It was only appropriate that the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs notched first-grade win no.1000 on the same day they celebrated one of their greatest victories 30 years on - the 1995 Premiership - with a 42-4 thumping of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
The Club's celebrations saw fifteen of seventeen members from the Premiership winning outfit, and Head Coach Chris Anderson, presented onto the field before recreating their lap of honour in front of a healthy crowd of 25,801 at Allianz Stadium.
Match: Bulldogs v Sea Eagles
Round 21 -
home Team
Bulldogs
2nd Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
9th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
The side of 2025 did them proud, with Sam Hughes, Jacob Kiraz and Bronson Xerri finishing the match with doubles, while Captain Stephen Crichton kicked a perfect seven from seven goals.
Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo would certainly be proud of the defensive effort, which saw the side concede just four points, in a nod to their counterparts who did just that 30 years prior.
It was a fast and frantic start in their first match at the brand-new Allianz Stadium, with the Bulldogs donning their 1995 Heritage Jersey in a further nod to the Club's seventh Premiership.
Hughes Cruises Over
After missing their first two opportunities in Manly territory, they wouldn't be denied a third time, with a Burton bomb forcing an error before Hughes swooped and charged his way to the line.
Stephen Crichton's conversion saw the Bulldogs lead 6-nil after fifteen minutes.
While momentum shifted with a 40/20 from the boot of Daly Cherry-Evans, the Blue and White Wall stood strong after Connor Tracey denied Jason Saab just metres from the line.
Jacob Kiraz then dived his way over in the corner after a right side swing saw Lachlan Galvin, Tracey and Crichton combine with a scintillating string of passes to put the winger in space.
Slick Passing Puts Kiraz in the Corner
Crichton's sideline conversion - while unconventional - went over the black dot, giving the side a handy 12-nil lead with just under ten minutes left in the first half.
Unfortunately, ill discipline cruelled the Bulldogs in the dying stages of the first half, and Manly took full advantage to score via Saab in the corner. Reuben Garrick's conversion attempt hit the upright, giving the Bulldogs a 12-4 lead at the break.
Kiraz is in Again!
Both sides slogged it out, with fatigue leading to errors on both ends of the ball, with Burton doing his best Benji Marshall impression, stepping through the line before being brought down 10 metres short.
That was enough to get the Bulldogs back on the board as Kiraz crossed for his second, with Crichton's third conversion extending the lead to fourteen points.
Bronson Crosses Once More
The right side continued to fire shots but it was the left side finishing as Xerri ran across field before slamming the Steeden down under the posts, extending the lead to 20 with as many minutes remaining.
Points continued to flow as Manly's ill discipline showed, and it wasn't before long that Xerri bagged his second through sheer power and determination, taking Tom Trbojevic and Jason Saab with him as he crashed over in the corner.
Tuala's First in Blue and White
Another long-range dash from Tracey put the Bulldogs back in the red zone, and the Blue and White army were up and dancing again after Kikau put Enari Tuala away over for his first try for the Club.
The side weren't content yet, however, with another scrappy kick leading to another try to Sam Hughes - who bagged his first career double as the Bulldogs claimed their biggest win of 2025.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 42 (Sam Hughes 2, Jacob Kiraz 2, Bronson Xerri 2, Enari Tuala tries; Stephen Crichton 7 goals) def Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 4 (Jason Saab try)
