Bulldogs Jacob Preston charged by MRC after controversial sin bin

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have avoided a suspension for forward Jacob Preston after the Match Review Committee handed down its findings from the club’s heavy loss to the Dolphins, but the forward did not escape charge.

The Bulldogs edge forward has now been charged with a Grade 1 Dangerous Contact offence relating to the tackle, however he will avoid suspension due to it being his first offence on the rolling judiciary record.

Preston has been hit with a $1,000 early guilty plea fine, which would increase to $1,500 if unsuccessfully contested at the judiciary.

Preston was sin-binned during the match following a late shot on Dolphins playmaker Isaiya Katoa, with the incident occurring after Katoa had already released the football and deemed by the referee to be excessive.

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The incident came during a difficult night for Canterbury, with the Dolphins running away with the contest in a dominant 44-12 victory.

It was a somewhat controversial call, with commentators such as Michael Ennis heavily critical of the sin bin, while many fans questioned what the game is becoming when defenders are punished for applying pressure to opposition halves.

While Preston’s tackle was clearly late, many argued it was marginal at full speed, including Ennis, who believed it was a legitimate tackle attempt that should not have resulted in a sin bin.

Momentum swung heavily during Preston’s stint off the field, with the Dolphins capitalising on the extra space and field position to pile pressure on the Bulldogs, who also appeared to feel the physical toll later in the game as fatigue set in.

Despite the charge, the outcome will come as a relief for Canterbury given Preston’s importance to the side, particularly with the club battling injuries and inconsistency during a crucial stretch of the season that has seen pressure continue to build on coach Cameron Ciraldo.

While much of the criticism has centred around young halfback Lachlan Galvin and the Bulldogs’ inability to score points, it was Canterbury’s defence that again failed to stand up.

Along with that, it has become increasingly clear the attacking structures are not functioning effectively and the forward pack is struggling to win the middle battle consistently, with prop Max King’s absence leaving the rotation looking thin.

Some solace will be taken from the fact Preston has avoided suspension, but it will do little to ease the pressure on the Bulldogs as they head into a pivotal Magic Round clash against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Bulldogs Jacob Preston charged by MRC after controversial sin bin

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