Canterbury Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton has no intention of reining in teammate Reed Mahoney’s contentious style of play, instead opting to support the hooker in maintaining his intense on-field performance.
Mahoney found himself in the spotlight once more during round four when he made a dramatic tackle on a defenceless Daniel Atkinson, prompting the match officials to put him on report.
The 26-year-old faced scrutiny from the match review committee, ultimately receiving two fines totalling $1800 for separate incidents during the win against Cronulla.
This has ignited significant debate in the aftermath of the match, but Crichton appeared unfazed when asked by Nine’s Danny Weider whether he believed Mahoney should temper his approach.
Reed Mahoney is brought down after his high tackle. Fox League
“Not really,” the skipper responded when asked about Mahoney’s behaviour.
“Reed’s reached a stage in his career where he understands what his optimal performance looks like.
“I believe the edge we currently possess in challenging other teams is something quite remarkable.
“In the past, we may have let things slide, but it’s encouraging to see the boys standing up for themselves.”
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Coach Cameron Ciraldo also supported Mahoney’s intense style, highlighting the crucial role he has played in the club’s development since his arrival in 2023.
“Reed has been instrumental in our progress towards establishing our identity in recent years,” Ciraldo elaborated.
“We have been diligently working on fostering a strong work ethic, connectivity, and competitiveness, and Reed is at the forefront of this effort.”
Another Canterbury player in troubled waters is the impressive Sitili Tupouniua, who received a one-match suspension following a foul on Braydon Trindall.
Sitili Tupouniua was penalised after the final whistle. Fox League
Ciraldo acknowledged that there were valid concerns regarding the charge against Tupouniua.
“I didn’t see it as a high tackle, nor late, and I don’t think it was a shoulder charge either,” he remarked.
“Explaining to Sitili how he could improve in the future was quite challenging.”
The undefeated Bulldogs are set to face off against the Newcastle Knights in round five.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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