A recent incident involving Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa has overshadowed the Bulldogs’ victory against the Wests Tigers. The prop player was sent off with just five minutes remaining for slapping Tigers fullback Jetaya Faifua during a heated exchange sparked by a tackle by Bulldogs lock Holli Wheeler. The elbow of Wheeler appeared to land near Faifua’s throat, leading to a tussle between the two. Teakaraanga-Katoa intervened in the scuffle, and her actions were caught by officials.
Commentators highlighted the physical confrontation, noting the intense nature of the clash where “two big front-rowers” were involved. Referee Belinda Sharpe deemed a sin bin necessary for Teakaraanga-Katoa’s actions, marking a significant moment in the match. This decision came shortly after what could have been a turning point for the Tigers, when Emily Bass seemed poised to score. A kick from Caitlin Turnbull fell forward, leading to a disallowed try upon review, much to the dismay of the Tigers’ supporters.
Despite being a player down, the Bulldogs displayed resilience. Ebony Prior opened the scoring early by surprising the Wests Tigers defence, followed by a powerful run down the field led by Kalosipani Hopoate. Prior capitalised on this momentum to break free from dummy half and score.
The Bulldogs maintained their lead at 12-nil by halftime, with Alexis Tauaneai adding to the score. In the second half, the Tigers fought back, with Bass scoring their first points and adding another soon after. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Bulldogs, who secured the match with a final score of 12-8.
Overall, while the Bulldogs celebrated their win, Teakaraanga-Katoa’s actions have cast a shadow over the game, leaving her fate pending as the team looks ahead.