Canterbury have finished their Holden Cup season in 10th position after a 28-14 loss to the Warriors this afternoon.
The Bulldogs finals hopes were dashed as Canberra thrashed Parramatta earlier today, an unlikely 50 plus point victory against the Warriors was suddenly the equation required.
All hopes of an unlikely finals berth were dashed after the Warriors opened up with three tries in the first 15 minutes.
Warriors winger Tomas Aoake scored the first of his first half hat-trick when he gathered up a kick from Kauri Aupouri.
Tualima Tualima barged over under the posts after a Bulldogs error.
The Bulldogs finally hit back after Joshua Bergamin found Marcelo Montoya with a lovely cut-out ball on the left hand side.
Bradley Abbey then handed Aoake his third try after sustained pressure on the Bulldogs line.
The Warriors went into the sheds 22-8 with superior possession and had plenty of attacking opportunities thanks to repeated Bulldog errors.
Despite a strong start to the second half, the Bulldogs were unable to exploit some early possession and territory.
Warriors halfback Erin Clark went through some sloppy defence to score the opening try of the half.
Bulldogs halfback guy Hamilton forced a drop-out with a neat kick behind the warriors line.
from the ensuing set hooker Brad Keighran sent Marcelo Montoya over, as the Bulldogs exploited the Warriors on the short side.
Keighran scored a consolation try from dummy-half six minutes from time to emphasise what was a strong half for Canterbury.
Bradley Abbey booted a penalty goal over at full-time as the Warriors head into the finals in 7th position.
WARRIORS 28 def. BULLDOGS 14
At: ANZ Stadium
