BULLDOGS 20, DRAGONS 18
Frustrated St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan fears two crucial calls cost his side a win against Canterbury – and may have blown their chances of playing finals football.
A brilliant Lachie Galvin cutout pass for rookie winger Jethro Rinakama in the 79th minute paved the way for the Bulldogs to snatch the 20-18 victory at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.
The victory kept the club’s top-two hopes alive, while a loss would have heaped pressure on them to finish the year in the top four.
The Dragons ran harder and wanted the win more in the second half. Flanagan, who had already watched his side lose three games by a point – and a further three matches by six points or less – was fuming about calls in the 75th and 78th minutes.
Luciano Leilua was penalised for getting in the way of a Jacob Kiraz play-the-ball, then referee Adam Gee failed to rule Viliame Kikau had knocked on when tackled by Tyrell Sloan, instead awarding the Dogs a repeat set.
“I was really proud of the effort they put in, and the way they played, but the game was taken away from us from what I believe were wrong decisions,” Flanagan said.
“The Luciano Leilua decision was outrageous. There were five minutes and 30 seconds to go, they [Canterbury] were on their 30m or 40m line, the player [Kiraz] never got to his feet … he has to get to his feet before he plants the ball. It’s been the rule all year, and it costs us today.
“We go down field from the back of that, Kikau passes the ball, it hits Sloan and goes forward. In the collision, that’s a knock-on. In 100 years [of rugby league], that’s a knock on. That was at the 78th minute mark.
“They’re a good side the Bulldogs, they compete hard, but there were some decisions tonight that cost us two competition points, and could cost us an opportunity to play semi-finals.”
Lachlan Galvin celebrates the Bulldogs win with teammates.Credit: Getty Images
Flanagan said he would take his complaints to the NRL, but the damage was done.
“In the end, we don’t get the two competition points, we can’t come back and rectify it,” he said.
“The Luciano Leilua one is a penalty on the field. The bunker took it away [from us]. Seriously, that one riles me more than anything because you have to get to your feet to play the ball.
“Can you imagine if this was a semi-final? Hollllyyy. It would be drama. But it’s the Dragons, we’re fighting really hard to stay in touch [with the eight] … a group of 17 men went as hard as they could, and it got taken away from them.”
Galvin started his first game in the No.7 jersey, and his ability to spot Sloan race out of the line, then loop the ball into the chest of Rinakama was top shelf.
Tyrell Sloan is tackled by the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty Images
Coach Cameron Ciraldo said of the pass: “It’s one of the bravest passes I’ve seen. To trust his instincts and himself to make that play, it shows everyone what we’ve been seeing at training the past six weeks. I’m really happy for him; I’m so stoked he played what he saw.”
What a moment for Galvin in just his fifth game in the blue and white. What a moment for Rinakama in just his second NRL game.
Earlier in the night, Kiraz was placed on report for a lifting tackle on Corey Allan, and Max King cited for a crusher tackle on Gutherson. Back-rower Sitili Tupouniua failed to finish the night because of a hamstring injury.