The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ enthralling 2025 season has come to an end after suffering a 46-26 defeat to the Penrith Panthers.
Over 56,00 fans packed into Accor Stadium to watch the two teams fight for a spot in the preliminary finals and although the Bulldogs fought hard in the second half it wasn’t enough to overcome a Panthers outfit that was clinical in the first 40.
Galvin & Preston Combine!
After a high-energy start the Dogs got on the board first thanks to a penalty goal kicked by Matt Burton. It came after Viliame Kikau charged down a Nathan Cleary kick but was then tackled without the ball by Dylan Edwards - who managed to escape the sin bin for a professional foul.
Penrith soon responded though with two tries in four minutes to take a 12-2 lead. Brian To’o crossed for the first before Paul Alamoti scored in the other corner, with Cleary converting both.
Cameron Ciraldo’s men hit straight back after Lachlan Galvin and Jacob Preston combined nicely down the right edge. A neat ball from Galvin put Preston through a gap and the 20-year-old playmaker was there in support to finish it off with a try.
There's No Stopping Preston
However, the Panthers were in a mood and asserted their dominance on the clash, running in four more tries to go into the half-time break with a 36-8 lead.
Cleary scored the first after supporting on the inside of Alamoti before To’o crossed seven minutes later for his second of the afternoon. Mitch Kenny put a grubber in for Liam Henry to score the next one and then Isaiah Papali’i crossed off a kick that just seemed to sit up perfectly for him.
Xerri Charges Over
The four-time premiers did not take their foot off the gas after the break either with Alamoti scoring his second of the match.
But the Bulldogs dug deep to keep fighting and were rewarded with back-to-back tries to narrow the gap to 40-20. Preston scored the first after once again combining with Galvin before Connor Tracey set up Bronson Xerri.
Kiraz Finds The Line
The Panthers, however, hosed down any hopes of a comeback when Alamoti bagged his third try of the day. Jacob Kiraz scored a consolation try in the final three minutes but it was too little, too late.
The Bulldogs will now enjoy a well-deserved rest before returning for a big pre-season ahead of what’s set to be an epic 2026.
Penrith Panthers 46 (Paul Alamoti 3, Brian To'o 2, Nathan Cleary, Liam Henry, Isaiah Papali'i tries; Nathan Cleary 7 goals) def Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 26 (Lachlan Galvin, Jacob Preston, Bronson Xerri, Jacob Kiraz tries; Matt Burton 4 goals)
