Bulldogs Down Warriors In Statement Win

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have defeated the New Zealand Warriors 18-6 in a spirited performance to make it six wins from their last eight games.

Over 22,000 fans were on deck at Accor Stadium to celebrate Members Appreciation Round and they were treated to wins by both the NRLW and NRL sides.

The NRLW team set the scene with a 28-8 win over the Dragons, before Cameron Ciraldo's men put on a show against the second-placed Warriors.

The Bulldogs were rewarded for their spirited start by scoring first points via Captain Stephen Crichton, who returned in the halves from a neck injury. The skipper was on the spot to catch a superb offload from Viliame Kikau before a show-and-go helped him go over untouched.

Crichton, who became a father overnight to a baby girl, celebrated with a special love heart before converting the try to take his side to a 6-0 lead.

The Bulldogs backed it up with another try six minutes later when a perfectly-timed pass from Lachlan Galvin sent Jacob Preston under the sticks. A Crichton conversion took the score to 12-0.

The rest of the first half turned into an arm wrestle, although both teams lost key personnel with Kikau undergoing a HIA, while Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki succumbed to a foot injury.

The Bulldogs looked like they had picked up from where they left off after the half-time break when Josh Curran crossed, however the try was overruled by the bunker due to an escort in the lead-up.

The Warriors came close to scoring their first points when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak took off down the sideline, but a Connor Tracey try-saver took the winger over the sideline.

Tracey backed that effort up minutes later with a crucial pass that set up Jacob Kiraz with a try that finished off a nice scrum play. The conversion was waved away, leaving the score 16-0.

The Warriors had a couple more sniffs over the next 20 minutes, but the Bulldogs’ desperate defence repelled them every time. That was until the 74th minute when Chanel Harris-Tavita crossed, but the win was sealed. 

The Bulldogs will now reset and get ready to head to AAMI Park to face the Melbourne Storm.