St George Illawarra risk losing key players as they head towards the NRL finals after Kyle Flanagan was accused of biting Stephen Crichton in a 28-10 loss to Canterbury.
Bulldogs centre Crichton lodged an official complaint with referee Gerard Sutton on Saturday night, alleging Flanagan bit his nose while tackling the five-eighth at Jubilee Oval.
The incident in the second half was not penalized on the field and left Crichton bleeding from the nose.
The captain was unable to attend the post-match press conference as he needed medical attention and was replaced by second row Viliame Kikau.
“His nose is a little swollen there, but we haven’t talked in great detail,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said.
‘They’re checking some things out.
“I don’t really know what to say about that, so we’ll leave it there.”
Any potential ban would sideline Flanagan as the eighth-placed Dragons battle to secure their first finals berth since 2018.
Dragons star Kyle Flanagan could be in trouble after being accused of biting by Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton.
The second-half incident was not penalised on the field and left Crichton bleeding.
Dragons coach and Kyle’s father Shane Flanagan has denied the bite occurred.
“Kyle said he didn’t do it. I believe him 100 per cent,” she told the BBC. The Sydney Morning Herald.
“I saw the footage, Kyle showed it to me, he (Crichton) is pushing his face into him while Kyle is on the ground.”
The alleged bite came after Dragons prop Hame Sele was taken to hospital in the first half due to an irregular heartbeat.
Sele complained of chest pains to a Dragons trainer during his first season but appeared in good spirits when he was removed from the clash between the two most improved teams this season.
“It’s something that I’m a bit concerned about. I don’t want to comment too much on it because I don’t know all the details,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.
Adding insult to injury, centre Moses Suli will undergo tests after leaving the field with a suspected MCL injury in the final 10 minutes.
“It doesn’t look good,” Flanagan said of Suli’s injury.
Crichton was unable to attend the post-match press conference because he needed medical attention.
A crowd of 18,416 with divided loyalties made the round 23 clash the highest-attended at Kogarah since before the coronavirus pandemic.
But it was the fans in blue and white who were on top all night, with a first-half brace from Bronson Xerri helping the Bulldogs keep their rivals at bay for most of the match.
A shoulder injury to Reed Mahoney was the only issue for the Bulldogs, although the hooker did manage to ride a stationary bike while on the bench, a sign he was ready to return.
It was substitute Kurt Mann who sealed the win just minutes after Mahoney had come off the field, eluding Blake Lawrie’s tackle to extend the lead to three tries midway through the second half.
“(Mahoney) could have kept playing,” Ciraldo said.
“But Kurt Mann was playing unbelievable, I feel it was his best game with the club so far.”
Dragons coach and Kyle’s father Shane Flanagan has denied the bite occurred.
The Bulldogs’ win continues a transformational season under Cameron Ciraldo, who has had the veterans fighting for a win outside the top four heading into the final month of competition.
The loss leaves the Dragons likely needing three wins from their final four games to guarantee a top-eight spot, although they could qualify with fewer, pending other results.
Dragons scrum-half Ben Hunt had a tough night fighting to keep his side in the top eight for another weekend.
He set up the Dragons’ opening try with a kick to his favourite partner in crime, Zac Lomax, but was at the centre of more than one error as the Saints struggled to apply pressure on Canterbury’s elite defence.
Opposing scrum-half Toby Sexton was instrumental in the Bulldogs’ 20-10 half-time lead, sending a grubber across goal for Xerri and then setting up the centre for his second with a lovely flat pass.
Xerri’s double came after Matt Burton received a pass from Hunt and ran 80 metres to open the scoring after four minutes.
