'Shouldn't be allowed to do that': Reed Mahoney criticised for sparking melee as Bulldogs struggle in the rain

Canterbury have copped just their second defeat of the year, going down 44-8 in rain-affected conditions against the Dolphins on Thursday night.

The wet and wild start caused plenty of havoc, with Kurt Donoghoe suffering a broken nose and leaving the field, only to return to the field 15 minutes later.

"I can't believe he's come back on," Andrew Johns said on Nine.

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Matt Burton also had a brief scare and went off for a HIA, but was also cleared.

On the scoreboard, Jamayne Isaako produced a remarkable one-handed putdown to give the Dolphins an early lead, before Lipoi Hopoi got the hosts back level.

However, right before half time, a poor defensive read from Bronson Xerri allowed the visitors to regain momentum, with Jack Bostock going over in the corner.

"Bronson Xerri just deadset goes past the ball ... what is Bronson Xerri doing there?" Brad Fittler said on the Nine broadcast.

Johns quipped that the Bulldogs centre had plans other than making the tackle.

"He was thinking intercept," he said.

That lead gave the Redcliffe-based outfit a boost as utility Harrison Graham put his side further ahead after the break.

With 20 minutes to go, tempers flared after Donoghoe was placed on report for a late tackle on Toby Sexton that played the Dogs' halfback in a dangerous position.

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The fact that the tackle was simultaneous didn't stop referee Todd Smith from blowing the penalty as Reed Mahoney looked to take matters into his own hands, running in and sparking a melee between the two sides.

"You can't put them in a dangerous position, but Reed Mahoney shouldn't be able to do that either," Fittler said on commentary.

Johns also questioned why Mahoney wasn't sin-binned for the incident.

The polarising dummy-half was called out by Smith and given a caution.

"You're on no more chances," the official said.

The argy-bargy only spurred the Dolphins on further as Herbie Farnworth scored a soft try from close range, before Francis Molo scored his first try in Dolphins colours.

Jake Averillo put the icing on the cake in the dying stages, scoring under the posts and getting one over his former club in the process, before Donoghoe capped off a bizarre night with a try to give his side perhaps their best win of the season.

"No one deserves a try more," Johns said.