It’s another error by Mat Feagai, and the Bulldogs will take just their 3rd Round 1 win in the last 13 years.
The frantic Dragons try desperately to create play but Jaydn Su'A knocks on. The Dogs close to closing out this one
Holmes leaves it left. Devestating
It’s a hat trick for Christian Tuipulotu and the Dragons are in it! Frantic few plays for the Dragons, with offloads and miracle passes to set up the try.
Bulldogs are using a captains challenge after a knock on by Reed Mahoney. The challenge is unsuccessful
A monster kick chase by Marcelo Montoya has forced another error from Mat Feagai, and the Dogs will have the chance to effectively seal the win
No mistake
WHAT A SOLO EFFORT BY JACOB LIDDLE! Takes a quick penalty and is barely touched over 65 metres, including selling Connor Tracey candy with a lovely step
Amazing goal line defence to deny Viliame Kikau. Times running out but the Dragons desperation is still on show
Emre Guler placed on report for a hip drop tackle
Goes across the face
The Dragons are able to hit back quickly, taking advantage of a cramping Stephen Crichton to strip the Dogs for numbers and put Christian Tuipulotu over to score.
No mistake from in front
Why get one try when you can get two? Almost exactly the same play for Sitili Tupouniua but this time it’s a ball from Sexton to send him over.
Valentine Holmes has been quiet so far, and his attempt to inject himself into the game has resulted in an error 30 out from the Dragons line.
Off the upright and in
A repeat set for the Bulldogs punished the Dragons, with Kurt Mann short ball sending Sitili Tupouniua over on his Bulldogs debut.
Bad news for the Dragons, with reports Ryan Couchman suffered an ACL injury during the first half.
Good scramble defence by the Bulldogs denies a try to Christian Tuipulotu and forces a handover
Captains challenge by the Dragons from a knock on. It is successful and they will get the ball back
Nails it from the left hand side
A high tackle penalty after the kickoff has hurt the Dragons with the Bulldogs going back to back after a Kikau offload and feisty effort by Tracey to ground it.
Bends back the kick from the right sideline
The Dogs capitalise off the scrum, with movement by Burton and Tracey stripping the Dragons for numbers out wide and letting Wilson stroll over
Mathew Feagai drops a Burton Bomb and the Bulldogs will be on the attack from a scrum
Jack De Belin sent for a HIA
The Bulldogs make a big line break and try to start a counterattack, but Moses Suli makes a tremendous tackle to put Matt Burton into touch!
Jacob Preston has been placed on report for a late hit, with the Dragons getting another penalty in attacking range.
Dragons get a penalty in attacking position after a high tackle.
Makes no mistake from right in front
Crichton put on report for dangerous contact
The Dragons capitalise on a mistake from the kick off to hit right back, with some good decoy work stripping the Bulldogs for numbers before Holmes puts Tuipulotu over in the corner… but he’s dropped it! But they rule Stephen Crichton committed foul play with dangerous contact on the head and it will be a penalty try!!!
Sideline kick, fades out past the left upright
Lovely last tackle play by the Bulldogs, with Sexton, Burton and Kikau all combining to give Montoya a one on one against Feagai which he’s winning 9 times out of 10.
The Bulldogs get a penalty after the Dragons failed to pack a scrum in time, and they’ll go on the attack
Bit of a mistake by Ilias, with his kick going over the dead ball line
And Viliame Kikau knocks it on! The Dragons are pumped up too!
And we’re underway with Emre Guler making an error on the opening hit up! The Bulldogs are pumped up for this one!
Welcome to the first Saturday of the NRL season, and we’re ready for a good first game with the Dragons hosting the Bulldogs. The Dragons have a few club debutantes, including marquee recruit Valentine Holmes and halfback Lachlan Ilias, while Kyle Flanagan features in his 100th NRL game The Bulldogs meanwhile will be looking to kickstart their campaign as they look to do better from their first week exit from the finals in 2024.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judges: Dave Munro, Belinda Sharpe
Video Referee: Grant Atkins
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (20)
Tries: Christian Tuipulotu (2), Ryan Couchman, Jacob Liddle
Conversions: Valentine Holmes (2/4)
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (28)
Tries: Marcelo Montoya, Blake Wilson, Connor Tracey, Sitili Tupouniua (2)
Conversions: Matt Burton (4/5)