Cowboys boss Todd Payten accuses Rabbitohs of ‘bending the rules’ in 20-10 win over North Queensland

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou and his Cowboys counterpart Todd Payten traded verbal barbs after the Bunnies beat North Queensland 20-10 at Accor Stadium on Saturday.

The win sealed a finals spot for Souths and simultaneously derailed North Queensland’s bid for a top-two finish.

But it was the two head coaches who took centre stage in a dramatic coda to the game, with Payten accusing the Rabbitohs of ‘bending the rules’. 

In a fiery post-match press conference, he also claimed Souths had manipulated on-field checks of players to control the momentum of the match. 

The main concern of the Cowboys’ coach was the on-field check of Rabbitohs’ prop Tevita Tatola as Souths led 14-10 with seven minutes to play.

At the time, the Cowboys were just about to go on the attack from a 10-metre scrum following an error, only for play to be held up as Tatola was given the once over.

Payten was also concerned over an earlier concussion check on Tatola in the first half, after the forward was hit in the ribs by a hard Jason Taumalolo tackle.

‘The game went for two hours tonight,’ Payten said.

‘I’m very confused about one at the back-end. There was one in the first half where Jase [Jason Taumalolo] actually hit Junior Tatola through the ribs and there was an HIA.

‘That’s bending the rules at best. There was one when we forced an error, there was a scrum, it was our ball and momentum was in our favour.

‘It was another opportunity where they could stop the game, they get their gas back and it halts all momentum in our favour.

‘I’d like the NRL to look at it.’

Tatola clarified afterwards that the second-half check had been after he copped an errant knee to the head from Luciano Leilua three minutes earlier.

‘Luc [Leilua] sort of kneed me in the head,’ Tatola said.

‘I was trying to make a tackle and his knee accidentally hit me in the head. I was a bit dazed for a sec but I was sweet.’

The prop also believed he had been checked in the first half after staying down while feeling winded from the Taumalolo hit.

But still, Payten claimed the issue was one central to the Rabbitohs, arguing it was not common across the NRL.

Told of the comments, Demetriou was unimpressed.

‘I think he [Payten] has made a bit of a habit out of complaining about stuff,’ Demetriou said.

‘Our medical team are as diligent and respectful of the rules as anyone in the game.

‘I think if you looked at how much HIAs we’ve used and how many blokes we’ve brought off the field, we’d be one of the fewest in the competition.

‘I’m going to stick up for my staff. They don’t do that unless they know there’s a reason to do it.’

Payten also voiced concerns about a late sin-bin for Coen Hess, after he rushed out of the line and hit Campbell Graham.

The incident appeared to be a head clash, but Payten questioned if any contact with the head was made, given Graham did not go off for a HIA.

Seventh-placed Souths take on the sixth-placed Roosters on Friday, while the Cowboys must beat minor premiers Penrith and hope Cronulla lose to the bottom-of-the-ladder Wests Tigers to finish in the top two.