It was a big start to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, with a number of Bulldogs taking the field for their respective nations in a weekend of international action that saw debuts, records and history made.
Men's Results Week One
Australia vs New Zealand: Preston Becomes a Kangaroo
While Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga stole the headlines in a fast and furious start to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, Bulldogs Members and supporters had their eyes on Jacob Preston.
While he didn't take the field after being selected in the Kangaroos' Ashes Tour of England in 2025, Preston made his long-awaited appearance in the famous green and gold at Allianz Stadium, and he certainly impressed in his first outing in the Test arena.
Playing the full 80 minutes, the fan favourite backorder made 129 metres from 15 runs, including 52 post-contact metres along with three tackles breaks, posting a threat against the Kiwis.
But it was his defence that helped the Australians to a 24-22 victory, as he held down the fort on the left edge with a team-high 96.36% tackle efficiency along with 29 tackles and just one miss, and he even found himself putting boot to ball with 30 kick metres.
No doubt the performance put his name in the frame to feature in the Kangaroos' Week Two match against Fiji on Sunday night.
Samoa vs France: Crichton Strikes as Samoa Stun France
It was a record-breaking win for Samoa - who kick-started their campaign with a 78-4 demolition of France at CommBank Stadium, and it was Bulldogs Captain Stephen Crichton right in the thick of it.
While most of the action happened on the left side as Sua Fa'alogo bagged four of the side's 14 tries, Crichton found himself over the line after an error saw the skipper streak down the sideline to put the result beyond doubt.
2026 RLWC: Stephen Crichton Scores for Samoa
He was also a threat with the ball in hand as well; running for 182 metres from 13 runs, making a line break, 3 tackle breaks along with a 90% tackle efficiency.
But it was his prowess with the boot that saw him post 26 points with an incredible eleven goals - beating his previous record of ten - as Samoa cruised to a 74-point victory.
Papua New Guinea vs Lebanon: Bulldogs Duo's Tireless Efforts
While they were unable to claim victory, Lebanon duo Jacob Kiraz and Alex Conti put in admirable efforts in hostile conditions at Santos National Stadium in Port Moresby as the Papua New Guinea Kumuls ran away to a 42-18 win.
Busy as ever, Kiraz was one of two Cedars to breach the 200-metre threshold, running for 214 metres from 21 runs, while posting 42 kick return metres and 58 post-contact metres.
He kept the Kumuls' defence honest with three tackle breaks and two offloads as he schemed from the back in another solid performance at fullback in the red and green.
After the Cedars trailed 18-nil with half-time nearing, Conti helped swing momentum to close the gap to six with just seconds remaining on the clock as he helped set up Tony Sukkar in the corner.
The young halfback was also dialled in with the boot, kicking for 396 metres and converting all three tries for Lebanon in a solid Test debut. He also threatened in play with a handy 75 metres and a solid 81.48% tackle efficiency along with 22 tackles.
No doubt the hit-out put both players in good stead for their big match against Tonga on Friday night at CommBank Stadium.
England vs Tonga: King Strong in England Debut
It was a strong debut from Bulldogs front rower Max King as he donned England's shirt for the very first time in their 30-12 defeat to Tonga in Perth.
Despite the result, King took on the powerful Tongan pack head-on in a powerful 54-minute performance that saw him gain plenty of admirers in the north of England.
The 29-year-old front rower made 88 metres with the ball in hand, including 27 post-contact as well as an impressive 38 tackles at a 90.48% efficiency.
But it was his ball-playing that shone throughout the high-octane contest, which saw him produce a line break assist and a whopping seven offloads as the English continually pushed downfield.
He'll be primed for another big performance as his side host France in what will be a tense match at HBF Park on Saturday afternoon.
Women's Results Week One
Australia vs Samoa: Bulldogs Quartet Play Proud for Samoa
While they were on the wrong side of the scoreboard, Bulldogs quartet Monica Tagoai, Mary-Jane Taito, Leilani Wilson and Evelyn Roberts did their teammates and family proud in Fetu Samoa's defeat to Australia on Friday night.
Against the world's best, the four Bulldogs played strongly in their Test debuts.
Tagoai punched out a solid 93 metres from just eight runs - including a whopping 54 post-contact - in a whole-hearted 70-minute performance.
Wilson held down the fort at lock in a strong 59 minutes, making 22 tackles with no misses at an impressive team-high 95.65%, while averaging 10 metres per carry.
Taito and Roberts - both graduates from the Club's Tarsha Gale Cup program - shared the hooking role, making 21 and 22 tackles in the middle of the field respectively.
All four put in a case to retain their spots in their second week match against Tayla Preston's Wales outfit.
England vs Wales: Preston Creates History, Millard Provides Impact
Bulldogs Co-Captain Tayla Preston had her hands on history at HBF Park, while young forward Hope Millard proved to be a handful in England's 70-6 win over Wales at HBF Park in Perth.
In Wales' first World Cup appearance, Preston ensured that the Dragons didn't go empty handed, setting up Paige Travis for the nation's first World Cup four-pointer.
Converting the try as well, Preston was busy with ball in hand, running for 46 metres, tallying a line break and try assist along the way, as well as thirteen tackles and 308 kicking metres in a tough afternoon.
2026 RLWC: Preston Sets Up Wales' First World Cup Try!
While she didn't get her name on the scoreboard, Millard made a huge impact in the middle of the field in her 24-minute stint, running from 129 metres from just 9 carries, including a barnstorming 80-metre burst off a kick off.
Along with five tackle breaks, the young middle made 11 tackles with no misses, completing at a 91.67% tackle efficiency in England's rout.
New Zealand vs Fiji: Bulldogs Aplenty in Close Contest
It was a match full of Bulldogs as Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, Ashleigh Quinlan and Alexis Tauaneai helped New Zealand edge out Fiji's Latisha Smythe and Tamika Jones 18-12 in Newcastle.
Teakaraanga-Katoa ran for 44 metres in 48 minutes, while making 21 tackles at an impressive 91.3% efficiency. Quinlan, deputising as a utility from the interchange bench, made 14 tackles in her 47 minutes at 100% efficiency.
Tauaneai provided plenty of impact from the interchange in her 47 minutes, running for 89 metres and making 21 tackles at 91.3% efficiency.
Meanwhile, Smythe punched out 90 metres from just nine runs in her 46 minutes on the field, completing her tackles at 92% with 23 made and just one miss.
In just her first season in the 13-player code, Jones made a strong Test debut for the Bulikula with 63 metres in 38 minutes and 13 tackles at a 92.86% efficiency, before being taken from the field with injury.
