The dejected Rabbitohs team watch on. Photo: Getty Images

SOUTH SYDNEY players admitted the emotion of learning two hours before kick-off they needed to beat St George Illawarra by five points to snatch eighth place from Manly had been too much for them.

With Canberra beating Brisbane 18-16 on Friday night to secure a finals berth, the Rabbitohs were left to sweat on the Sea Eagles losing to Canterbury at Brookvale Oval yesterday to know whether they had anything to play for against the Dragons.

Souths coach John Lang and most of his players listened to a radio call of the dying stages of the match as the Bulldogs held out Manly to win 30-24 and were relieved to find they still had a chance to make the finals. After their loss last night they believed it had drained them emotionally.

''Waiting around, playing mind games with yourself - 'Are we in or are we out' - it does take a bit of a toll,'' star forward Dave Taylor said. ''I was really nervous the whole day today; it was probably one of the most nervous days I have ever had … just trying to get your mind off the game and trying to go out and do other things. But at the end of the day we had to go out and play good football, which we didn't do.''

England forward Sam Burgess, who along with Taylor had been Souths' star signings this season, said he was disappointed that the team had blown an opportunity to secure a place in the play-offs.

''I kept checking on my phone, I was with my family kicking a soccer ball around actually when I saw the result and they did what they had to do for us but we just couldn't close the game off,'' Burgess said. ''I thought we had a golden chance tonight but we came out a bit gun shy in the first half and they played well. It's disappointing, we should have got a win tonight but I think that is where we have got to learn as players to rise to the big occasions.''

Souths owner Russell Crowe was on hand for the match and stood on the field with with chief executive Shane Richardson as the Rabbitohs players warmed up but not even the Oscar winner could inspire them to what had seemed an unlikely finals berth two weeks ago when they were thrashed 54-18 by Penrith after trailing 40-0 at half-time. Souths captain Roy Asotasi said it had been a similar performance by his side in the first half of last night's match.

''We were talking before the game and there was mixed emotions, whether we were in or not. We were really sweating on the two games but we turned up and the Dragons were just red hot,'' Asotasi said.

Lang was also disappointed and said it had been tough dealing with the uncertainty of their fate.

''It was a strange week, there was good energy among the boys all week and then to sit there with the boys and wait all weekend to see whether we were playing for a spot or just going around … it was exciting to be given an opportunity to play for a spot in the finals but I think it did get to a few of the boys,'' Lang said. ''I didn't watch it but I was eagerly anticipating the result and I listened to about the last minute on the radio, that was bad enough. But we just weren't good enough to take advantage of the opportunity we were given.

''I do think the whole situation during the week and then to find out two hours before the game … I don't think some of the boys handled it that well.''

Asked what Crowe had said to the players after the match, Burgess said: ''He spoke to a few individuals but not to us as a group''.