team, stating, 'I didn't go down. I left the players to themselves.' This unconventional tactic seemed to motivate the players, leading to a more competitive performance in the second half.

Despite the loss, Souths stand-in captain Jack Wighton remained positive, emphasizing the need to focus on the game plan and adapt to the challenges. Several key players suffered injuries during the match, adding to the team's growing list of sidelined players.

Wighton acknowledged the impact of the injuries but remained optimistic about the team's resilience and ability to bounce back. He praised the younger players for stepping up and contributing to the team's efforts, urging his teammates to stay positive and continue working hard.