‘Both parties have moved on’: Kyle Flanagan’s milestone match against his former team won’t lead to repeat of last year’s controversial ban

Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney isn’t expecting a repeat of last year’s fireworks when Dragons playmaker Kyle Flanagan copped a four-match ban for biting Stephen Crichton during a heated clash in Kogarah in front of a raucous crowd featuring two of the most passionate supporter groups in the NRL.

Another bumper crowd will be there on Saturday night to see if the Bulldogs can build on last year’s finals run, while Dragons fans are keen to see what their new-look spine can do after an encouraging couple of trial matches.

Tensions are always high in round 1, but Mahoney doesn’t expect to see emotions spill over after Flanagan copped a season-ending ban in round 23 for biting Crichton, who had his nose in his face.

“I think they’re both mature men,” he said.

“These accidents happen in footy and I think both parties have moved on and will put their best foot forward for their teams.”

Flanagan spent three seasons at Canterbury before he joined the Dragons in 2024, with the five-eighth to bring up the 100-game milestone against his former side this weekend.

His father doesn’t see it as a grudge match, with Shane Flanagan encouraging his son to just focus on his new combination with Lachlan Ilias.

“When you play your old footy team, there’s a lot of external noise that you’re playing your old team,” Shane Flanagan said.

“But it’s just (about) getting on with the job.”

The Dragons are one of the more interesting teams heading into the new season given they’ve recruited experienced guys like Clint Gutherson, Damien Cook and Valentine Holmes.

Gutherson is the first-choice fullback, with Tyrell Sloan set to start the year on the wing in reserve grade after a disrupted off-season.

“He didn’t train on the field (because) he had a slight stress fracture in his foot (that kept him out) November, December and January, and he only had two or three weeks (of training) in February,” Flanagan said.

“He’s well and truly behind in his football and we haven’t had the reps for him to practise on the wing.

“He’s back now and will play reserve grade, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets back in. But we just need him to get some game time under his belt, and that’s what we’ll do over the next few weeks.”

While Sloan has had his injury concerns, Bulldogs lock Kurt Mann is happy to be back after a broken collarbone ruled him out of their first finals appearance in eight years.

“It was disappointing, but that’s footy,” he said.

“You play and you get injured, and there’s not a whole heap you can do about it.

“It was definitely hard to play the whole year and then miss the most exciting part of the season.

“I was playing probably the best footy (of my career).”