All the talk was about Matt Burton and Lachlan Galvin.
Who was the top dog? Who would step up when their team needed it most?
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In the end, the answer should have been obvious. There was a multiple-time premiership winner who had stepped up on the biggest stage time and time again, and on Sunday under the bright lights of Allegiant Stadium, Stephen Crichton kicked the game-winning field goal to break the Dragons’ hearts in a 15-14 golden point thriller.
It came after Ryan Couchman was ruled to have stripped the ball from Bronson Xerri, with that decision proving the difference as the Bulldogs kicked for touch and got in position to win the game.
While it could be argued it was a loose carry from Xerri, Couchman did have his hands on the ball and the decision came after the NRL’s club relationship manager of elite officiating, David Fairleigh, reportedly sent around an email highlighting rule changes and interpretations.
In it, according to Code Sports, he wrote that “stealing the ball will be determined by the defending player(s) actions. These actions may include striking at the ball, gripping and pulling at the ball or pulling a ball carries arm to dislodge the ball”.
Under that interpretation, even if the Dragons had a challenge they would have been up against it to have the decision overturned.
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The Dragons were first on the board through a Valentine Holmes penalty goal before Galvin produced his first highlight of the night, toying with the defence until he put Jacob Preston through a hole to score.
Galvin was playing with a similar tempo to that of Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa, leaving the defence in two minds as he threatened to both run and pass the ball before eventually giving it off to Preston at the exact right moment.
That Galvin-Preston combination was the most threatening one for the Bulldogs in the first half, and while the execution was not always perfect when it clicks that lethal left edge will be hard to stop.
Kyle Flanagan was able to do just that late in the first half though as he forced an error from Preston, and the under-fire five-eighth came up with another big tackle on Galvin in the second half to save another try.
Flanagan’s performance was emblematic of a Dragons team as a whole that refused to go away, even as the Bulldogs had the better share of attacking opportunities.
A deft grubber from Damien Cook was pounced on from Emre Guler in the 14th minute as the Dragons hit back after that earlier Preston try, before two penalty goals put the Bulldogs ahead 10-8 at halftime.
Cameron Ciraldo’s side extended its lead early in the second half as Crichton flicked it out to Jacob Kiraz, but as had been the case all game, the Dragons would not go down without a fight as Setu Tu scored on debut.
It came after a string of passes, including a brilliant tap-on from Clint Gutherson, leaving the score at 14-12 entering the final 20 minutes.
A late downtown penalty saw the Dragons level the game and while the Bulldogs had a chance to kick the winning field goal, they instead opted to go for the try to leave Cooper Cronk shaking his head in commentary.
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“I can’t believe they didn’t set up for the field goal,” the premiership-winning halfback said.
It wasn’t just that they didn’t go for the one-pointer, but the Bulldogs were far too conservative in the lead-up to the last tackle and when they went for the big play, it fell flat.
Ultimately, the game ended up going to golden point and both sides struggled to ice that final moment, so it was left to Crichton to have the final say.
Both teams will have players under the microscope of the match review committee, with Christian Tuipulotu (shoulder charge) and Toby Couchman (dangerous tackle) placed on report for the Dragons.
Crichton, meanwhile, was not placed on report but was penalised for a high shot on a sliding Tu which could still also see him come under scrutiny.
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