Bulldogs forward Jaeman Salmon says he has been swamped with abusive messages from Wests Tigers fans after his weekend run-in with Alex Twal.
The Tigers lock was sin-binned for slapping Salmon in the face late in the game against Canterbury on Saturday night as the Bulldogs triumphed 32-0.
Twal returned to the field with less than a minute remaining and made a beeline for Salmon again, only for Bulldogs forward Josh Curran to take matters into his own hands and confront Twal – who was still so angry after fulltime that he refused to shake hands with Curran.
Commentators speculated on what Salmon may have said to send Twal over the top, while some suggested the Bulldogs forward had made the “khawd” gesture – meaning “take that” or “cop that” in Arabic culture – towards Twal.
Tigers players on Tuesday insisted Salmon had said been chirping at them during the match. “I’m pretty sure he was mouthing off,” prop Fonua Pole said.
But the Bulldogs forward said Twal had become agitated after he had shoved him in the back following a run-in with Bulldogs prop Lipoi Hopoi, and insisted he was guilty of nothing more than “a bit of theatrics” with how quickly he dropped to the ground after the slap.
“I don’t think I’m known for being a niggler or a grub,” Salmon told this masthead. “If anyone ever mentions my name, ‘grub’ or ‘niggler’ never gets associated with it. All of a sudden, I’m a grub and niggler after this one altercation. I compete – I’m a competitor.
“You can’t win in this situation. If I fire back, I get sin-binned, and if I milk it, I’m a coward – you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
“Tensions were high. I’m a competitor, and Twally is a competitor. All I’ve heard about Twally is he’s a great lad. There was nothing [said]. I don’t even know what the ‘khawd’ is.”
Salmon said he had been taken aback by the vitriol sent his way on social media since the Saturday night flare-up.
“It’s blown up a bit, it’s crazy – something that happens on the field, [you hope] stays on the field,” he said. “There have been plenty of those [abusive messages].
“They’re passionate fans. Nobody likes seeing their team beaten. There are too many explicit words for me to say in the paper. The thing about social media is anyone can jump on and give their two cents worth.”
Bulldogs hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong was the first to race in and shove Twal, despite giving away a considerable size difference.
“I appreciated that from Gordie, what a champion,” Salmon said.
Chan Kum Tong added: “I grew up watching this club, and the ‘Dogs of War’, we really value having our mates’ backs here. Once I saw ‘J-Boy’ [Salmon] slapped in the face, my instinct was to run in and back my mate.
“Alex Twal is a legend of a bloke, and I’ve only heard good things about him. I thought he was going to eat me. I got in early, I ducked down, and the boys came in, which was good.”
Salmon’s form has improved the longer the season has gone, with the Dogs chasing a fifth win from their past six starts when they host premiership contenders the Warriors on Saturday evening.
The Dogs welcome back Stephen Crichton in the halves, while winger and local junior Marcelo Montoya announced his immediate retirement from the game on Tuesday.
