The Parramatta Eels have continued their charge up the ladder while things have gone from bad to worse for the Bulldogs, the Blue and Gold winning by 22-points in a one sided affair on the Kings Birthday long weekend.
Things got off to an appropriate start given the holiday, with King Clint Gutherson getting over for the first try of the match. Will Penisni was able to win an aerial battle and knock the ball back to Gutherson, who grounded the ball to make it 6-0 inside 7 minutes.
Both sides showcased their willingness to throw the ball around, and after some ad-lib play the Bulldogs were the next on the board. Young five-eighth Karl Oloapu broke at least four tackles including a big fend on Gutherson before linking up with halfback Matt Burton, who dived over under the post to level things up.
The Eels would soon get a piggy-back penalty up the field and from there it was all one way traffic. Mitch Moses got the defence moving left before turning Gutherson inside, the Eels fullback grabbing a first half double.
With much conjecture around who will be named as halfback for NSW, Moses did himself plenty of favours, moments later putting a left foot step on the Dogs to break the line, before again linking up with his skipper on the inside, King Gutho appropriately getting a hat-trick on the Kings Birthday holiday.
Before half-time, stand in Eels five-eighth Daejarn Asi made a clean line break before passing to bailey Simmonsson in support, the centre extending the Eels advantage to 18-points.
The rest of the match was a bit of a drag with the result sealed long before the full time hooter. Bryce Cartwright made a tackle break in the 51st minute before offloading for Will Penisini, who scored the first points of the second half.
The Bulldogs would claw one back with 20 minutes to go, Hayze Perham beating some poor tackle attempts en route to a 20 metre run to the try-line.
Some slick ball movement to the left saw Maika Sivo go over for the last try of the match in the 66th minute, giving the final score of 34-12.
Next week, the Bulldogs travel to the shire to take on the Sharks while the Eels will be at home against the Sea Eagles.