Bennett apologises to players as Bunnies get COVID refresher

Wayne Bennett has apologised to his Rabbitohs players about over-stepping the boundaries of the NRL's COVID-19 rules to keep every club bio-secure for the duration of this season.

South Sydney also asked the NRL's biosecurity liaison officer, Michael Green, to give the club a refresher course on Monday about the current directives and information in light of the fact Bennett has tripped himself up, along with players and coaches from other NRL clubs.

Bennett had his usual Monday morning meeting with players, although it was via Zoom technology and not face-to-face as the South Sydney mentor is serving a two-week COVID hold for having lunch at a restaurant outside the team bubble rules.

Bayley Sironen and Campbell Graham said while the long-serving NRL coach found the technology a little challenging, he did apologise for his actions.

"And in saying that we can't dwell on it too much. Once something like that happens you've just got to move on from it and he realises that," Sironen said.

"Nothing changed too much for us. Wayne made a decision and he's got to live by that. We all know our rules so it didn't affect us too much.

"We came out and got the win [28-10 over the Broncos] and bounced in here today in good spirits."

Graham said the players were not disappointed in Bennett.

"He's made a mistake and he's human … we've all got a responsibility to abide by these rules," Graham said.

"He made an error of judgment and that's all it was. He knows now what he did was wrong. It's in the past.

"It is probably not ideal with the protocols and stuff. Everyone is in the same boat and it can become a little confusing with the chopping and changing of rules but they're all clear now.

"You can just hope everyone else in the NRL bubble does the right thing."

Graham said it had been a smooth transition with Jason Demetriou stepping in as coach at training and game days.

"He's very hands-on with the group all year round and he's been a big influence on what we've been doing already," he said. "So it's not too much of a difference.

"Wayne was cutting in and out of his Zoom call. He was hard to understand at times and had his finger over the camera at one point, but he got there in the end.

"All jokes side the Zoom meeting was very good today and the boys all took on board his feedback from the game."

He was hard to understand at times and had his finger over the camera at one point.

Campbell Graham on Wayne Bennett's zoom skills

Although the Rabbitohs asked for another COVID reminder, there has been no directive from the NRL that all clubs should initiate "refresher" courses.

The latest updates on protocols and situations are widely distributed by the NRL regularly. But individual clubs can also request a kick-start session if they wish.

The Rabbitohs face the Cowboys at Townsville's Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday, aiming for three wins in a row for the first time in 2020.

Front-rower Mark Nicholls said the Rabbitohs had full confidence in Demetriou - who will succeed Bennett as coach in 2022 - to steer the ship while Bennett was away.

"JD took over on the weekend and did a great job. He's going to be our coach in a couple of seasons anyways so it's good experience for him and good for the team."