Matt Burton impressed with Canterbury's only try in a 30-6 NRL trial loss to Cronulla but fellow star recruit Tevita Pangai Jr faces suspension after an inexplicable brain snap.
Placed on report early for contacting the head of Cronulla winger Sione Katoa, Pangai was again cited and sin-binned after striking Royce Hunt in the 30th minute.
The Sharks looked slick as former Melbourne gun Nicho Hynes showed his class with a try assist but an ankle injury to captain Wade Graham overshadowed the victory at PointsBet Stadium.
Cronulla prop Braden Hamlin-Uele could also feel the wrath of the match review committee, placed on report twice for a dangerous third-man-in tackle followed by a late shot on Jake Averillo.
Graham, playing his first match since June after a series of head knocks, didn't miss a session throughout the pre-season but will undergo scans having hobbled off in the 15th minute.
The veteran second-rower was seen wearing a moon boot before half-time.
Burton's first contribution at five-eighth will excite Bulldogs fans, the premiership-winning Penrith centre threatening with the ball and kicking nicely, but Pangai Jr's inability to curb his aggression is a major concern.
Rushing up to tackle Sharks prop Hunt, the former Brisbane and Panthers back-rower appeared to strike his opponent with his forearm while gripping his jersey as they stood and wrestled.
Pangai Jr tried to punch Hunt but didn't connect.
Hunt had the last laugh shortly afterwards by claiming a try under the posts.
Pangai Jr has a long rap sheet, including a three-game ban for a crusher tackle last season, and could be rubbed out of Canterbury's season-opening clash with North Queensland.
With Matt Moylan rested, Braydon Trindall, who is suspended until round three, partnered Hynes in the halves and muscled his way to the first try from a scrum.
Burton responded for Canterbury, first forcing a drop-out with a deft grubber before slicing his way over the line with a dummy on the left edge.
Hynes made his mark in black, white and blue when he delivered a beautiful short ball to put storming edge forward Briton Nikora into a gap en route to touching down.
Coming off in the 55th minute, Hynes received a rousing cheer from the Cronulla crowd.
Cronulla continued their surge before half-time with Hunt and fullback Will Kennedy making it 24-6 before Ronaldo Mulitalo finished a smooth left-edge shift to begin the second half.
Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr had a few lively touches but was starved of the ball while Sharks signing Dale Finucane was his usual tough self in a busy stint.
