The match was marked by big hits and heated clashes, with one collision knocking out young Bulldog front rower Brad Holland in the second half, holding up play as paramedics were called to treat Brad and transport him to medical aid.

As the game finished the ambulances were at nearby sporting fields where a helicopter was waiting to take Brad to specialist care.

The Bulldogs trailed for most of the match despite scoring the opening try, but came back in the dying moments to level the scores at 28-all with just minutes to go.

Then when front rower Ben Evans copped a high shot near the centre of the Bomaderry Sporting Complex, winger Jese Piekar calmly slotted through a penalty from 43 metres out to give the Bulldogs a two-point lead a the final bell imminent.

However Piekar turned from hero to villain seconds later when he was sent from the field following a clash with Jets five-eighth Steve Brandon that resulted in a groggy Brandon being helped from the field, and sparked an all-in brawl.

While passions were high on the field and in the crowd, the Bulldogs managed to hang on and claim the win in the opening round of the season.