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West Tigers will be without halfback Aiden Sezer for at least four weeks after he was hit with a lengthy ban for a hip drop tackle in Saturday's contest with the Bulldogs. Sezer was not sent to the sin bin during the match despite being placed on report, but the match review committee have come down hard on the veteran half. There were a whopping seven charges from the heated Tigers-Bulldogs clash — including two for Reed Mahoney. Mahoney was charged twice, once for a dangerous throw on Alaimalo Solomon ($2,500 with an early plea) and then for his part in the late match brawl with Alex Seyfarth ($1,800), who in turn is facing $1,500 for striking after he headbutted the Bulldogs hooker. After the match on Saturday, Mahoney claimed his opponents suffer from "big man syndrome" and he was only protecting his mates. "They don't like little people talking up to them. Maybe that's their fault, not mine," he said. "I go into those sorts of scuffles because I'm there to protect my mate. That's what we're about here, protecting each other to the death. "I'm just there to do that, I'm not there to start anything, I'm there to protect and stand up for my boys. That's how I see it." Meanwhile, Bulldogs player Sam Hughes can accept a $3,000 fine with an early guilty plea after appearing to shove referee Casey Badger midway through the opening half. That will rise to a two-game ban if he opts to fight the charge and is found guilty by the panel. David Klemmer, meanwhile, is facing a fine of $3,000 or two matches for his dissent towards Badger. In Sunday's NRL matches Cronulla-Sutherland came from behind to beat St George Illawarra 20-10 at a sodden Shark Park to go back top of the ladder. That came after the Knights edged the Warriors 14-8 in atrocious conditions in Newcastle. Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog. A bit of a mixed bag this weekend - at the end of the day, I think Star Wars was the winner... - Mike Loading We're going to wrap things up here for the weekend's action. Don't forget, there's still some AFL to get your teeth into if that's your thing. But if not, keep your eyes open for our round wrap up tomorrow morning. Thanks for being with us, we'll catch you all again next time. The small things in life:
The earlier result; Knights v Warriors, has made her day for my 97-year old mum up in Newcastle on her birthday today. Deaf as a post, but I eventually got the result across in a phone call. Thank you NRL for the small things ! - Old timer Thanks Simon for the call. A hot meal waiting at home for the very wet but very happy young bloke. - KB I imagine he'll feel dry - at least momentarily - after that result. Key EventMay the force be with us all
The NRL, spreading joy to young and old
Happy Sharks
The Sharks go back on top of the NRL ladder after a hard-fought, scrappy derby victory against the Dragons.
In tough conditions at Shark Park, the Dragons led 10-6 at half time thanks to a Mikaele Ravalawa double.
In a desperately scrappy second half the Sharks took control, Siosifa Talakai and Thomas Hazleton crossing to add to Oregon Kaufusi's opening score.
Nicho Hynes was perfect with the boot, his fourth goal sealing the win.
The Sharks win a penalty after some sustained pressure on the Dragons line.
The Sharks opt to play the clock and take the points - and Nicho Hynes kicks it over.
It's 20-10 with a couple of minutes remaining.
While that try was scored the Dragons replacement hooker Fa'amanu Brown has gone down the tunnel.
He is only on while Jacob Liddle gets an HIA - so the Dragons are without a dummy half at the moment.
Thomas Hazleton has crashed over for the third-straight game, an unstoppable force from close range to stop a brilliant Sharks break.
The Sharks made an initial break on half way through Sione Katoa, who was tackled in a way that looked suspiciously like a trip by Tyrell Sloan.
Hynes adds the extras and the Sharks at 18-10 up.
What was I saying about errors becoming costly and dominating this game?
The Dragons have made four errors in their last six sets.
But both teams are guilty.
The Sharks have completed just 3/5 in the last 10 minutes, while the Dragons have done 3/7.
It's worth noting this one, because Ravalawa showed the restraint of a saint to not pop Ronaldo Mulitalo.
The Dragons number five dropped the ball on the sideline and Mulitalo rejoices in this and smashes his opposite number into touch.
Tom Eisenhuth is pinged for not getting away from the tackle.
But then Nicho Hynes commits the cardinal sin for a kicker by missing touch!
Wild.
Oh my, the Dragons really made a mess in their bed there.
Down the short side on fourth tackle, the Dragons were pressuring the Sharks defence, only to start throwing increasingly-frantic offloads in an attempt to keep the ball alive, needlessly, and then turned the ball over.
Ben Hunt is livid at not getting another chance with the last tackle.
But the issue is fleeting, because the Sharks now cough it up through Blayke Brailey.
The rain is not coming down at the moment, which is a blessing for the crowd.
But the ball is still clearly greasy, with Tyrell Sloan dropping the ball as the Dragons move the ball with quick hands to the right edge.
He was under pressure from Ronaldo Mulitalo, who lets him know in no uncertain terms that the Dragons fullback made a boo-boo.
Meanwhile, Dragons hooker Jake Liddle is going off for an HIA.
Multiple set restarts on the Dragons line gives the Sharks a brilliant opportunity to score.
And the hosts do manage to get the ball over the line, but Sione Katoa offloads into Siosifa Talakai, who knocks on over the line.
Geez - Turn my back for an hour or so and the place falls apart. C'mon Sharks!
- Mike
Loading
Blink and you'll miss it, Mike.
Sharks are back on top and looking electric in this opening to the second half.
Brilliant power and pace from Siosifa Talakai, who was played into a half-gap occupied by Ben Hunt and the massive forward powered through him and wrestled the ball to the ground.
There was a decoy runner that the Bunker will have had a look at but it looked all good from the replay I saw.
The extras are added by Hynes and he adds another kick to his try assist.
The Sharks lead 12-10.
G'day Simon. Cheers for offering a welcome and quality replacement for what I consider a less than optimal commentary on free-to-air TV. As an expat New South Welshman I'm seeing that this and the next round are crucial to the makeup of the Origin squads in terms of injuries sustained. Maroon supporters (including those imported from Essex) are understandably already worried, but I'm especially focused on Hynes getting through unscathed for NSW. It's proving to be an enthralling round this weekend on many regards.
- Old timer
It does seem that way, Old Timer (and thanks for the kind words).
I agree re: Hynes - he is key for both the Sharks and New South Wales I think.
Brilliant from Nicho Hynes, he carves his way through a massive gap and then slides towards the line where Tyrell Sloan hauls him back into the field of play - assisted by Kyle Flanagan.
Siosifa Talakai then tried to crash over and is held up by Flanagan.
Great defence, but a lovely break from Hynes there.
Mikaele Ravalawa takes the ball into contact after the Sharks get us underway.
The Sharks have the wind at their back in this second half, but has we saw in the first half, that might be a hindrance more than a help.
Let's check back in at Newcastle and Jackson Hastings, who was full of love after his side's gritty low-scoring victory against the Warriors.
"Mate, this club's built on hard work, grit," he told ABC Sport.
"And although we've had flashy players over the years, the town's always been built on hard work. That's never lost on us.
"I mean, look at this crowd in the pouring rain. It stopped just before kick-off, hammered down at half-time and they don't move, mate.
"They don't care if they're soaking wet, they don't get if it's Sunday, they just turn up and they love this joint and we love them.
"It gives me goosebumps every time we get to play here and I hear that Newcastle chant when we're defending our try line and that's the reason we won today.
"I know we have to do the work on the field but they certainly got us home."
Key Event
It was always going to be tense and tight, but it is the Dragons who have had the better of that first half - thanks in a large part to Ben Hunt and his use of the ball in hand.
The kicking game has been off for the veteran Maroon, but he has been superb at bringing his wide men into the contest when close to the line.
Both teams are playing no-thrills footy in the wet conditions, and it's showing in a pretty drab match, with the only pressure coming off the back of set restarts and penalties.
Discipline will clearly be key in the second half as to who will get the result.
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