The Rabbitohs could be without champion fullback Latrell Mitchell and winger Taane Milne for what looms as a critical game in their push to scrape into the finals.
In a feisty game between the Rabbitohs and Knights in Newcastle on Sunday, a 29-10 South Sydney loss was compounded by Mitchell and Milne being reported for ugly incidents in the dying stages.
Milne was reported for dumping his left knee on the head of Greg Marzhew after the Knights winger was tackled, before Mitchell was reported — and sin-binned — for a cheap shot on Tyson Frizell.
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The Knights second-rower, who joined Mitchell in this year's NSW Blues squad, was tackled by Lachlan Ilias, before Mitchell raced in and deliberately banged his right arm into the back of Frizell's head, causing an all-in melee.
It was a retaliation to a first-half incident that saw Frizell try to throw the ball at Mitchell's head, angering the Rabbitohs' marquee man.
An all-in scuffle eventuated as Mitchell and Frizell went at it, before Milne and Knights winger Dominic Young got in a tussle.
"It's a soft one … but there's no need for it," Andrew Johns said on Nine's NRL coverage.
"I think he may get a fine because it was pretty soft.
"There's not much contact there, but there's intent there."
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou was tight-lipped when asked about Mitchell and Milne being reported.
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"I didn't think he hit him in the head. I just think it's silly from Latrell," Demetriou said in his press conference.
"I didn't see Taane's one, but he got his medicine.
"We'll have to wait and see what happens (with Mitchell and Milne)."
The Rabbitohs are now set for a bye before facing arch-rivals the Roosters at Sydney Olympic Park in their last regular-season game.
Placed eighth on the ladder on 28 points after round 25, the Rabbitohs are in danger of going from being a premiership fancy to not making the top eight.
"There's no point talking about it … We'll wait and see what the verdict is tomorrow and go from there," Demetriou said of the prospect of not having Mitchell for the Roosters clash.
"But (utility) Blake Taaffe is doing a great job (and) has played some good footy for us this year.
"We'll see what happens."
The Knights banked a seventh win on the bounce in their comprehensive victory over the Rabbitohs, which saw Marzhew snare a first-half hat-trick.
But Newcastle was assisted by two dubious tries scored by Daniel Saifiti and Adam Clune, who was filling in for the injured Jackson Hastings.
Saifiti crossed for a try in an eight-tackle set in the 56th minute, while Clune scored after interference from the referee.
Tyson Gamble threaded a grubber into the in-goal area, Mitchell bizarrely batted the ball back toward the centre of the field and the footy collected the referee's left leg before Clune planted the ball for a try.
Demetriou said in his press conference that he thought it constituted a dead ball.
While South Sydney is set for a bye, the Knights will chase an eighth consecutive win in a game against the Sharks in Newcastle next Sunday.
The Knights are placed seventh on the ladder with 31 points.
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