The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have secured back-to-back wins to start season 2026 after defeating the Canberra Raiders 14-10 in wet and wild conditions at GIO Stadium to kick off the NRL's Multicultural Round.
The result also marks the first time the Club has secured two consecutive wins in the nation's capital since 2014-2015.
The Raiders, who were celebrating Ricky Stuart’s 300th game as Head Coach, got on the board first with Savelio Tamale slipping and sliding through a gap to find the line.
Back-to-back penalties then helped the Raiders march down the field but Cameron Ciraldo’s men were able to hold them out.
Canberra soon found themselves in prime attacking position once again and Tamale threatened to score his second - but was dragged over the sideline by new-look right-edge combination Enari Tuala and Marcelo Montoya.
Montoya backed that up moments later with a big hit that forced a Raiders error and handed the Bulldogs their first opportunity inside the Raiders’ 20-metre zone.
And just like that the Dogs got on the board with Captain Stephen Crichton - who had roamed over to the right edge - delivering a flick pass to try-scorer Connor Tracey.
Although Crichton was unable to convert he later levelled the scores with a penalty goal after the Raiders were pinged for a strip.
Star Matt Burton whipped out some magic with a 40/20 as well as a damaging run before the Raiders were later reduced to 12 men after Josh Papali’i was sin-binned for a high shot on Samuel Hughes.
Another penalty - this time for off-side - saw Crichton take his side out to an 8-6 lead, which they carried into half time.
The rain continued to bucket down as the teams ran out for the second half for another 40-minute slog in tough conditions.
A six-again followed by a penalty handed the Raiders an opportunity and it looked as though Hudson Young had capitalised on it only for the Bunker to highlight Tracey’s brilliant try-saver.
And the try-savers kept on coming with Tuala - who had been promoted to right centre this week - coming up with his second of the match.
The Dogs were rewarded for their gritty defence when they crossed for the next try. Tracey and Lachlan Galvin combined nicely to find space before Josh Curran put Jacob Preston over for the four-pointer.
Crichton added the extras to give his side an eight-point gap, but the Raiders hit back three minutes later with Tamale crossing for his second.
The final seven minutes saw both sides fight tooth and nail but the Dogs held on with Tracey producing another epic try-saver to seal the win.
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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 14 (Tracey, Preston tries; Crichton 3 goals) def Canberra Raiders 10 (Tamale 2 tries; Sanders goal)
