The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are back in the winner’s circle after defeating the North Queensland Cowboys 12-8 in a gritty contest at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Bulldog No. 876 Jethro Rinakama was enormous on NRL debut and topped off the occasion with a try and 207 running metres, while Jacob Preston celebrated his 50th NRL appearance with a try too.
After an intense opening 15 minutes, it was the Cowboys who struck first through Zac Laybutt. Scott Drinkwater converted the try to take the home side out to a 6-0 lead.
The Cowboys extended their lead by another two points after Bronson Xerri was penalised for an escort.
But with five minutes left in the first half the Bulldogs clicked into gear, scoring back-to-back tries to snatch a 12-8 lead heading into the break.
A perfectly-weighted grubber from Matt Burton set up Preston, before Enari Tuala put Rinakama over in the corner.
The Bulldogs were hit with some adversity mid-way through the second half when Burton and Kurtis Morrin left the field within seconds of each other for HIAs.
But the boys in Blue and White dug deep and with his side under pressure Viliame Kikau came up with a try-saving play with the stand-in captain knocking the ball out of Drinkwater’s grasp as the Cowboys fullback dived over the line.
While Rinakama continued to rack up the metres in the second half, he also came up with some big defensive plays including bone-rattling hit on Laybutt to force an error.
The Dogs grinded out a try-less second half to seal their 12th win of the season.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12 (Preston, Rinakama tries; Burton 2 goals) def North Queensland Cowboys 8 (Laybutt try; Drinkwater 2 goals)
