"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
