The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have made a statement at Accor Stadium with a resounding 32-14 victory over the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL's Indigenous Round.
In a top-four battle the Bulldogs stood tall after a dominant first-half performance, leading 20-2 at the break, before completing a comprehensive victory in front of a brave crowd of 25,377.
Burton Boots a Monster 40/20
Back-to-back penalties in opening two minutes helped the Warriors get out to a 2-0 lead, but the Bulldogs responded three minutes later with a penalty goal of their own to level scores.
A brilliant 40/20 from Matt Burton put the Bulldogs in prime field position but they couldn’t capitalise on it. However, they added another two points to the scoreboard when a Warriors dropout went into touch.
With just under 20 minutes left in the first half, the first try of the night came with Bailey Hayward delivering the ball to Viliame Kikau, who slid over the line.
Hayward Puts Kikau Over to Score
A Warriors error 20 metres from the line gave the Bulldogs ample opportunity to extend before the break, and they did so after slick hands on the left put Jethro Rinakama over for his third try of the season.
It wasn't long before the lead extended with a raid on the other side with Crichton throwing a superb cut-out to Enari Tuala. With the half-time siren blaring, the skipper calmly slotted the sideline conversion for a healthy 20-2 lead.
Rinakama Scores!
The crowd got up on their feet after Hayward charged down a kick, only for a wayward pass to go to ground. Thankfully, smart thinking from Galvin saw the halfback trap a threatening grubber to stop the Warriors' raid.
A classy take from Crichton diffused another threatening kick, before a towering bomb from Galvin troubled Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who dropped it cold fifteen out. From there, the Bulldogs Captain stood tall bursting through multiple defenders to slam the ball down in the corner.
Tuala Touches Down
With fatigue creeping in under the deluge, ill discipline crept into the Bulldogs' performance, and along with a bit of luck, allowed Sam Healey to score from a ricocheting grubber kick.
However, from the ensuing set, Warriors captain James Fisher-Harris was penalised for interfering with Crichton, allowing his opposite to bring the scoreline back to a three-try lead.
Tuala found himself agonisingly close to claiming a double before being held up over the line, but the winger claimed it moments later after stepping through the defence to seal the result.
The Captain Crashes Over
Tuivasa-Sheck streaked away for a consolation try, but it was all too late as the Blue and Whites cruised to their fifteenth win of the season.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 32 (Enari Tuala 2, Viliame Kikau, Jethro Rinakama, Stephen Crichton tries; Stephen Crichton 4 goals; Stephen Crichton 2 penalty goals) def New Zealand Warriors 14 (Sam Healey, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck tries; Adam Pompey 2 goals; Adam Pompey penalty goal)
