NRL 2021: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Penrith Panthers, coach Wayne Bennett insults Benji Marshall, Dubbo, 56-12 loss
Wayne BennettтАЩs Bunnies couldnтАЩt match it with the Panthers on Sunday but he insists one benched star wouldnтАЩt have helped turn the tide.
The Panthers utterly embarrassed the Rabbitohs on Sunday afternoon, leaving SouthsтАЩ premiership credentials in tatters with their 56-12 win at DubboтАЩs Apex Park.
The return of Campbell Graham, Latrell Mitchell and Josh Mansour into the cardinal and myrtle ranks did little to quell the Penrith onslaught, as the Rabbitohs let in 50 points for the second time in three weeks.
As the scoreline began to blow out, many were left scratching their heads when coach Wayne Bennett chose not to inject veteran playmaker Benji Marshall into the action.
Marshall, who was given the flick by the Tigers at the end of last season, has proven a handy pick-up for the Bunnies, turning the clock back to become the perfect secret weapon off the RabbitohsтАЩ bench.
The 36-year-old would have done better to spend the 80 minutes at DubboтАЩs Western Plains Zoo, however, as he played not a single minute in SundayтАЩs shellacking.
Asked whether he thought about subbing the 2005 Premiership-winner into the game, Bennett didnтАЩt have to think too hard before answering.
тАЬNo I didnтАЩt, I wasnтАЩt going to embarrass him,тАЭ the super coach said.
тАЬWe werenтАЩt defending (well) тАж BenjiтАЩs not known as the greatest defender the gameтАЩs ever seenтАЭ.
Bennett called the RabbitohsтАЩ loss тАЬpretty disappointingтАЭ, but conceded that the Panthers put on a тАЬwonderfulтАЭ performance in the central west.
тАЬThey played great football,тАЭ Bennett said of the ladder-leaders.
The Rabbitohs have their work cut out for them if they hope to re-enter the winnerтАЩs circle next week. TheyтАЩll face fellow top four side Parramatta at Stadium Australia on Saturday.
