By Christian Nicolussi and Michael Chammas
Canterbury’s big win over South Sydney was marred by ugly scenes involving Jai Arrow and unruly fans.
Arrow had to be restrained – and police intervened – when he was heckled as he came from the field in the 65th minute of Friday night’s 32-0 victory for the Bulldogs.
Souths officials spoke to ground staff soon after as Arrow tried to keep his cool.
Arrow told this masthead late Friday: “It’s all good mate, nothing in it. Passion got the better of me.”
Witnesses on the sidelines at Accor Stadium, where 65,000 fans gathered for the Good Friday mismatch, described the scenes as confronting and highly emotional.
Police approached one fan but took no action.
Souths legend John Sutton, who is on the club’s coaching staff, tried to calm Arrow.
“There was just one bloke carrying on and kept swearing at Jai,” Sutton said. “He was doing it the whole game. It was all fine in the end.”
Bulldogs fans also verbally abused Souths debutant Lewis Dodd before he finally took the field just before the hour mark.
When asked about the incident involving Arrow, coach Wayne Bennett said: “It would have been good had he got upset on the football field. [But] I don’t know anything about it.”
Cody Walker, who was on the bench, said: “I was next to him, but I didn’t hear it. There were 65,000 people here.”
Jai Arrow and Bulldogs fans in heated discussion.
As for the loss, Bennett said: “They were much better than we were. There’s not much more to say. They turned up. We weren’t at our best. They were certainly very good. The NRL is a tough place. We all have our short turnarounds and that type of stuff, but it’s no excuse.”
The result makes it six wins from as many games for the Dogs. It was the second straight week they didn’t concede a point. They have the chance to cement their title credentials on Thursday night, when they take on the Broncos in Brisbane.
This game was as good as over at half-time, basically because of the sheer weight of possession to Canterbury.
Souths are trying to work out their best halves combination – and what position is best for Latrell Mitchell, who started the game at five-eighth, and spent the second half at left centre.
Jai Arrow became involved in an incident with Canterbury fans.Credit: Getty Images
The Dogs have dusted St George Illawarra, the Titans, Parramatta, Cronulla, the Knights and now the Rabbitohs. But how many of those clubs, barring the Sharks, will be there in late September?
Which is why next week’s clash against premiership heavyweights Brisbane is looming as Canterbury’s first acid test.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo has done a great – especially considering they lack a genuine “X-factor” player.
That was the question being asked on the TV commentary when the Dogs led 20-0 at half-time.
Paul Gallen told Nine he was unsure if they could go all the way, simply because they lacked that spark in the back line.
Ciraldo has his players believing and playing for each other. They race up in defence, and are simply hungrier than their opponents.
The returning Viliame Kikau dived on a Mitchell pass that went to ground, and a few tackles later Josh Curran scored the first try.
Kikau, for what it is worth, was fortunate to avoid being sent to the sin bin for a high shot that left Campbell Graham bloodied.
Curran is a gun. So is Matt Burton. Stephen Crichton is a wonderful leader. And Jaeman Salmon is happy to play that first-receiver role like Isaah Yeo does at Penrith.
How good will next Thursday be.
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