An eight-point penalty try rocked the Rabbitohs in a 26-12 loss to the Panthers, with the Bunker coming down hard on South Sydney halfback Lachlan Ilias for contact on the try-scorer.
Ilias was penalised for a boot to the face of Taylan May as the Panthers winger dived over on the left edge 51 minutes into the contest.
“If precedence is anything to go by here… they have frowned upon this act pretty consistently,” commentator Mat Thompson said on Nine’s coverage.
“Its a penalty because it’s clocked him in the head.”
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Returning Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary converted the May four-pointer and made it an eight-point penalty try when he potted over his kick from straight in front.
“Its only an eight-point try if the kicker gets it from the sideline, so Nathan Cleary made it an eight-point try,” said rugby league great Brad Fittler after the match.
Fittler also said he did not believe Ilias had made contact with May maliciously, arguing that he had simply tried to stop him from scoring.
Ilias was nonetheless reported for the incident.
The eight-point try extended the Panthers’ lead to 20-6, before the Rabbitohs scored and converted to keep themselves in the match.
But Penrith soon struck back with a converted four-pointer of its own en route to victory.
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