LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Paul Gallen has come out swinging at Bulldogs players as the Kyle Flanagan 'biting' scandal takes an unexpected turn.
Flanagan is set to face the judiciary on Tuesday night over allegations that he bit Stephen Crichton's nose.
Gallen has hinted that Flanagan may have been a target for the Bulldogs as the Dragons halfback tries to prove his innocence in front of the NRL judiciary.
Flanagan maintains his not guilty plea to biting Crichton during a heated clash between the two teams, despite video evidence suggesting otherwise.
The outcome of Tuesday night's judiciary hearing could determine the rest of Flanagan's season, with a potential four-match ban looming over him.
The Dragons are set to argue that it was Crichton who initiated the contact by driving his head into Flanagan's face during the scuffle.
Crichton initially didn't seem bothered by the incident on the field, but later decided to make a formal complaint after noticing blood and cuts on his nose.
The case was quickly referred to the judiciary for further investigation.
Gallen, who has a strong connection to the Flanagan family, including coaching Kyle's father Shane during the Sharks' premiership-winning season in 2016, is standing by the young playmaker as he faces this challenging situation.