Smashed by injuries since February and still missing three of their biggest names, the Rabbitohs went to a 12-0 lead early on Sunday before holding on to win.
The victory did not come easily, with the Tigers appearing to level the scores at 16-16 with five minutes to play when Lachlan Galvin went over on the left edge.
But replays showed the departing Tiger dropped the ball as he dived over the line, before Jai Arrow crossed late to seal the win for the Rabbitohs.
Bennett is renowned as one the greatest coaches in rugby league history, but if he is to keep this Souths side in the top eight it would be among his best feats.
The Rabbitohs finished 16th last year and were only saved from collecting the spoon by a woeful Wests Tigers.
They have spent the first 11 rounds of 2025 without Cameron Murray, while Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker have headlined big names to spend time out.
"I'm very proud of them, the way they have battled through all this," said Bennett, whose men have their first bye next week.
"We still had six players out today, nine out in Brisbane (a fortnight ago). But the tally is going down.
"But I know the quality of these people. I worked with them before and know what they bring."
Even with all the outs, Souths were the better side on Sunday night with Keaon Koloamatangi a man mountain in the middle.
Playing prop to cover the Rabbitohs' injury issues, the traditional second-rower played 80 minutes, ran more than 300 metres and made 49 tackles.
It was the kind of performance that showed if NSW suffer further injuries in their middle, Koloamatangi is ready to add to his one State of Origin in 2023.
"If they've been watching the tapes, he's played like that two weeks in a row. He's been close to our best player," Bennett said.
"Not many middles are playing 80 minutes and doing the workrate he is doing.
"But I don't want to help NSW on team selection."
Siliva Havili got the Rabbitohs' first when he burrowed over out of dummy-half, before Jayden Sullivan laid on their next.
Effectively on loan from the Tigers and set to return there next year, Sullivan spotted a gap behind the ruck and went 60 metres before Euan Aitken finished the job.
In contrast, it felt like Apisai Koroisau was the man trying to carry the Tigers back into the match, with Terrell May again the other key contributor.
Koroisau scored the Tigers' first when he spotted a gap from his own 30-metre line and broke down field.
The hooker got one-on-one with Latrell Mitchell, feigned a kick, dummied and stepped past the fullback to score while leaving the Souths No.1 falling to the ground.
At 16-6 down Koroisau then got Souths down to 12 men when he burst into a gap from a May offload and forced a professional foul from Tallis Duncan.
The hooker then made immediate use of the extra man, dummying out of the ruck on the next set and stepping through the defence to score.
But any hopes of a Tigers comeback were dimmed by Galvin's error over the line, before Arrow officially killed them off to leave the joint-venture stuck in 10th spot.
Tellingly, Koroisau's effort came on the same night he was again overlooked by NSW for Reece Robson
"I'm always hungry for it," Koroisau said.
"It's one of the best games of the season ... but it is what it is."
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