Rabbitohs threatened with virus by Barnaby

Barnaby Joyce has issued a dire threat against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on the eve of the new NRL season.

The agriculture minister was midway through a parliamentary speech on Thursday when he was distracted by some loud Labor talk - led by Bunny fanatic Anthony Albanese - about the mighty South Sydney.

Joyce, a Knights supporter, turned on them with the threat: "I'm going to have to deliver a new calicivirus to get rid of your bunny rabbits."