Official sad news: after disagreement between the players the head coach has been suspended for 5 mouth due to…..

The Bulldogs finish a 44-12 thumping of the Dragons on a run of seven unanswered tries as they kick off NRL Indigenous Round on Burramattagal and Wann-gal land at the Olympic stadium.

Matt Burton did his utmost to push for selection as New South Wales’s State of Origin five-eighth, with two tries, 20 points and more than 400 kicking metres.

Jaeman Salmon and Jacob Kiraz also got doubles for the Dogs as they turned around a 12-6 deficit, while the Dragons’ night was made even worse by the loss of centre Jack Bird to a nasty ankle injury.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan opened his post-match press conference looking like a defeated man, reflecting on his journey from winning the 2016 premiership with Cronulla to now.

“Last time I was in this room I’d won a comp. How things have changed,” he said, dropping his head to the table.

It’s so bad you’ve got to try and laugh about it.”

Zac Lomax, vying for a wing spot for the Blues in Origin I on June 5, was sin-binned for a professional foul in the 63rd minute as the game got out of hand.

We’ll be back tomorrow night for the rematch of the 2005 grand final, including reuniting two Tigers teammates from that night in the coaching boxes, as Todd Payten’s Cowboys take on Benji Marshall’s Tigers on Wulgurukaba country.

Then, the Storm travel to Garigal land for another grudge match from years past against the Manly Sea Eagles.

We’ll be bringing you all the action in another live blog, but until then, have a hell of a night and day to come.

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo doesn’t want to talk State of Origin, but he’s dragged into a conversation about the brilliance of Matt Burton and he seems to think Burton has a few levels to get to.

Captain Stephen Crichton says he wants to see Burton running the ball more. He had 71 running metres and no tackle breaks tonight.