NRL 2024: Dragons star Hame Sele rushed to hospital as Bulldogs win 28-10 over St George Illawarra

With a sell out crowd and finals spots on the line, the Dragons-Bulldogs clash loomed as must watch TV. But the match took a terrifying turn after a player was rushed to hospital with an heart concern.

Hame Sele has been rushed to hospital with an irregular heartbeat. Picture: Getty Images

Dragons prop Hame Sele was taken to St George Hospital in an ambulance on Saturday night after he suffered an irregular heartbeat during the first half of his side’s 28-10 loss to the Bulldogs.

Sele was sitting up in the sheds at halftime and was able to walk gingerly to the ambulance where he was surrounded by members of the team’s medical staff.

Medicos at the ground are confident Sele will be OK.

Sele was originally listed to come off the bench but played the first 20 minutes before he was taken from the field.

It appeared to be a scheduled interchange, but Sele noticed something was amiss and complained of chest pains when he was sat on the interchange bench.

Hame Sele has been sent to hospital after leaving the field due to an irregular heart beat in the first half.

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“He’s been taken to hospital in an ambulance so it’s a bit of a concern,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.

“I don’t want to comment too much on it because I don’t know the full details.”

HOUSE OF THE BULLDOG

This was supposed to be a special night for the Red V in Kogarah on the back of last week’s drought-breaking win in Melbourne, but the blockbuster event fizzled out like the House of the Dragon finale as their top-eight chances took a big hit.

An electric crowd of 18,416 – the sixth-highest at the venue – rocked up early with the hill a sea of red and white an hour before kick-off hoping to see something special.

But they were silenced early by a Matt Burton long-range intercept try as the blue and white brigade found their voice after last week’s epic scenes in Belmore as the visitors spoiled the party with former Dragon Kurt Mann scoring the sealer.

St George’s top-eight hopes took a hit, as the Bulldogs dominated the Dragons. Picture: Getty Images

The hill was alive with the sound of cheering when Zac Lomax pounced on a Ben Hunt grubber to get them on the board, with the crowd in raptures again when Sloan latched onto an inside ball from Leilua to give them a sniff.

But their key men were well contained with Ben Hunt having an off night with the boot while Kyle Flanagan threw a shocking forward pass which was punished a few plays later.

There could be more bad news with strike centre Moses Suli helped from the field late on with a knee injury that has him in doubt for next week.

“We’ll get it assessed and have some scans,” Flanagan said.

“I think it’s a medial so it doesn’t look good.”

A sell out crowd at Jubilee Oval for Saturday nights NRL clash between the Bulldogs and the Dragons. Photo: Tom Parrish

SEXTON IS ON FIRE

Toby Sexton has been one of Canterbury’s unsung heroes this season, but Bulldogs fans were chanting his name in full voice on Saturday after the halfback set up two crucial first-half tries for Bronson Xerri.

The former Titan started the year in reserve grade, but the decision to bring him into the halves has sparked their attack into life, with the Bulldogs winning nine of the 11 games he’s played in.

Sexton came up with two huge plays in the space of four minutes when he grubbered through for Xerri to score his first try before he threw a peach of a pass for the centre to stroll through for his second.

Toby Sexton is on fire for the Bulldogs. Picture: NRL Imagery

MAHONEY CONCERN

The Bulldogs are back into fifth spot and just a win outside the all-important top four, but their hopes of climbing the ladder could hinge on Reed Mahoney’s fitness after the workhorse hooker came off in the second half with a shoulder complaint.

Mahoney leads the league for tackles and is closing in on 1000 for the season, but he’ll need to be assessed in the coming days after he was forced from the field midway through the second half.

Reed Mahoney was unable to finish the game after coming off with a shoulder injury. Picture: NRL Imagery

It was the only setback for the Bulldogs who again defended brilliantly with the hosts unable to trouble the scorers in the second half as milestone man Viliame Kikau terrorised Ben Hunt and Tyrell Sloan every time they touched the ball.

“It’s all good I probably could’ve played even though we have plenty of depth,” Mahoney said.

“I got it double checked. I could’ve come back on if I needed.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Dragons star Hame Sele rushed to hospital as Bulldogs win 28-10 over St George Illawarra