Match officals are escorted off the field by security guards following the Rabbitohs' win over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium. Photo / Getty Images
NRL head of football Todd Greenberg has promised to ban for life Canterbury fans who threw projectiles at match officials on Friday as they exited ANZ Stadium.
A thrilling clash between last year's grand finalists was marred by violent scenes that led to six people being ejected and reports of a 17-year-old South Sydney fan being attacked outside the ground.
Click here to see a video of the match official being pelted with bottles.
The incidents took place after a penalty was awarded against Bulldogs skipper James Graham by Gerard Sutton in the final minute as Souths came from behind to win 18-17 in front of a crowd of 40,523.
Greenberg, who spent five years in charge of Canterbury, said the scenes after the final siren were unacceptable and the culprits would be found.
"I have been saying for several months, and today highlights it, that we need to put more respect and more attention around our match officials and referees," Greenberg said.
"The behaviour of fans today at this game was completely unacceptable.
"I will be having as much dialogue as needed with the club, stadium and authorities to make sure appropriate penalties are handed out."
Sideline interchange official Darren Alchin was taken to hospital with a broken shoulder blade after slipping over in an attempt to avoid a water bottle thrown from the stands.
"He's in a pretty bad way. That is not acceptable," Greenberg said.
"There are life bans available for us under the rules and we will work with the stadium, with the club and with the police to find those culprits.
"People come to the football to enjoy the football. We have a lot of people working on the sidelines and what we saw at the end of that game is unacceptable."
Canterbury have a long history of poor behaviour from their supporters but, under Greenberg and his successor Raelene Castle, the club have worked hard to weed out troublemakers.
"I know this club better than most from having worked here over a long period of time," he said.
"This club has done a great job over a long time to make sure the behaviour of their fans is very good."
Canterbury prop David Klemmer was sin-binned late in the game for swearing at Sutton and Greenberg said it was the right decision.
However, he stopped short of accusing the Canterbury players of inciting the crowd with Graham and Klemmer surrounding the whistleblower on the field.
"I understand emotions get high but there are consequences for poor behaviour on the field and one of them was sent to the sin bin," he said.
"There are so many marginal calls in games that will get debated and that's a great part of the game.
"Players are responsible for their behaviour on the field."
Meanwhile, South Sydney halfback Adam Reynolds is facing a long stint on the sidelines after sustaining suspected knee ligament damage during the game.
Reynolds left the ground on crutches and wearing a knee brace. The injury occurred in the final minute of the game when James Graham caught Reynolds' standing leg as he attempted to charge down a field goal.
Reynolds slumped to the ground in agony with Graham immediately alerting officials to his plight, before becoming incensed at the decision to penalise him, then award a penalty in front of the posts that was converted by Bryson Goodwin to win the game.
The 24-year-old has only missed one game since making his debut in 2012 and that was due to suspension but had a history of knee problems in his junior days.
Coach Michael Maguire admitted the injury didn't look good with early diagnosis estimating a 16-week layoff which would scupper his State of Origin aspirations and place a huge dent in Souths' premiership defence.
"He's got a bit of pain in his knee, he'll have to get assessed by the doctors and see where he's at," he said. "We'll have to see how he is in the week."
The Rabbitohs battled bravely for the two points in a repeat of last year's grand final with both Glenn Stewart and Issac Luke forced off with concussion. Greg Inglis was also suffering with a knee problem in the first half but played the whole 80 minutes including a stint at five-eighth and also in the forwards.
"It's just an ongoing thing, it's what I have to deal with," Inglis said. "We have really good medical staff here and they strapped it up and I was good to go."
Maguire said the NRL have to find a way to help sides who lose players to concussion during a game and implement an 18th man system on the bench.
"The game has to look at having someone who can sit on the sideline and replace that player," Maguire said. "(It doesn't matter ) whether or not the opposition team lose a player but can still put 13 on the park.
"If someone comes from the field, especially for a penalty it affects us and we need to look into that and have an 18th man."
Stand-in hooker Luke Keary was outstanding for the Rabbitohs and Maguire said he was delighted with the young playmaker's performance.
"He did a good job, at time we were going side to side and the boys spoke about it at halftime," he said. "But the boys dug deep to get the win."
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