Match Centre

Faitala-Mariner finishes with the pill and that's game over. 'We are the Mighty Bulldogs' rings out over the PA at an empty Bankwest as Dragons fans rightly ask - how long has Paul McGregor got left?

Game is more or less over as Will Hopoate gives a cardboard cut out a high-five after a dead ball. 1:20 on the clock, Bulldogs line drop-out.

"They've got no DNA, they've lost their soul" @FOXNRL commentator Braith Anasta on the Dragons' current plight.#NRLBulldogsDragons

— LeagueUnlimited NRL & Rugby League News (@LeagueUnlimited) June 8, 2020

An exciting passage of play down the left, but the Bulldogs' last tackle after a line break results in Dylan Napa handing it over.

A sharp grubber finds its way to Josh Jackson who juggles but holds it and the Dragons' attacking raid is snuffed out once again.

Dragons heavily on the attack off a short kickoff. A set restart helps their cause and now a penalty for play the ball interference.

Bunker again - this time for a Bulldogs try to Reimis Smith. Checking an aerial contest but all looks good.

NO TRY from Pereira. It's been grounded touch-ingoal. Bulldogs 20m restart.

BUNKER! Checking a Dragons try in the corner to Jordan Pereira. Checking grounding. Ruling is no try.

BUNKER! Checking a Dragons try in the corner to Jordan Pereira. Checking grounding. Ruling is no try.

Ex-Bulldogs captain James Graham spills it inside the Dragons' 30m... another chance for the Doggies now.

Canterbury have a handful of tackles on the Dragons' line but their last tackle play doesn't work out and the visitors have it. Tariq Sims goes off in backplay with blood coming from the head.

Canterbury are challenging a knock on call again Dallin Watene-Zelezniak after Cameron McInnes interfered with the play the ball. Captain's Challenge SUCCESSFUL.

Adam Clune takes the line on to the left on the last and is easily tackled.

Sixteen left and the Dragons don't look all that much closer to scoring. The Bulldogs haven't had any ball inside the visitors' half for a while but it doesn't seem to be concerning their defensive line just yet - and the last tackle kicks are a cinch for the back three.

The Bulldogs are looking tired in defence now, with the visitors making metres more easily in the last few minutes... until Frizell loses it one play off a set restart.

Last tackle options from the Saints are still not great - high balls putting a little bit of pressure on the Canterbury back three, but they're wise to the task.

Plenty of energy from both sides as we approach the hour mark. Fox Sports' cameras show a very pensive, concerned Paul McGregor inside the Dragons' coach box.

Marshall-King with a clever break up the middle and really pressuring the line, but the end of the set doesn't produce they want. Nick Meaney went close out wide but the scramble prevented a try.

Bunker for a possible try to Canterbury. Meaney goes in out wide. Perenara's asking for a check on obstruction.

Lomax with an error that just nearly could've been a long-range Dragons try. More ball for the Dogs now, scrum 10m out...

Accidental offside against the Dragons - Norman goes up for a Foran chip, but pulls out and it comes off his legs and into a teammate in front of him. Dogs scrum 10m out. Big defensive effort needed from the trailing side here.

Good momentum for the Saints is stunted once again with a forward pass called on the left side. Canterbury scrum on their own 30m.

The last tackle sees the Dragons throw it around a bit after it went wide, Sims knocks it on in attempt to tap on a pass infield from Aitken. Bulldogs handover.

Brayden Wiliame limps off, the former Catalans and Eels centre is replaced by Euan Aitken.

Dragons penalty on their own line after Averillo chases through a bit too eagerly and collects Corey Norman as he's catching it. Good chance for meterage for the Saints here.

We're back underway after halftime, Corey Norman puts boot to ball. Bulldogs first use. Sauaso Sue is back on the park having passed his HIA.

Closing in on halftime the Dragons have the ball last, but the last kick from Issac Luke trickles dead. To the sheds! Bulldogs 10-2.

Attacking chance for the Saints with their last two tackles inside the Bulldogs' 20m... until it's intercepted by Jake Averillo. Oh dear.

A Dragons high ball is dropped and pinballs through a few legs close to the sideline before Canterbury defuse the situation and come away with the ball.

Time off with Sauaso Sue down in backplay. He'll go off for a HIA.

If there's one thing working well for the Dragons, it's Corey Norman under the high ball. The fullback has been solid despite being peppered with bombs from Lachlan Lewis.

The Dragons have the ball and reach the end of their set and get the kick away. The 'Dogs work it out starting from their 20m on tackle 1.

Bulldogs' dominating possession so far. After 34 minutes it's 61% in their favour.

Bulldogs inundating the Dragons' line and force a drop-out... which the Dragons are offside from. Penalty 10m out right in front for the blue-and-whites.

A set restart puts the Dragons' defence under more pressure.

Solid link-up play down the right and DWZ is away... now on the last, Ravalawa spills a bomb and Canterbury are on the attack 5m out! Full set coming...

A spilled ball on tackle one from the Dragons sees Canterbury go on the attack. One play later, Tyson Frizell holds Lachlan Lewis in a tackle and it's a penalty. Meaney's going for the two.

Completed sets for both teams after the Bulldogs' try. Limiting errors really has to be the priority for these sides going forward.

Bunker time. Checking a possible try to Adam Elliott. Grounding is the question.

Canterbury get six more off a line-dropout after a neat grubber through the line, Mikaele Ravalawa knocks it dead.

Tariq Sims takes a short ball near the line but can't hold it and Canterbury now have it.

Reimis Smith is on report for dangerous contact - he's kneed Mikaele Ravalawa in the face by the looks. Penalty Dragons and on the first they get two set restarts. Big chance for the Saints.

Canterbury right on the attack - they throw it wide on the last and it again goes to the ground, poor pass from Jeremy Marshall-King... but fortuitously Pereira chases it down and fumbles it into touch. Another chance for the home side.

Hunt with a dud last tackle option and Canterbury get a handover near the touchline 30m inside their own half.

Good inroads from the boys in red, an early kick from Ben Hunt on the fourth puts Will Hopoate under pressure but he manages to keep it inside the field of play. The subsequent set sees the 'Dogs struggle to make metres and Lewis has to kick from inside his 40m. It's a high one which Norman lets bounce but eventually it's fielded.

Both sides making plenty more metres, but here Dallin Watene-Zelezniak spills it late in the set, costing the 'Dogs a good chance at the Dragons' line.

Saints make good metres from their set but a high ball is spilled in the air and goes dead, giving Hopoate and the Bulldogs a 20m restart.

The Bulldogs get deep into Dragons territory but on the last as they go left, Lachlan Lewis throws a pass behind his outside men and it trickles into touch. Dragons handover.

A set restart is called, Corey Norman chips before he hears the call mid-field, but luckily fields it himself and continues on. One play later the Dragons pick up a penalty and will shoot for two.

Both sides complete their first sets, and are solid in defence.

The Dragons reach the end of their set and its evident immediately that Will Hopoate, named centre, is playing at fullback, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak shifting to the wing and Averillo in the centres.

We are UNDERWAY at Bankwest - Canterbury kick off through Nick Meaney and the Dragons take the first hit up through Josh Kerr.

The Bulldogs are wearing their traditional white and blue jersey, while the Dragons are in a two-toned all-red number. Teams on the field now, kickoff imminent.

#NRL Public Holiday action from @BankwestStadium gets underway in 15 minutes.#NRLBulldogsDragons live blog with a completely unbiased @TimothyJ_23 coming up from 4pm

https://t.co/zX0PFHELQo pic.twitter.com/WNgT2kTzeI

— LeagueUnlimited NRL & Rugby League News (@LeagueUnlimited) June 8, 2020

These sides have met 38 times, with the Bulldogs triumphant 24 times to the Dragons' 14 since 1999. This will be their first meeting at Bankwest Stadium. They never met at its predecessor Parramatta Stadium either. Last time they met was Queen's Birthday a year ago, when the Dragons were comfortable 36-12 winners in Round 12 at ANZ Stadium.

Monday footy! The bottom two go head-to-head at Bankwest Stadium this afternoon - and it's not just playing spots on the line, but the future of arguably both coaches. The late mail is in, time to make some changes to Page 32 of your 'The Front Row' program! Canterbury have omitted Christian Crichton, bringing in Jake Averillo on the wing and Kerrod Holland is promoted to the bench. Within the listed 17, Dean Britt is benched, with Raymond Faitala-Mariner starting lock and Adam Elliott moving to the second row. The Dragons meanwhile are 1-17 as named on Tuesday.