Bennett blasts bunker as Cowboys Edge South Sydney | NRL

North Queensland survived a sloppy start and a controversial second-half penalty to grind out a hard-fought 24-16 win over South Sydney at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon, extending their winning streak to three in a row.

The Cowboys were left clinging to victory after a spirited late charge from the Rabbitohs, but a contentious hip-drop ruling against Jack Wighton and a clutch penalty goal from Scott Drinkwater sealed the result.

Wighton’s 55th-minute tackle on Drinkwater appeared to be a textbook try-saver, but was later placed on report by the Bunker.

The Cowboys, who were $1.75 favourites with the top online bookmakers, scored in the ensuing set through Sam McIntyre, levelling the game at 10-10 and swinging momentum their way.

Rookie centre Jaxon Purdue then pounced with a double in the space of three minutes — the first off a Dearden break, and the second after a Jason Taumalolo offload — to blow the margin out to 22-10.

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Rabbitohs star Jye Gray, in dazzling form again, narrowed the margin with a late try, but Sean Keppie’s high tackle on Drinkwater in the 76th minute gifted the Cowboys a penalty that iced the match.

Souths coach Wayne Bennett was scathing of the Wighton ruling. “What’s he supposed to do? Let him land on the try line?” Bennett said.

“It was a tackle from behind — a good tackle.”

Latrell Mitchell’s shift to five-eighth in place of the injured Cody Walker drew mixed reviews.

He laid on two tries but ran the ball just twice in 80 minutes, as the Rabbitohs’ new-look spine struggled for cohesion. Jayden Sullivan also battled in the halves during an error-riddled showing from the visitors.

Despite the loss, the 4-2 Rabbitohs remain well-placed ahead of a blockbuster Good Friday clash against the undefeated Bulldogs, with the NRL betting sites pricing the bunnies as a $3.30 outsider to win.

Rabbitohs vs Cowboys NRL Round 6 final score

North Queensland Cowboys 24
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16

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