Second Half Fightback Not Enough As Bulldogs Suffer First Loss Of The Season

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have suffered their first defeat of the 2026 season after going down to the Newcastle Knights 24-16.

Back at home for the first time this year, there was plenty of buzz in the air at Accor Stadium to watch the boys run out for the Club's Junior League Appreciation Round. 

After a high energy start it look like the Home team was going to get on the board first after Fletcher Hunt dropped a boom Matt Burton bomb. Lachlan Galvin was on the spot to scoop up the loose ball and get it to Max King, who was confident he had scored – only for the bunker to rule he had lost possession.

Newcastle responded almost immediately by making the most of their 20-metre restart when they spread the ball out to Dom Young, who took off down the sideline to score.

Minutes later, the Knights lost second-rower Dylan Lucas to the sin-bin after he illegally tackled Connor Tracey as the Bulldogs fullback attempted a 20-metre restart.

After getting into prime field position, Marcelo Montoya barged towards the line but was held up by some desperate Knights defence.

Cameron Ciraldo’s men showed admirable fight late in the second half, defending their line for close to five minutes but eventually the lopsided possession took its toll and the Knights scored two more tries to go into the half-time break with a 16-0 lead.

The Bulldogs emerged from the sheds ready to fight back, but were down a solider with Josh Curran succumbing to a rib cartilage injury he suffered in the first half.  

Desperately needing to score first, that’s exactly what the Bulldogs did with Jacob Kiraz showing great strength to stay in the field of play while getting an offload away for Burton to and score his side’s first points of the day. Captain Stephen Crichton added the extras to narrow the gap to 16-6.

Burton backed that up with his second try of the day just four minutes later. The star No.6, who had shifted to centre in a switch with Crichton, pulled out a show-and-go to find the line and get the Dogs well and truly back into the game.

But the Knights responded via Young once again with the speedy winger scoring two long-range tries to extend his side’s lead.

Jacob Kiraz scored in the 72nd minute to bring the score to 24-16 but it wasn’t enough to spark a late comeback.

The team will now reset and turn their attention to the annual Good Friday clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.