Career may bite the dust
A ton of victory joy for Dragons’ Paull
DAMNING video footage led to Titans backrower Kevin Proctor becoming the first player in premiership history to be sent from the field for biting Kiwis teammate Shaun Johnson in Cronulla’s 30-18 victory on Saturday.
The scores were level at 12all at Kogarah before the drama unfolded, leading to the Titans leaking three tries in seven minutes.
Johnson immediately declared he was bitten and showed the mark to referee Henry Perenara.
The Bunker intervened before Perenara marched Proctor from the field for biting Johnson’s forearm.
Proctor was carrying the ball and protested Johnson was trying to choke him.
Johnson was complaining of stomach pains throughout the match. He gave the Titans plenty of headaches, laying on a try to Sione Katoa when the Titans were down a man and restricted to just two reserves.
Johnson came from the field late, when victory was assured, with a groin injury.
Ex-Bulldogs prop James Graham was whacked with a 12-game ban for biting Billy Slater in the 2012 grand final. Proctor, off-contract at season’s end, faces an uncertain future. Sharks skipper Wade Graham, who scored soon after, was placed on report for a high tackle on Keegan Hipgrave.
The Titans impressed early. They took full advantage of poor defensive reads from Cronulla’s right edge, led by winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, whose propensity to rush in almost cost his side a handful of times.
The Titans looked sharp through Brian Kelly, Corey Thompson and Ash Taylor. It was Thompson who scored first with a cut-out pass from Taylor catching the Sharks short after five minutes.
Cronulla went close to scoring through Aaron Woods only to be held up by Titans fullback AJ Brimson.
Josh Dugan, who limped from the field with an ankle injury in the second half, scored Cronulla’s first try with a traditional assist by Graham. The Sharks held a 12-6 lead midway through the second half when Johnson laid on a try to Siosifa Talakai.
The Titans struck back with a solo effort through Jai Arrow with the final play of the first half. Arrow barged through three defenders to cross and level the scores.
South Sydney-bound lock Jai Arrow may have played his final game for the Titans because of a shoulder injury.
NIGHTCLIFF Dragons were made to fight for last minute 34-28 win over South Darwin in Round 7 of the NRL NT Agrade Premiership.
Early tries to Nightcliff’s Tupu Tafunai and Trent Papa would have convinced most that a big score was on the line.
However, Souths with a forfeit the week before and the Chico Motlop trophy on the line, had come to play with a point to prove and put Dragons to the test.
An early try to Tian Nichols and a double for Nasoni Rokobiau showed the Bunnies had come to play. Kanae Gomini and Elon Ronsen also crossed for the Bunnies.
Dragons captain David Paull stood out in his 100th outing for the club making the hard yards when he needed to and brought his side back into the contest when down.
But it took a late double from centre Tim Muhammad for the side to pull back in front with Paull knocking over the final conversion
Papa and Matt Kirwan also managed doubles for the Dragons in what was a scrappy contest for the side.