Paul Gallen hits out at Bulldogs players as Kyle Flanagan 'biting' furore takes shock twist

Paul Gallen has suggested Kyle Flanagan was deliberately targeted by the Bulldogs as the Dragons playmaker prepares to convince the NRL judiciary he did not bite Dogs skipper Stephen Crichton. Flanagan has been pleaded not guilty to biting Crichton on the nose midway through the second half of Canterbury's 28-10 win on Saturday night, despite video evidence indicating he took a nip as the pair tangled on the ground.

He will fight to save his season at Tuesday night's judiciary hearing, with a four-match ban ruling him out for the rest of the home and away rounds. St George Illawarra will argue Crichton drove his head into Flanagan's face, instigating contact with the Dragons No.6.

Crichton didn’t respond angrily to the tackle at the time or make an on-field complaint, although he did wipe something from his nose as he returned to the defensive line. His nose was left cut and bloodied but it was only after the match he decided to make a formal complaint.

The matter was referred straight to the judiciary. Gallen is close to the Flanagan family, combining with Shane Flanagan to deliver the Sharks their first premiership in 2016 and captaining Kyle on his NRL debut for Cronulla two years later.

Paul Gallen believes Bulldogs targeted Kyle Flanagan

He fears Kyle is a victim of trial by media and his fate has already been determined before the matter goes before the judiciary. Gallen believes Crichton is not blameless and that the Dogs went out of their way to target Flanagan, who spent three challenging years at Canterbury.

"I'll give you the hot tip - Kyle Flanagan doesn't control where Stephen Crichton's nose goes,'" Gallen wrote in his Wide World of Sports column. "The fact is it was Crichton who went into that tackle with the intention of rubbing his head into Flanagan's head.

"There is history between Kyle and the Bulldogs and it looked like they went out there to show him who's boss. "We've seen Canterbury players refusing to take a backward step this year, and I think Crichton was trying to lead the way with some aggression to send a message."

Fox Sports commentator Greg Alexander said the incident only came to his attention after he was preparing for a live cross back to the studio at fulltime. He said: "I quickly had a look at it on the screen down on the ground and just thought 'well, he's bitten him. No two ways about it'.

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"During your footy career you have a whole lot of things – arms, hands, fingers – in your face (while) making tackles, getting tackled. But does that mean you bite someone? No, it doesn't. It doesn’t mean you latch on with your teeth. None of it excuses biting. It doesn't matter what happened."