Recalled Bulldogs halfback Toby Sexton has reflected on the pain of being axed from the team he helped lead to the top of the table after a strong return in the 26-18 loss to the Storm.

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Sexton’s axing to make way for mid-season signing Lachlan Galvin at halfback sparked a furore, with experts divided on whether the former Tigers star has helped or hindered the Bulldogs’ title charge.

Sexton was recalled to the bench against the Storm for Reed Mahoney, but got the chance to play in the halves after Stephen Crichton’s injury sparked a reshuffle.

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A popular member of the team, Sexton admitted his demotion was hard to take and he was just happy to be back playing with his mates again.

“I think four or five weeks ago when I got dropped I thought that was a good chance that I wouldn’t play another game for the Bulldogs,” Sexton said on Channel 9.

“Obviously I got a chance tonight and things went the way they did. I got to come in and play in the halves, get a few minutes.

“I had a few things that I’d like to do better, but it was nice to put the jersey back on again and play with my mates.

“It’s a pretty tough one to swallow, to be honest. For myself personally, I probably didn’t expected to come on that soon.

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“We had our backs against the wall but again, I think that’s just the team we are.

“We showed so much grit all year and gave ourselves chances to win it at the back end of the game, but just couldn’t quite ice it.”

Despite a solid comeback game, Sexton was kicking himself that he couldn’t help guide the Bulldogs to a first preliminary final since 2014, after a poor error down the stretch.

“I had a pretty poor kick that kicked down the field that went out in the full and gave them better field position,” Sexton said.

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“But they scored that try and they were up by two.

“We had all the belief in the world and we started getting a bit of field position back and had a couple chances to score there, but that’s just Melbourne.

“They’re just been at the top of the ladder for such a long period and then they come up with plays like that where Warbrick goes the field to score. It’s a tough one alright, a pretty tough one to swallow.”