Lachlan Galvin-ises Bulldogs in King's Birthday Thriller

Fullback Connor Tracey made his 100th NRL appearance, while mid-season signing Lachlan Galvin (Bulldog no.874) scored the match-sealing try after coming off the interchange bench in the famous no.23 jersey.

Meanwhile, Jacob Kiraz, Stephen Crichton, Max King, Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Kurt Mann all made successful returns to the side, making their presence known in major moments throughout the contest. 

A dropped ball in their own half gave Parramatta a chance to post first points, however, it was a runaway Matt Burton who touched down after cleverly intercepting a pass from the scrum. Crichton's conversion gave Canterbury-Bankstown a 6-nil lead after nine minutes.

Moments later it was the Bulldogs feeding a scrum 25 metres from the line after an error from Josh Addo-Carr, yet it was a case of de ja vu with a Zac Lomax intercept leading to a long-range try to Mitchell Moses. Lomax's conversion levelled the scores after thirteen minutes. 

A head-high tackle from the kick-off put the side on the back-foot, and just as the Eels looked to take the lead, Crichton produced a crucial tackle at the line, taking Isaiah Iongi into touch in the process. 

Soon after it was the Bulldogs who took the lead with a left-side shift sending Marcelo Montoya over for his fifth try of the season following some slick lead-up work from Burton and Bronson Xerri. Crichton's conversion saw the scoreline at 12-6 after 20 minutes.

Max King looked to inspire his team in defence with a bone-jarring hit, while Montoya responded with a fearless charge into the teeth of the defence. Josh Curran found himself diving over the line, only for a knock-on called in the lead up. 

A major turning point occurred just before the break, with Kikau controversially sin-binned for dubious a late tackle on Moses. With Parramatta attacking the line, a late offload saw Dylan Walker crash over to level the scores at the break.

With the Eels firing out of the sheds, the Bulldogs needed to swing momentum early with a man down; Kiraz shut down an overlap on Lomax, Xerri cleaned up the ball from a scrappy fifth tackle kick while Montoya forced a kick to go dead. 

With Kikau back on the field, an error from the visitors opened an opportunity to reclaim the lead, and they did just that with a penalty goal following a head-high shot on Mann.

Despite having their chances, the Bulldogs were unable to convert at the line as the Galvin chant began for the newest Bulldog, taking the field in the 57th minute to a standing ovation. 

But soon the crowd was in raptures as another left-side shift saw milestone man Tracey put Kikau over for a trademark four-pointer, as the side took an 18-12 lead with eighteen on the clock.

With just over ten minutes to go, the match was iced with Mann bursting through and sending bench forward Harry Hayes over for his first try of the season.

But it was Galvin's turn to put his name on the scoresheet as he spun over the line, with the Accor Stadium stands shaking as the Bulldogs capped off a remarkable debut and another memorable King's Birthday victory. 

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30 (Matt Burton, Marcelo Montoya, Viliame Kikau, Harry Hayes, Lachlan Galvin tries; Stephen Crichton 4 goals; Stephen Crichton penalty goal) def Parramatta Eels 12 (Mitchell Moses, Dylan Walker tries; Zac Lomax 2 goals)