The Bulldogs have once again shown they are a new team this season, beating the Tigers 22-14 in a comeback win at Accor Stadium that saw tensions spill over.
With only six minutes left on the clock, both David Klemmer and Alex Seyfarth were given their marching orders by referee Kasey Badger.
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Klemmer was binned for dissent, while Seyfarth was dismissed for dangerous contact on winger Jacob Kiraz that saw both teams come together in a fiery tussle.
“There might be a headbutt here,” Michael Ennis said in commentary.
“Here’s the headbutt or leaning in from Seyfarth.”
Badger agreed, stating to Seyfarth: “You’re leading with the head. On report and you’re in the bin.”
The Tiger was then given a fiery farewell from the Canterbury faithful.
“They were absolutely livid the Bulldogs players with the work of Seyfarth on Kiraz,” Ennis added.
“Look at the Dogs supporters … they’re piling over the tunnel here into Seyfarth, things are getting hostile here at Accor Stadium.”
Hooker Reed Mahoney was also lucky to avoid sanction, but the events left Benji Marshall’s side with only 11 players on the field to close out the contest.
“In all honesty Reed Mahoney, for the second game in a row, should have joined him for being the third man in,” Warren Smith said.
Earlier, the Tigers crossed for the first try of the evening, streaking away 80 metres down the right side of the field before Brent Naden found winger Charlie Staines.
However, Cameron Ciraldo’s side hit back through Mahoney, who found Kurt Mann with an incisive short ball to dive over.
The next four-pointer came in similar fashion, with Jake Simpkin hitting a charging Fonua Pole to barge his way over the line for the merger club.
Going into the break the Tigers led 14-6 and held the majority of the momentum until the Dogs went on a second-half rampage.
Ciraldo’s charges out-enthused the Tigers in the second 40 minutes and scored through Josh Curran only four minutes into the half.
He managed to beat three Tigers defenders to a Drew Hutchison grubber before Matt Burton sliced through the line.
The gun five-eighth found centre Bronson Xerri who scored virtually untouched after a controversial moment saw halfback Aidan Sezer avoid a sin bin.
The veteran No. 7 put his weight on the legs of Curran, who fell in a tackle awkwardly and looked almost certain he would be given his marching orders.
Izack Tago, at the same ground on Thursday night, was sent to the bin for a similar tackle, however Badger decided Sezer would remain on the field.
In the end the Dogs held on in a match that ended in spiteful fashion.
Originally published as Bulldogs secure comeback win as fiery NRL game ends with sin bins