Bulldogs Go Down At Home To Cowboys

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have suffered a 28-12 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys.

While Cameron Ciraldo’s men didn’t get the two points, the Club proudly welcomed Bulldog No. 879 AJ Jones to the NRL.

The 21-year-old New Zealand product has been in the Club’s pathways system since he was a teenager and did himself proud on debut, finishing with eight runs for 77 metres and 18 tackles.

After a number of sets on the Cowboys’ line, it was young halfback Lachlan Galvin who broke through to score first points after his show-and-go left Reed Mahoney grasping at air.

The Cowboys responded with back-to-back tries with Reuben Cotter pouncing on a Tom Dearden grubber before Scott Drinkwater cut through to take a 12-6 lead.

The Bulldogs received an energy boost mid-way through the first half when Jones ran on for his NRL debut. But the middle rotation soon copped a major blow with Kurt Mann being taken from the field after suffering a head knock.

Cameron Ciraldo’s men came out of the half-time break hungry and were first to score after Zac Laybutt knocked on in the air. The ball landed in Josh Curran’s lap and the versatile Bulldog – who slotted in at second row in Viliame Kikau’s absence – crossed. Captain Stephen Crichton added the extras to lock-up scores 12-all.

The Dogs then showed terrific desperation in defence down on their line minutes later with four-game rookie Jonathan Su’a and reliable fullback Connor Tracey coming up with a try-saving tackle on Braidon Burns.

But the Cowboys eventually did get more points with Drinkwater scoring his second of the night before Jake Clifford and Burns crossed for a try each shortly after to seal the result.

The Bulldogs will now reset and head to Brisbane for their Round 10 clash with the Dolphins.