Bulldogs big men bust up Panthers

CANTERBURY continued coach Des Hasler's remarkable record following State of Origin following a comfortable 24-12 victory over Penrith at ANZ Stadium.

The win lifted the Bulldogs into the top eight and ensured Hasler registered his seventh win in a row in charge of the blue-and-whites after having representatives backing up from the mid-week showpiece.

David Klemmer backed up admirably from his Wednesday night heroics while five-eighth Josh Reynolds said they still had plenty of room for improvement.

"We haven't helped ourselves so far and have lost games we should have won earlier in the year, but hopefully tonight set a platform," he said.

"We've been hit with suspension and injuries but that's no excuse.

Reynolds said Klemmer continued on where he left off at the MCG on Wednesday night.

"He's awesome, he's putting shots on and it's great to see him stepping up and messing with the Queenslanders (as well). That's why we love him."

Reynolds was involved in one of a handful of talking points in the game when he was sin-binned for a professional foul on Panthers five-eighth Jamie Soward in the 17th minute.

Both players appeared to become tangled chasing a kick into the in-goal before ending up on the ground.

"I tripped over myself and then we came into contact, but I can tell you now I didn't deliberately go for him," Reynolds said.

"It was a physical game, both teams came out and played tough and it was tit for tat; we were going at each other right at the start."

New South Wales forward Josh Jackson will also have a nervous wait to see if he will be eligible to play in the Decider after a tackle in the 23rd minute.

Jackson was placed on report for his involvement in a tackle on Soward which saw the playmaker placed into a dangerous position where he appeared to land heavily on his shoulder.

The Bulldogs opened the scoring through fullback Sam Perrett who finished off a movement down their left-hand side after centre Josh Morris broke into the clear.

Several minutes later winger Curtis Rona scored in his eighth successive match with an athletic effort which saw him put the ball down in the corner with the rest of his body in the air over the sideline.

Panthers utility Bryce Cartwright hit back for the visitors with an individual effort of his own following a passage of play which involved at least 10 sets of hands.

With nothing appearing on, Cartwright chipped over the top and beat Perrett and Rona to the ball.

Further tries in the second half to Perrett and Josh Morris along with Cartwright's second rounded out the scoring.

Next week the Bulldogs return to Belmore on Monday night when they host the Storm while the Panthers travel to Leichhardt on Sunday to clash with the Tigers.

Match Details

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 Penrith Panthers 12
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Crowd: 12476
Halftime Score: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 12 Penrith Panthers 6

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (24)
Tries: Sam Perrett (2), Curtis Rona, Josh Reynolds
Field Goals: Josh Reynolds (0/1)
Conversions: Moses Mbye (4/4)

PENRITH PANTHERS (12)
Tries: Bryce Cartwright (2)
Conversions: Jamie Soward (2/2)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - Aiden Tolman
2 points - David Klemmer
1 point - Bryce Cartwright

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Panthers out on the park in their alternate pink strip with black shorts. Canterbury to join them soon.

Bulldogs also out there in a bizarre looking alternate strip. Not sure how to explain it, but it's different.

1: We're underway through the boot of Jamie Soward. Bulldogs defending southern end of ANZ.

2: Mbye plugs a kick into the corner and DWZ has possession for the Panthers.

3: Panthers lose their way a bit on tackle five but Wallace gets boot to ball.

5: Both teams continue mistake-free footy and the Panthers are in possession 30m from the Dogs line.

6: Flick pass from Morris sees Mbye take off down the sideline on a 30m run.

7: Quick restart from the Panthers after DWZ catches a Reynolds bomb in the in-goal sees them tackled 20m from the Dogs line on tackle 2

8: Thompson catches a Soward bomb in his in-goal and the Dogs head out to the 20.

10: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Sam Perrett. Kick to come.
Perrett opens the scoring for the home side when he finishes off a perfectly executed move to the left side. Morris got on the outside before drawing the fullback and sending his own custodian over.

10: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Moses Mbye successful.
Mbye adds the extras from in front.

11: PENALTY Bulldogs. Panthers inside the 10.

13: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Bulldogs try.

13: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Curtis Rona. Kick to come.
Curtis Rona flies through the air to put the ball down in the corner in another amazing wingers try after a perfect Sam Perrett cut-out ball.

14: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Moses Mbye successful.
Mbye adds the extras from half a metre inside the sideline to extend the lead to a dozen

14: The Panthers try to get the ball back with a short kickoff which is unsuccessful.

15: PENALTY Panthers. Two men in the tackle as the ball came free.

19: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Panthers try.

19: No try is the ruling after a break from the Panthers.

20: SIN BIN
Josh Reynolds is sent to the sin bin.
Reynolds is sent to the sin-bin after being ruled to have taken Soward out while chasing the ball after a Cartwright kick.

20: PENALTY Bulldogs. Lafai takes the ball off the Panthers before the natives get a bit restless.

22: Mbye puts the ball out of play to calm things down. Panthers scrum.

23: PENALTY Panthers. Soward is picked up and put in a dangerous position with Jackson and Eastwood involved in the tackle.

23: Eastwood and Jackson are both placed on report and could have an issue come next week when the match review committee gather.

23: PENALTY Panthers. Klemmer ruled to have laid on the tackled player for too long.

26: Bulldogs defence scrambling well with Reynolds still in the bin.

27: Mbye kicks out on the full. Panthers go on the attack.

28: PENALTY Panthers. Jackson holds on too long.

29: Some more quality Bulldogs goal-line defence forces an error from Isaah Yeo. Dogs to feed a scrum.

31: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Bryce Cartwright. Kick to come.
Bryce Cartwright opens the scoring for the visitors after the ball went through about 10 sets of hands and then he chipped over the top and won the race to the ball.

32: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Soward converts from close range.

37: Wallace chips over the top looking for Simmons, but Rona bats it dead. Bulldogs dropout.

38: Cartwright loses the ball in an Mbye/Lane combined tackle.

40: Forward pass from Segeyaro ensures the Bulldogs will have last use of the ball this half.

40: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Field goal attempt by Josh Reynolds unsuccessful.
Reynolds attempts a field goal as the siren sounds but it misses to the right.

40: Halftime at ANZ and the Dogs lead 12-6

41: Nothing doing for the Panthers and Simmons nearly pulls Rona's pants down.

43: Reynolds throws a pass which is put down by Jackson. Soward scooped up the ball, but the Dogs five-eighth ankle-tapped him

43: Wallace kicks over to Simmons who knocks on. Dogs ball.

44: PENALTY Bulldogs. Panthers offside.

44: PENALTY Bulldogs. Two men in the tackle when the ball pops out.

45: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Bulldogs try.

45: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Sam Perrett. Kick to come.
Sam Perrett dives over from dummy half to extend the home side's lead.

46: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Moses Mbye successful.
Mbye adds the extras.

51: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Bulldogs try.

51: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Josh Reynolds. Kick to come.
Reynolds scores a wonderful individual try to put the Dogs further in front. He grabbed the ball at second receiver, put a kick in which rebounded back into his legs before putting another kick in. He won the race to the ball.

52: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Moses Mbye successful.
Mbye keeps his perfect goalkicking record in tact.

54: DWZ puts down the inside ball from Soward. Bulldogs scrum,

57: PENALTY Panthers. Klemmer slows the play the ball down.

57: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Panthers try.

57: No try. Waqa Blake can't get the ball down under pressure from Corey Thompson. Bulldogs scrum.

61: Josh Morris is down receiving attention as James Segeyaro is carried up the tunnel.

61: PENALTY Bulldogs. Morris ruled to have been the victim of a crusher tackle with the tackle on report.

64: PENALTY Bulldogs. DWZ in front of the kicker and inside the 10.

66: Mbye's kick is batted back into the arms of Lewis Brown who only had to pick up the ball and he knocks on. Dogs scrum.

68: Mbye grubbers for Morris who can't quite pick it up. Panthers restart.

68: PENALTY Panthers. Bulldogs laying too long on the tackled player.

68: Corey Thompson comes up with a trysaver on Waqa Blake. Dogs scrum.

70: PENALTY Bulldogs. Panthers offside.

73: Big Kasiano appeared certain to score, but he's dropped it over the line after Wallace appeared to help it out. Panthers scrum.

75: PENALTY Panthers. Ball comes free with a bit of help.

75: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Panthers try.

75: TRY PENRITH PANTHERS
Scored by Bryce Cartwright. Kick to come.
Cartwright hits a hole off Koroisau to get his second of the night under the sticks.

75: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PENRITH PANTHERS
Conversion attempt by Jamie Soward successful.
Soward adds the extras.

78: Cartwright runs around and puts boot to ball but it beats Simmons touch in-goal. Dogs 20m restart.

78: Mbye trickles a kick into touch and the Panthers will feed the scrum 10m from their own line.

79: Wallace's pass behind Yeo is knocked on by the centre and that will just about do us tonight.

80: Fulltime at ANZ and the Dogs have run out victors 24-12.