NRL: Bulldogs edge Bunnies

Tony Williams celebrates during the Bulldogs narrow win over the Rabbitohs. Photo / Getty Images

The red-hot boot of Trent Hodkinson rescued Canterbury for the second successive week to move Des Hasler's side to the top of the NRL ladder in a Good Friday classic against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.

Hodkinson bisected the posts with a well-struck field goal two minutes from time to seal a 15-14 victory in front of a crowd of more than 41,000 - the best of the season - five days after doing likewise in a 21-20 win over the Warriors.

Hasler praised his side's resolve after a third straight victory by a solitary point - all via late field goals - but said his side couldn't keep getting away with handling errors which littered their first-half display as they came back from 14-6 down in the second period.

"We made it difficult for ourselves with eight penalties in the first half and I would say eight of those were leg-ups," Hasler said.

"We hung in there in the second half and we got back into it and started to have back-to-back sets.

"At 14-6 down, I bet a lot of people were writing our obituaries, but we are not getting carried away. Souths were down on a lot of troops. It was a bit of a scrappy affair."

Souths coach Michael Maguire was proud of the way his patched-up side competed, with George Burgess and Ben Te'o out due to suspension and four of his players off the field at one stage in the first half.

Only hooker Api Koroisau failed to return but Maguire was unhappy with the referees' decision to allow Corey Thompson's decisive second-half try with John Sutton looking to have been impeded.

"I don't usually say much about the rules, but John Sutton got impeded," Maguire said.

"Unfortunately he was the person standing next to the place where the try was scored but, if he doesn't get impeded, then he would have stopped it.

"I still think we should have stopped that even though it did happen, but I don't understand the ruling if that try was allowed.

"When you run from outside in and you get impeded and you can't get to where the ball should be, then it should be a penalty."

Koroisau could be set for spell on the sidelines after injuring his shoulder and Joe Picker is also struggling with a rib injury that resulted in Dale Finucane being placed on report for a crusher tackle.

The young back-rower was penalised for a second time for a lifting tackle just before halftime.

"It was a real gallant effort from the boys. Young Api hurt his shoulder, but we hope he'll be OK," Maguire said.

"To get knocked off was disappointing but we've learned a lot from this and will come back stronger."

Canterbury were hit with an infraction notice by the NRL for handing in an incorrect teamsheet.

The club will be fined after the teamsheet incorrectly stated Greg Eastwood would start on the bench instead of Finucane.

- AAP