NRL: Bulldogs suffer body blow in loss to Rabbitohs

Canterbury have suffered a body blow just a week out from the NRL finals, going down to South Sydney 28-10 in a fiery affair at ANZ Stadium.

Des Hasler's men could sink as low as seventh after suffering their third straight loss in a worrying sign heading into next week's elimination final against Penrith.

Besides a brief period in the opening half, South Sydney - who finished an otherwise disappointing year with four wins on the trot - always looked in control.

After the Rabbitohs took a 12-6 halftime lead, tempers threatened to boil over with Dogs captain James Graham and Souths forward Sam Burgess involved in a heated confrontation.

Graham took offence to a "prowler tackle" and struck out with his boot at his fellow northern Englishman.

Graham didn't make contact but was put on report while Burgess escaped with a warning.

The Rabbitohs evened the scores at 6-6 after 17 minutes when Burgess burst through a couple of ordinary attempts at tackle for a soft try.

They went to the break up 12-6 after Joe Burgess scooped up a wayward Moses Mbye pass to run 80 metres untouched.

Graham did his best to fire up his side and for a moment they looked like they were coming home strong when Josh Reynolds stuck his leg out at a John Sutton kick and raced 80 metres to reduce the deficit to two.

But just as promise beckoned for the Bulldogs, a Thomas Burgess bone-rattler forced a Danny Fualalo turnover from the kick-off and Aaron Gray produced a brilliant solo effort to score in the middle of the field.

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Gray and Joe Burgess would go on to notch doubles in the dying moments.

Bulldogs forward David Klemmer will have a nervous wait after what appeared to be a shoulder charge late in the game however he was not put on report.