LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney is not anticipating a repeat of last year's heated clash between the Bulldogs and Dragons, where Dragons playmaker Kyle Flanagan was banned for four matches for biting Stephen Crichton.
Despite the passionate supporter groups and high tensions that are often seen in round 1, Mahoney believes both teams have moved on from the incident.
He stated, "I think they're both mature men...
These accidents happen in footy and I think both parties have moved on and will put their best foot forward for their teams."
With a bumper crowd expected at the upcoming match, Bulldogs fans are hopeful that their team can continue to build on last year's finals run, while Dragons fans are eager to see how their new-look spine performs after promising trial matches.
Flanagan, who spent three seasons at Canterbury before joining the Dragons in 2024, will mark his 100th game milestone against his former team this weekend.
Overall, both teams appear focused on moving past the ugly incident from last year and putting their best foot forward for the upcoming match.
Mahoney's belief in the maturity of both Flanagan and Crichton suggests that emotions are less likely to spill over this time around.
As the teams prepare to face each other again, it seems that both sides are ready to leave last year's events behind and focus on the game ahead.