Bulldogs supporters held their breath during the first half of their match as Stephen Crichton went down after a tackle that raised concerns about a potential ankle injury. The incident occurred midway through the first half when Crichton was brought down by Eels players J’maine Hopgood, Joe Ofahengaue, and Shaun Lane, with Lane making the initial contact.
Despite the worrying moments for the Bulldogs, Andrew Johns, commenting for Nine, downplayed the severity of the tackle, stating, “There’s nothing in it really.” After a brief delay, Crichton managed to get back on his feet, but the Bunker reviewed the tackle, which resulted in Lane being placed on report for dangerous contact.
Zac Lomax was visibly frustrated by the decision, and Johns expressed disbelief at the call, while Billy Slater deemed it “ridiculous.” Subsequently, Toby Sexton kicked for touch, and Crichton was back on the field, helping his team as they pushed towards the Eels’ line. This effort culminated in a try by Bronson Xerri, allowing Canterbury to extend their lead after an earlier try from Daniel Suluka-Fifita. Following Blake Wilson’s try, the Bulldogs held a 14-4 advantage by halftime.
The Eels made a resurgence after the break, with Josh Addo-Carr reducing the deficit to 14-8. However, it wasn’t until full time that the scoring resumed, with Crichton successfully converting a penalty goal, securing a 16-8 victory for Canterbury. Alongside Lane’s report, Eels player Jack Williams and Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey were also put on notice for their infractions, with the match review committee’s decisions pending for all involved.