We need to be careful here because in no way are we accusing NRL match officials of intentionally not giving battling teams a fair go.

But we also can’t look back on the weekend round and not double down on Shane Flanagan’s blow-up about some contentious calls that went against the Dragons in their controversial loss to the Bulldogs.

You may remember it was only a month ago Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson got himself in hot water with the NRL when he claimed referees are less likely to award penalties to struggling sides.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer >

For mine, what happened to the Dragons on Saturday was another prime example of what Richo was referring to.

Again, no one is saying the Dragons were intentionally robbed in their heartbreaking 20-18 defeat.

But if you were watching this game without bias towards either team (which I’d like to think I was) you would have to agree with Flanagan that the Dragons did not get the rub of the green when it mattered most.

How the Bunker overruled the onfield decision and penalised Luciano Leilua for crowding the ruck in the play-the-ball involving Jacob Kiraz in the dying minutes was, as Flanagan said, just “outrageous”.

Flanagan also fired up about what appeared to be a missed knock on from Viliame Kikau that led to a set restart before the match-winning try.

The Dragons were also denied an early try when Tyrell Sloan pushed a Bulldogs player in the back while competing for possession.

Again, it was a tough call that could have gone either way.

It just so happened it again went against the Dragons.

READ MORE

NRL TALKING POINTS: Galvin act seals brutal Bulldogs fate; horror facing master coach trio

‘RIDICULOUS’: Mid-season NRL crackdown slammed after refs’ stunning weekend spree

LOCKER ROOM SPRAY: Des explodes, blasts ‘dumb’ Titans as team closes in on wooden spoon

Then factor in that a week earlier the Bulldogs also got “lucky” in the 12-8 win over the Cowboys.

On that occasion Kikau wasn’t penalised for a match-saving play when he appeared to whack Scott Drinkwater high in a desperate tackle that dislodged the ball from Drinkwater’s hands.

At the point of impact the Cowboys’ fullback was already over the try line and inches away from scoring.

It was hard to tell by the replays if there was any direct contact on Drinkwater’s chin.

But it appeared impossible to think there wasn’t given the way Drinkwater reacted like he’d just been blindsided with a baseball bat.

Maybe it was his head hitting the turf that caused him to react the way he did.

Still, I couldn’t believe there wasn’t more debate about that call after the game.

Instead, the focus immediately went to Todd Payten fighting to save his job.

But as Richardson said when he had his crack about this topic back in June on the Tigers’ Behind the Roar podcast: “I’ve learned over the years, though, that refereeing decisions never really go your way when you’re battling up the ladder.

“For some reason referees — and they’re humans — they feel that the better teams are going to make better mistakes, less mistakes, when really that’s not the case. But it is what it is.”

In all instances just mentioned — against the Dragons and the Cowboys — had the calls gone the other way maybe we would be talking about the Bulldogs’ march to the finals in a different light right now.

They could have just as easily been staring down the barrel of four straight losses after previous defeats to the Panthers and Broncos.

There is no doubt the Dragons were also their own worst enemies on occasions with some of the brain dead plays they came up with.

Like the Clint Gutherson call to do the short drop out when the Dragons were defending to save the game.

Or Sloan inexcusably shooting out of the line to create the opportunity for Lachlan Galvin to deliver the match-winning try.

Galvin also deserves credit for showing great courage to back himself with that cutout pass.

For a 20-year-old to hold his nerve and come up with a clutch play like that, especially given the spotlight Galvin has been under, again highlights what a remarkable talent this guy really is.

But the reality is the pass only covered the cracks in what was otherwise a far from impressive performance from the Dogs.

After leading the competition for most of the season, the Dogs look to have the stumbles at the minute despite their recent wins.

And looking ahead, they have a tough run home.

They now take on the resurgent Sea Eagles this Sunday followed by the Tigers.

After that they will finish the regular season with games against the Warriors, Roosters, Storm, Panthers and Sharks.

At some point you’d think the luck will have to even out.

Not that it will be any consolation to the Dragons who are now stuck back in 11th and six points adrift of the top eight on the back of a loss where they probably deserved to win.

BRAILEY DESERVES TO BE IN KANGAROOS CONVERSATION

Cronulla didn’t have a single player selected in the recent State of Origin series.

But it’s not too late for gun hooker Blayke Brailey to win a call-up for the end of season Kangaroo tour to England.

The Sharks dummy half was again the best player on the field in the 31-18 win over the Roosters where he set up two tries while having seven runs for 93m on top of making 45 tackles.

While Brailey missed out on the NSW No 9 jersey to the Cowboys’ Reece Robson, there is no question right now Brailey is challenging Harry Grant as the No.1 dummy half in the game on form.

The Sharks take on the Rabbitohs this round before their round 22 clash against the Cowboys where Brailey gets the chance to go head-to-head with Robson.

RAIDERS YOUNG GUN WORTHY OF ICONIC COMPARISONS

Canberra’s Ethan Strange is another player who will be hard not to take away on the Roo Tour if he continues his form into the big end of season games.

It’s been mentioned a few times previously but the similarities between the styles of Strange and Laurie Daley are remarkable.

While the Eels made this a lot tougher game than the 40-16 scoreline suggested, the Raiders just had too much firepower when it mattered.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer >

SEA EAGLES’ MUST DO DEAL WITH ‘HEART AND SOUL’

Jake Trbojevic’s emotional reaction in the dressing sheds after the shock 18-16 win over the Storm showed why this bloke remains the heart and soul of the Sea Eagles.

It was heart-warming vision as the cameras caught the 31-year-old putting the slipper into the drink bucket before he clinched his fists and pumped his arms in triumph.

The talk all year has been that Trbojevic will be looking at a huge hair cut when he sits down to sign his next contract.

But what Jake means to Manly is more than just counting his hits up and tackles.

He is currently signed until the end of 2026 but has said previously he will never play against Manly.

WILL ROBBO REGRET SHOCK SELECTION CALL?

Trent Robinson might want to have a rethink on his decision to overlook Sandon Smith to make way for Chad Townsend’s return to NRL.