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7 months ago
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An investigation has been launched after a heated bust up between Newcastle star Jack Hetherington and Canterbury rival Reed Mahoney on Sunday afternoon.
The Bulldogs secured a big win at Accor Stadium but their victory was somewhat overshadowed following the explosive encounter, with the pair earlier sent off after clashing on the pitch.
Footage appeared to show Hetherington throw a straight job into Mahoney's chest as the Bulldogs star made his way through the tunnel.
The situation did not escalate further after officials intervened and the governing body is aware of the incident and is expected to investigate.
Bulldogs hooker Mahoney enjoyed a great game and was influential to his side's win, but was given a stint in the sin-bin in the final knockings of the game.
Two footy stars were involved in an altercation in the tunnel after the game
Jack Hetherington was unhappy with Reed Mahoney waving him off the pitch
Then, as he made his way down the tunnel he was confronted by an angry Hetherington after he sprung out of the Knights' dressing room to confront him.
Hetherington reportedly shoved Mahoney before being separated.
He was aggrieved after Mahoney cheekily waved him off after he was earlier dismissed from the game.
Newcastle's NRL woes have been compounded by a fresh injury scare for star fullback Kalyn Ponga in a limp 36-12 loss to Canterbury.
The Knights were thumped in Sydney on Sunday, with Bulldog Bronson Xerri scoring his first try since 2019 in his comeback from a four-year drug ban and Ponga adding a potential foot injury to an ongoing hip issue.
The result improved the new-look Bulldogs to 3-4 while the Knights - fifth after the regular season last year - fell to 2-5 after another late selection call failed to spark them.
Ponga, hoping to return to the State of Origin fray for Queensland this season, has battled through a hip injury this season and was in obvious pain when returning for the second half.
Hetherington was dismissed earlier in the game and the Bulldogs hooker mocked him
He eventually limped off for good and stepped into a moon boot after Bulldogs utility Bailey Hayward raced from nowhere to plant an in-goal grubber under the Newcastle co-captain's nose.
That made it 24-6, before Josh Addo-Carr flew expertly to score in the right corner and seal the contest with more than 20 minutes left.
Newcastle made a late personnel move by demoting five-eighth Jack Cogger to the NSW Cup and bringing Tyson Gamble back into the starting side to partner halfback Jackson Hastings.
Their fourth halves change in seven games - that pair began the season together - amounted to little though, the Knights' kicking game easily trumped by the boot of Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton.
The pair came to blows when Mahoney was sent off in the final knockings of the game
The left-footer managed a 40-20 that led to Jacob Kiraz's early try, with the Bulldogs defusing every Newcastle kick and the Knights making just three line breaks.
Dylan Lucas scored for Newcastle off a flat Gamble pass but Greg Marzhew knocked on from the restart and Xerri, back in the NRL this year after a positive test for testosterone in November 2019, had the instant reply.
Key off-season signing Stephen Crichton added some flourish to the occasion when he completed a wonderful team try down the right flank before tempers flared in the final minutes.
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