St George Illawarra has been blown off the park by the Bulldogs in a “smooth” second-half show, with Jack Chook‘s ugly ankle harm derailing the wounded Dragons.
Regardless of taking a six-point lead into the break, the Saints failed to come back out of the sheds for the second 40 minutes because the hosts piled on the factors at Accor Stadium.
Canterbury crossed on seven-straight events after half-time to win 44-12 in a efficiency that can little doubt please head coach Cameron Ciraldo.
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Moses Suli kicked off the scoring for the Dragons — crashing over after receiving a slick cut-out move from Ben Hunt – in a robust begin to the competition.
Canterbury responded by means of Matt Burton who defied physics to floor the ball simply earlier than the dead-ball line in good vogue.
Dragons front-rower Hame Sele was dominated out with a shoulder harm mid-way by means of the primary half earlier than Chook suffered a horrific-looking ankle harm earlier than the break.
“He’s in agony,” Andrew Johns mentioned on 9.
“It is an incredible story of resilience. He has had a historical past of knee accidents, however he additionally suffers from actually unhealthy rheumatoid arthritis. He has to take fixed treatment.”
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Nonetheless, reviews from 9’s Danika Mason early within the second half gave some room for positivity, with the membership’s medical employees now of the assumption Chook suffered a nasty ankle sprain and could possibly be again inside six weeks.
With the guests down to fifteen males for the second half, the Bulldogs crossed twice in fast succession by means of Jaeman Salmon to take the lead for the primary time as Shane Flanagan was compelled to reshuffle his backline and transfer Tom Eisenhuth out large.
Jacob Kiraz stored the roll going for the Canine, scoring within the nook regardless of a possible obstruction within the lead-up, earlier than Jacob Preston scored a fourth unanswered attempt from shut vary because the wounded Pink V continued to wrestle.
“It is past smooth,” Johns mentioned.
“One-out, nobody round Preston. On Monday afternoon once they do the evaluate, it will not be good to take a look at for the Dragons back-rowers … that was poor.”
The problems continued when Zac Lomax was sin-binned for an expert foul within the 63rd minute, opening the door for Burton and Stephen Crichton to place the icing on the cake with late tries as they push for a spot within the NSW Blues lineup.
Crichton is anticipated to be chosen within the centres for the State of Origin opener, whereas Burton is within the working for the No.6 jumper and did his possibilities no hurt with a powerful displaying on Thursday evening.
Kiraz scored a second attempt within the nook with lower than two minutes remaining to present the Bulldogs supporters one last second to cheer.
The victory places Canterbury again in contact with the highest eight, whereas the loss for Flanagan’s males will see them head again to the drafting board.
“A few of these gamers from the Dragons must look within the mirror,” Cam Smith mentioned.
“They did not come out of the sheds … you need to make these tackles at this stage.”
The accidents to Chook and Sele – in addition to Ben Hunt’s doubtless absence attributable to Origin commitments – could possibly be a significant headache for the Dragons, who could also be compelled to blood some kids in spherical 13 in opposition to reigning premiers Penrith.
“Final time I used to be on this room I received a comp – how issues have modified. It was so unhealthy you have to try to chortle about it,” coach Flanagan mentioned post-game.
“The 2 halves had been so totally different … possession killed us and once we lastly did get possession, we turned it over – we had been our personal worst enemy.
“We had been down to fifteen and whenever you lose a centre, it’s arduous. We struggled there somewhat bit and so they scored some tries late within the second half round these areas … you’ve got bought to have the ability to deal with it. If I may put my finger on it precisely, I might repair it.
Flanagan did not rule out making unforced adjustments to his squad subsequent weekend, with the NSW Cup facet producing one other robust show within the curtain-raiser.
