Dragons co-captain Damien Cook has come to the defence of winger Christian Tuipolotu following some “interesting” try celebrations during Saturday night’s match.
The 24-year-old bagged a hat-trick in St George Illawarra’s disappointing loss to the Bulldogs, proving to be a crucial asset with a team-high 176 metres gained.
However, in the second half, with the Red V trailing their old foes and time running short, Tuipolotu chose to celebrate after two of his tries.
“Interesting celebration when you’re down by 18,” remarked Michael Ennis on Fox League.
“The papers are out again. He scores a hat-trick here at Kogarah.”
Christian Tuipulotu celebrates scoring a try against the Bulldogs. Getty
While it appeared that Tuipolotu’s gestures were geared towards financial gain, it remained unclear who exactly the Tongan international was directing his celebrations towards.
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When asked about the antics in his post-match press conference, Cook chose not to critique Tuipolotu, instead commending the dynamic try-scorer for his vibrant presence.
“No, I’m not sure what it’s about, but he really does bring energy to the locker room and it’s fantastic having him around,” said the Dragons’ hooker.
“He’s always upbeat, a real character in the squad, and we appreciate him – that’s why the fans adore him too.”
In addition to his scoring exploits, Tuipolotu was involved in a heated exchange with Bulldogs’ star Stephen Crichton in the first half, but his teammates quickly intervened to prevent the situation from escalating.
St George Illawarra will be looking to bounce back next weekend against the Rabbitohs.
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