'Hostile': Tensions boil over amid TWO sin bins in fiery Dogs and ...
The Bulldogs have once again shown they are a new team this season, beating the Tigers 22-14 in a comeback win at Accor Stadium that saw tensions spill over.
With only six minutes left on the clock, both David Klemmer and Alex Seyfarth were given their marching orders by referee Kasey Badger.
Klemmer was binned for dissent, while Seyfarth was dismissed for dangerous contact on winger Jacob Kiraz that saw both teams come together in a fiery tussle.
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Michael Ennis said: “They were absolutely livid the Bulldogs players with the work of Seyfarth on Kiraz.
“Look at the Dogs supporters… they’re piling over the tunnel here into Seyfarth, things are getting hostile here at Accor Stadium”
Hooker Reed Mahoney was also lucky to avoid sanction, but the events left Benji Marshall’s side with only 11 players on the field to close out the contest.
“In all honesty Reed Mahoney should have joined him for being the third man in,” Warren Smith said.
Earlier, the Tigers crossed for the first try of the evening, streaking away 80 metres down the right hand of the field before Brent Naden found winger Charlie Staines.
However, Cameron Ciraldo’s side hit back through Reed Mahoney who found Kurt Mann with an incisive short ball to dive over.
The next four-pointer came in similar fashion, with Jake Simpkin hitting a charging Fonua Pole to barge his way over the line for the merger club.
Going into the break the Tigers led 14-6 and held majority of the momentum until the Dogs went on a second-half rampage.
Ciraldo’s side out-enthused the Tigers in the second 40 minutes and scored through Josh Curran only four minutes into the half.
He managed to beat three Tigers defenders to a Drew Hutchison grubber before Matt Burton sliced through the line.
The gun five-eighth found centre Bronson Xerri who scored virtually untouched after a controversial moment saw halfback Aidan Sezer avoid a sin bin.
The veteran No.7 put his weight on the legs of Curran who fell in a tackle awkwardly and looked almost certain he would be given his marching orders.
Izack Tago, at the same ground on Thursday night, was sent to the bin for a similar tackle, however Badger decided Sezer would remain on the field.
Read below for NCA Newswire Martin Gabor’s talking points out of Saturday afternoon’s clash!
CARDINAL SIN
Just when we thought we knew what constitutes a sin bin in the NRL, the officials have muddied the waters with a bizarre decision to not sin bin Aidan Sezer for a shocking hip-drop tackle on Josh Curran.
Everyone at Accor Stadium and those watching on TV had two hands raised assuming the Wests Tigers halfback would be marched for 10 minutes, but he was inexplicably allowed to stay on the field for a tackle that will be heavily scrutinised by the match review committee.
The rugby league gods have a funny fan of dishing out natural justice, and after he potted the penalty goal to put his side in front, Matt Burton then strolled straight past Sezer to set up Bronson Xerri a few minutes later as the Bulldogs overcame a slow start to win.
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A NEW HOPE
It was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away when the Bulldogs last won back-to-back games, but after waiting more than a year, the blue and whites ended the drought to consolidate their spot in the top eight.
It’s too soon to say the empire has struck back, but they look so much better than what we’ve seen in recent years, with their attack humming in the second half after a sluggish first 40 minutes.
Viliame Kikau was in beast mode after the break, while Burton did his State of Origin hopes no harm with some nice touches on both sides of the field.
Drew Hutchison also silenced some of his critics with the halfback putting in a perfectly-weighted kick in for Curran to score, with their attack to get better when Connor Tracey (quad) returns next week.
Cam Murray ruled out of Origin 1 | 00:39
THE PHANTOM MENACE
The Bulldogs struggled for years to find a replacement for Michael Ennis, but they’ve found their man in Reed Mahoney who looks so much more threatening now that he’s not weighed down by the captaincy.
The nuggety nine knows how to niggle like no one else, and he backed it up with a team-high 35 tackles and some crafty work around the ruck to set up Kurt Mann for Canterbury’s first try.
Mahoney was placed on report for a lifting tackle in the first half and was the first man to rush in when all hell broke loose at the end.
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