‘You just don’t do that’: NRL star sparks melee, refuses to back down
The NRL’s biggest pest lived up to his reputation with two wild incidents in the Bulldogs’ win that are set to land him in hot water.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s a nightmare for tipsters but a dream scenario for the NRL as the competition proves more unpredictable than ever with a slew of upsets up-ending the usual rugby league pecking order.
Midway through round 4 and the Wests Tigers are in the top eight, the Titans are in the top four, the Bulldogs are on top of the ladder and the Roosters and Penrith are languishing down the bottom of the table.
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
After the Rabbitohs beat Penrith and the Titans upset the Roosters, it was St George Illawarra’s turn to shock an NRL heavyweight when the Dragons beat the Melbourne Storm 14-8 on Saturday afternoon.
Hooker Jacob Liddle snuck over for the matchwinning try as the Storm were held to their lowest score against the Dragons since 2011.
Mal Meninga said on Fox League: “All of a sudden the Dragons become the bogey side for the Storm. I don’t imagine Craig (Bellamy) would be too happy that performance.”
On Saturday night the Bulldogs defeated Cronulla 20-6 at Shark Park to make it a 4-0 start to the season and move to the top of the table. It’s the first time the Bulldogs have opened the season with four wins since 1993.
NRL’s biggest pest learns fate
Fiery Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney has somehow avoided suspension after several incidents that caught the ire of the Sharks and referee Chris Butler.
In the first half he was placed on report after striking Sharks prop Toby Rudolf with a swinging forearm across the head while desperately trying to stop a try.
Fox League’s Andrew Voss said: “If (Mahoney’s) made contact with the head, he’s got a problem.”
Then, 15 minutes into the second stanza he was placed on report for the second time after he led with his shoulder into the head of Daniel Atkinson who was prone on the ground after pouncing on a loose ball.
On Sunday, the Match Review Commitee only handed Mahoney two separate fines for the incidents, meaning he is free to play for the Bulldogs next weekend against Newcastle.
Mahoney was fined a total of $3600 for a careless high tackle on on Rudolf and for dangerous contract on Atkinson.
Despite his issues with the referee, Mahoney was brilliant for the Bulldogs, popping up everywhere in defence and guiding the Dogs around from dummy half.
Cheap shot Reed Mahoney.
— The Mole (@9_Moley) March 29, 2025
Reed Mahoney. Best post match interview ever. “If someone is laying on the ground I’m not going to just lay on him. It’s a tough sport†💙ðŸ¤
— Simon (@simonferl) March 29, 2025
“I think he might be in some trouble for both of them,” Cooper Cronk said on Fox League, while Mal Meninga said “you just don’t to that”.
Speaking to Fox League post-game, Mahoney said he had no regrets.
“If someone’s laying on the ground, I’m not just going to lay on him,” Mahoney said.
“This is a tough sport. If you’re going to carry on like that...
“It’s Bulldogs footy. We’re tough. It’s what we do.”
Mahoney’s teammate Sitili Tupouniua might have judiciary questions to answer too after being sin binned for a late hit on Trindall on the final play of the game.
Xerri punishes former team
Former Shark Bronson Xerri led the Bulldogs with a comprehensive dismantling of his former side.
Xerri, who made his debut for the Sharks as an 18-year-old in 2019 before being sensationally suspended from the game for four years for a serious doping violation, was brilliant crossing for a pair of tries as the Dogs triumphed 20-6.
The stunning Bulldogs win following Melbourne’s loss earlier on Saturday means the boys from Belmore are the only remaining undefeated team just four weeks into the new season. It was also their first win at Sharks Stadium since 2011.
Commentating on Fox League, Sharks premiership winner Michael Ennis was full of praise for Xerri and the Dogs after the centre scored the match winner.
“They are the real deal, they have come here and they’ve ambushed the Cronulla Sharks who defensively have been terrific for years but the tenacity of Bronson Xerri, changing direction, coming back on the inside,” Ennis said.
It was an impressive performance from a team missing Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau through injury.
The Bulldogs scrambled and scrapped throughout in an all-round performance that will put everyone on notice that they are a genuine top four team in 2025.
Xerri and fellow centre Stephen Crichton gave the Sharks outside backs nightmares, while unheralded halves Toby Sexton and Bailey Hayward out enthused and outplayed their more fancied opposition Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall.
The first half was played at a frenetic pace and it was the Bulldogs who opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Bailey Hayward hit Jacob Preston with a peach of a pass on the left edge that the backrower juggled before plunging over.
It took another 20 minutes for the Sharks to get on the board, Hynes sending Kayal Iro over for his fifth try of the season, before Xerri scored his 10th try in 12 games at Sharks Stadium to help the Dogs to an 8-6 halftime lead.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said a few changes to their attack this week in a shortened preparation had helped in what they knew would be a tough battle.
“We didn’t get a whole heap of training in, but we changed some things in our game this week, so we had to spend a fair bit of time walking through and things like that.
“The way everyone committed to that and committed to the plan was outstanding.
“We were excited about the challenge of coming here against a consistent top four team, and whether we won or lost, at least we’d have a sort of line in the sand of where we’re at.
“But very happy with how the game went. I thought they came out really hard and I thought we had to weather a storm there for a bit, and then once we started to get our game on, we’ve seen some really good signs of what we’ve working on over the preseason. So a lot to like about it.
“They’re a quality opposition, and we had to play at a really high level and come up with those big plays if we were going to get the points.”
Sharks skipper Cam McInnes said although his side looked like they might be able to reverse the Bulldogs’ momentum in the second half, they weren’t able to make the right plays.
“Not firing shots, really, like it looked like we may been, but they weren’t, you know, good shots. They weren’t the way we want to play or can play. So yeah, a bit to work on there.”
With NewsWire
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘You just don’t do that’: NRL star sparks melee, refuses to back down
NRL spine health check: Big-earners balancing act at Tigers
There’s lots of attention on the Tigers to see if they can keep their stars amid an oversupply of talent in key positions. MICHAEL CARAYANNIS dissects the health of every club’s spine to see who is best-placed now and in the future.
‘Shocking incident’: Buzz tees off on NRL after Mahoney call
Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield has launched a spray of the NRL Match Review Committee over their lack of action taken on Bulldogs star Reed Mahoney for a “shocking cheap shot”. It comes as the NRL puts all clubs on notice for foul play.