NRL live updates: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs look to go back top of the NRL ladder when they take on the struggling South Sydney Rabbitohs.

With the Bulldogs leading 18-0 in the 32nd minute, the game was suspended due to lightning, with players taken off the field for almost half an hour before play was able to resume.

Meanwhile, Dolphins forward Felise Kaufusi has been handed a two-week ban for his high shot in the Queensland derby demolition of North Queensland.

Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.

Key Events Half time reduced 7 minutes ago HT: Bulldogs blitz halted by storm, as Souths hit back 9 minutes ago 32' We're back underway 21 minutes ago Show all key events Live updates: Rabbitohs vs Bulldogs S By Simon Smale Half time reduced S By Simon Smale Loading Half time will be reduced by three minutes, the NRL proving immediately more flexible than Test cricket despite the near unprecedented circumstances. HT: Bulldogs blitz halted by storm, as Souths hit back S By Simon Smale (Getty Images) Well, it's Souths who benefit most from that 28-minute break for lightning. The Bulldogs still lead 18-4, but Alex Johnston's try give the hosts some hope of engineering a turnaround. A truly dominant opening 32 minutes from the Bulldogs though, tries to Toby Sexton, Marcelo Montoya and Connor Tracey putting the ladder leaders on the front foot. But then the Storm interrupted their progress - an omen from Melbourne perhaps... - and Souths manage to hit back. 39' TRY SOUTHS! S By Simon Smale Alex Johnston plants himself on a loose ball off a kick! Or did Jack Wighton touch the ball as he contested? Or did Tallis Duncan get a touch as the ball bounced up before Johnston got hold of it? No on both counts. Humphreys misses the kick and it's 18-4. 38' Another penalty Souths! S By Simon Smale The Rabbitohs take the penalty, want to get a chance to start things just their side of half way, but the Bulldogs give them another leg up by straying offside in their eagerness to make amends for the penalty! 37' Kikau denied again! S By Simon Smale This time Kikau does get over the line but Sullivan was impeded by a runner and the try is chalked off! Three tries denied in a minute for Kikau... 37' Viliame Kikau held up again! S By Simon Smale That's a brilliant tackle from Jayden Sullivan! He was carted over the line by Kikau but kept himself on the ball. 36' Penalty Bulldogs S By Simon Smale Debutant Ryan Gray is pinged for holding on too long in the tackle. Referee Adam Gee says he'd given him benefit of the doubt in an earlier tackle but that was two in a row. 34' KIKAU GATHERS THE KICK! S By Simon Smale BUT HE'S HELD UP OVER THE LINE! What is Viliame Kikau doing leaping up to gather a little dinked kick over the top? Anyway, he does but the Souths players get under him and hold him up over the line. 33' Sexton chips and chases S By Simon Smale And Jye Gray is there to mop up for a Souths goal line drop out. Another nice piece of play for Sexton, who has been brilliant. 32' We're back underway S By Simon Smale Souths third tackle on their own 10 metre line and it's like we never had a delay at all as the players tear back into each other with some alacrity. Out come the players! S By Simon Smale Some 28 minutes since the players left the field, they are now back out there. The rain has stopped, the lightning has moved away. And we'll be back underway imminently. Sure is dark there... S By Simon Smale (ABC Sport) (ABC Sport) (ABC Sport) Play to resume in five minutes S By Simon Smale We've just received word that play will resume in five minutes. Spectators are being told to stay put S By Simon Smale We are being told that spectators are being held in place and are unable to leave the stadium concourse for safety reasons. Our spy in the ground tells me that people in the members area were banned from leaving their seats even to go to the toilet, which was difficult for people with kids. Those in general admission were able to move to a safer area. And some kids ran on to the field to steal the game ball but security stopped them. Is this why stadiums need a roof? S By Simon Smale Never seen such black clouds coming over my place now at Cronulla. Scary stuff! - KB I wouldn't want to get political on this blog, but I'm sure the AFL would use this as vindication for the new Tasmanian stadium needing a roof... *Shamelessly stolen from my colleague, Luke Pentony. Warnings for spectators at the Olympic stadium S By Simon Smale The radar looks pretty gnarly... S By Simon Smale (BOM) 32' PLAY SUSPENDED! S By Simon Smale (AAP Image) Lightning has been detected in the vicinity of the Olympic stadium, and the players are being taken off! Wow. There is 8:48 left on the stadium clock in the first half. 27' Here comes the rain... S By Simon Smale Black skies overhead and the rain has just started to fall at the Olympic stadium now... Loading Show more posts

ABC Sport Daily podcast ABC Sport Daily is your daily sports conversation. We dive into the biggest story of the day and get you up to speed with everything else that's making headlines.

Click here to read article