Hit For Six: Bulldogs Extend Historic Streak in Good Friday Thriller

They were rewarded for their attendance, with the Bulldogs completing their first 6-0 start to a season since the 1938 Premiership-winning side, recording their biggest Good Friday match against South Sydney and their cementing first whitewashing of the Rabbitohs since 1973.

It also marked the first time in Club history where a side has kept opponents scoreless in back-to-back matches. 

Cameron Ciraldo's side also ended a seven-year Good Friday drought, having last won the annual contest back in 2017, while Josh Curran had the honour of scoring Accor Stadium's 1000th try.

It was an intense start to the match that was worth of its finals-like atmosphere; both sides were denied early after falling just short at their respective try lines with defence at the forefront and big hits aplenty.

Winning the field position battle, Kikau swooped on a loose offload from Latrell Mitchell, and it was the man who way for the Fijian International, Josh Curran, who scrambled his way to score the first try of the match.

Another galloping run from Curran put the Bulldogs back in position, while Ciraldo's men found themselves a man up with Euan Aitken sent to the sin bin after denying Matt Burton an opportunity to score.

Taking a conservative approach, a Stephen Crichton penalty goal extended the lead to eight points heading into the 20th minute.

Looking for their next try after employing strong running and clever offloading, it was Max King charging over to break his try-scoring duck for his first four-pointer since Round 25, 2019.

Another break was thwarted by Jye Gray after Jacob Kiraz unleashed Burton, but it was a right-side raid that started with a Kurt Mann offload and ended with a cutout pass to Sitili Tupouniua, with the Bulldogs taking a 20-nil lead at the break. 

There was no lull after half-time, with Jacob Preston adding his name to the scoresheet after running a great line off Connor Tracey, with the scoreline extending to 26-nil.

Burton put his thinking cap on with a Captain's Challenge that overturned a knock on call, but a knock-on from Bronson Xerri over the line presented a missed opportunity.

Just as Souths looked to make inroads, the returning duo forced an error on Jack Wighton, with tensions rising heading into the final half hour. 

Still scheming in and around the ruck, Tupouniua unleashed Matt Burton downfield, only for the Rabbitohs to intercept and interrupt a potential fifth try.

The defence certainly didn't let up with Kikau swooping on yet another loose pill and Toby Sexton putting on a monster hit on second rower Keaon Koloamatangi to force an error.

While it took another 26 minutes for the next score of the match, Xerri finally got his name on the sheet after crashing over from close range for his fourth try of the season. 

With tensions brewing as a frustrated South Sydney were denied again, winger Marcelo Montoya was sent to the sin bin for a dubious slap. 

Despite the one-man disadvantage, the Belmore Wall held firm, holding Junior Tatola up despite the front rower barging his way over the line in one of the great trysavers. 

With victory assured, the 32-nil win sealed the Bulldogs' sixth victory to open the season and put an end to a very, very Good Friday.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 32 (Josh Curran, Max King, Sitili Tupouniua, Jacob Preston, Bronson Xerri tries; Stephen Crichton 5 goals; Stephen Crichton penalty goal) def South Sydney Rabbitohs nil