Lightning and a flash storm forced Canterbury and South Sydney players to abandon play for almost half an hour at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs held a comfortable 18-0 lead over the Rabbitohs when skies darkened remarkably quickly in the 32nd minute.

A lightning strike near the Olympic Park venue forced the NRL to intervene and call players, officials and venue staff from the field.

It is the first time since Anzac Day 2015, when a snap hail storm halted play between the Roosters and Dragons that the elements have stopped a game mid-match.

Play resumed after a 28-minute delay once the lightning had passed outside a 10-kilometre radius of the stadium.