The Rabbitohs have been fined $15,000 for an interchange bungle which left them with 14 men on the field for up to 20 seconds in their thumping win over the Broncos.
In handing down the decision on Wednesday, the NRL decided not to dock competition points from one of the premiership favourites, but instead issued a heavy financial penalty, which also included a mix-up on the official team list submitted before kick-off.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo handed down the penalty five days after Davvy Moale accidentally entered the field before Tom Burgess had exited.
The NRL said there was an extra South Sydney player on the field for “between 15 and 20 seconds” in the 53rd minute. It occurred at the same time as Brisbane centre Herbie Farnworth was in the sin bin.
South Sydney admitted the mistake to ground officials after the game, which they won 32-6.
Abdo said the bungle was “not good enough” in the aftermath of the incident, but resisted any move to strip the club of competition points.
Tom Burgess turns to run from the field after Souths officials screamed at him to come off.
But the NRL also included a sanction for a bizarre mishap with the team sheet given to match officials before the match, which included Tevita Tatola being named as a starting prop and Hame Sele on the bench.
When the teams ran out, Sele started the match and Tatola went to the bench. It is against NRL rules for teams to change their run-on sides in the hour before kick-off without approval from officials.
It’s not the first time the NRL has been forced to deal with a controversy over a 14th player. Canterbury were docked two competition points when they fielded an extra man in a game against Penrith in 2009. While having a one-man advantage, the Bulldogs scored a try.
The NRL also stripped Brisbane of points after a match in 2004 when Corey Parker entered the field illegally in a match against the Wests Tigers.
The Rabbitohs are in third spot heading into Magic Round and gunning for a fifth straight win when they take on the Storm at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
They could end the weekend top of the ladder if the Broncos fail to beat the Sea Eagles and the Dolphins upset the Sharks.
