Bulldogs to be stripped of comp points

The Canterbury Bulldogs will be stripped of two competition points after the NRL ruled that a 14th player was on the field during Saturday night's narrow win over Penrith Panthers.

During an interchange, Bulldogs five-eighth Ben Roberts and captain Andrew Ryan were found to be on the field together at Penrith's CUA Stadium. As Ryan re-entered the field, Roberts scored the match-winning try in the 78th minute of the Bulldogs' 28-26 win.

The NRL met with Bulldogs head coach Kevin Moore and club CEO Todd Greenberg today to view new video footage that had come to light.

The Bulldogs' website had earlier posted an announcement acknowledging the error, and stated that the club would fight to keep the competition points.

The Bulldogs have five business days to enter a submission to defend the penalty, and in the meantime will remain atop the competition ladder with four points.

The NRL said regardless of the final decision, Penrith would not receive the two points.

The North Queensland Cowboys were the last NRL club to be stripped of competition points in 2000. Three clubs - Brisbane, the Cowboys and Manly - have been fined for fielding an extra player.