The Canterbury-Bankstown have kicked off the 2025 season in style, defeating arch-rivals St George Illawarra Dragons 28-20 in front of a sold-out crowd at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Club debutant Sitili Tupouniua stole the show with two tries in six minutes, while returning Bulldog Marcelo Montoya also scored.
Players were up and about from kick-off with both teams producing some brutal hits in the opening minutes of the clash.
Club debutant Daniel Suluka-Fifita made his presence known in the opening tackle, forcing a Dragons knock-on. But the Dragons returned serve, forcing Viliame Kikau to knock on in the next set.
Montoya celebrated his first game as a Bulldog since 2020 by scoring the first try of the game. The former Warrior bounced off Clint Gutherson to cross in the corner.
The Dragons hit back three minutes later through Christian Tuipulotu, who was awarded a penalty try after Stephen Crichton’s knees collided with his head.
Crichton was placed on report for the incident, as was Jacob Preston following a collision with Valentine Holmes later in the first half.
A Dragons error 10 metres out from their line handed the Bulldogs a golden opportunity and they capitalised with Blake Wilson crossing in the corner untouched to give his side the lead.
Connor Tracey backed it up four minutes later with the workhorse fullback showing sheer strength to force the ball down and send his side into the half-time break with a 16-6 lead.
The Dogs picked up where they left off in the second half with Bulldog no. 870 Tupouniua scoring back-to-back tries.
However, the Dragons hit back with Tracey unable to stop a barnstorming Tuipulotu, who crossed for his second of the day.
The Dragons came home strong with two more tries – including a third to seal Tuipulotu’s hat-trick – but it was too little, too late and the Bulldogs walked away deserved winners.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28 (tries; Montoya, Wilson, Tracey, Tupouniua (2) goals; Burton 4/5) def St George Illawarra Dragons 20 (tries; Tuipulotu (3), Liddle goals; Holmes 2/4)
