David Fifita and Tom Gilbert sin-binned for fiery finish in Rabbitohs-Dolphins clash

David Fifita found himself in a spot of trouble late in the Rabbitohs' round one 40-30 win over the Dolphins after he was sent to the sin bin for a tussle with Tom Gilbert.

Fifita's temper was first tested with nine minutes to go when he had a clash with his former Broncos teammate.

The Rabbitohs recruit held on to Flegler after a hit-up, trying to stop him from racing back to the line as the Dolphins prop attempted to hit his arm away.

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Flegler then decided to wrestle him to the ground and slam him down. The Dolphins challenged but it was unsuccessful.

"Unnecessary force, yes," Cameron Smith said on Nine.

"But would that have hurt David Fifita? Absolutely not."

Smith also pointed out there was a "sneaky jumper punch" from Fifita to Flegler during the tackle.

During the next set, Fifita took the first hit-up and was wrestled to the ground again before Gilbert pushed him on the ground.

Both sides then came together as Nine caller Peter Psaltis said "tempers are reaching boiling point".

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Flegler and Latrell Mitchell were captured in a fiery exchange while Peter Mamouzelos and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow also shared words.

The replay showed Gilbert grabbing Fifita's collar during the tackle as the Rabbitohs forward complained to the referee.

Gilbert was sin-binned by referee Peter Gough for "going on with it", which he described as "completely unnecessary".

Post-match the Dolphins captain described it as a "brain fade".

"It was probably frustration in our performance, my individual performance, that's all it was," he said.

"Probably not a good reflection of what we want to stand for ... I probably agree with the referee's decision in hindsight."

Fifita was also sin-binned for his role.

"Why's he gone?" Cameron Smith said on Nine.

"What for? For a bit of push and shove?"

Fifita blew a kiss to the Dolphins twice as he ran off before his side ran away as round one winners.