LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a dramatic turn of events, Dragons star Kyle Flanagan has been handed a season-ending suspension for an alleged biting incident involving Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton.
The NRL judiciary, after a marathon hearing on Tuesday night, delivered the verdict that will see Flanagan watching from the sidelines for the rest of the regular season.
The NRL's prosecution team pushed for a ban of four to six games, emphasizing the seriousness of the offence.
Flanagan's defence fought hard, arguing that a shorter suspension would be more appropriate, but the judiciary panel was resolute in their decision to crack down on biting in the sport.
"It's a tough pill to swallow, but my focus now is on supporting my Dragons teammates for the next few weeks," Flanagan said in a statement.
"I maintain my innocence in this matter, but I respect the decision made by the judiciary.
Now it's about turning my energy towards helping the Dragons in any way I can for the next month."
With Flanagan ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, the Dragons will need to dig deep and rally around their teammates to maintain their momentum on the field.
It's a challenging time for the team, but adversity often brings out the best in a squad's fighting spirit.