South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett was left stunned after the Rabbitohs were forced to play the game against the Broncos without an 18th man due to injuries as fans fumed after a questionable tackle from Reece Walsh late in the game. Bennett has never received the wooden spoon as a NRL coach throughout his illustrious career, but the Rabbitohs' injury toll is making it very difficult to avoid in 2025 with the side lining up against Michael Maguire's men with only 17 fit players.

Peter Mamouzelos was selected as 18th man, but was a late withdrawal after suffering from delayed concussion symptoms from his head knock two weeks ago. And this left the Rabbitohs struggling to field a full team and they were hammered 60-14 after Walsh and Kotoni Staggs led the Broncos riot.

Wayne Bennett (pictured) admitted having his 18th man ruled out before the Rabbitohs defeat to the Broncos was a setback, while Reece Walsh (pictured left) was called out for a controversial tackle. (Images: AAP/Getty Images)

Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray, Campbell Graham and Cody Walker are all out injured with a number of other stars missing in the squad. Bennett has been dealing with an extensive list of absentees all year and Mamouzelos' late withdrawal left him in a position he had never been before.

South Sydney had no one else they could place in the 18th man role with too many injuries in the squad leaving them depleted. Jamie Humphreys was also a late withdrawal due to concussion. To make matters worse for Bennett's side, they lost dummy-half Ryan Gray to a shoulder injury early in the match.

And Bennett was nearly lost for words having seen it all in his 38 year coaching career. "I haven't gone close to that," Bennett said post-match about the injury toll at the club.

"We had eight or nine at Redcliffe last year at one stage, but we're on 13 today. We didn't have an 18th man tonight. The 18th man pulled out before the game. (Mamouzelos) had headaches from concussion two weeks ago and he'd been cleared and passed all the tests but he still wasn't well. We made the decision before the game not to put him on the bench."

The Rabbitohs were hammered 60-14 having lost their 18th man only minutes before kick-off.

The Rabbitohs and Bennett have now lost nine straight games and are entrenched on the bottom of the ladder. He has never received a wooden spoon since starting coaching in the premiership competition in 1987.

With one bye still to go, the Rabbitohs face the Eels and Titans in their remaining fixtures. The Titans are also equal-last on the ladder on 16 points with a game against the Penrith Panthers this weekend. While their was no lack of effort from the Rabbitohs contingent in the 60-14 thrashing, they would have felt aggrieved after Walsh faced no sanction for a questionable tackle in the 70th minute.

Reece Walsh escaped penalty for questionable tackle

Walsh was instrumental in the 60-14 hammering having scored a try, provided three try assists and made a linebreak. Although fans felt Walsh escaped punishment having accused him of a shoulder charge in the 70th minute. The Rabbitohs made a rare break down field after an intercept and Staggs chased down Bayleigh Bentley-Hape.

The Broncos were scrambling on the following play when Walsh got back into the line and delivered what looked like a potential shoulder charge on Tyrone Munro. "What's just happened," Billy Slater remarked during Channel Nine commentary as the frantic action continued.

And fans were left fuming at the incident. Amid the chaos and tired bodies, Walsh appeared to make little attempt to wrap his arms around Munro as he launched himself into the Rabbitohs back.

Reece Walsh (pictured) copped some backlash for escaping a penalty what some fans deemed was a shoulder charge on Tyrone Munro. (Images: Fox Sports)

Reece Walsh (pictured) divided fans with this tackle. (Images: Channel Nine)

Fortunately for the Rabbitohs, Lachlan Hubner scored two plays later in a consolation try. But fans were left fuming Walsh escaped punishment after many deemed the tackle a shoulder charge. Walsh's incident follows Rabbitohs five-eighth Jack Wighton copping a four-game ban last week for a shoulder charge.

Fans could not believe the moment was let go without even a penalty. The Match Review Committee will have a chance to review the tackle - to see if there was anything in the incident - and the entire game, before making a decision.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/nrl-fans-fume-over-missed-reece-walsh-act-as-wayne-bennett-rocked-over-18th-man-drama-for-rabbitohs-225757257.html