Full Time
80:00
5:30pm Sat March 8, 2025
Round 1 - Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Carlton / Bidjigal - Crowd: 16211
80min

It’s another error by Mat Feagai, and the Bulldogs will take just their 3rd Round 1 win in the last 13 years.

78min

The frantic Dragons try desperately to create play but Jaydn Su'A knocks on. The Dogs close to closing out this one

75min

Conversion: Dragons
Attempted by Valentine Holmes.

Holmes leaves it left. Devestating

Bulldogs lead Dragons 20 - 28 Bulldogs
73min

Try: Dragons
Scored by Christian Tuipulotu. Kick to come.

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 lead Dragons 20 - 28 Bulldogs
72min

Bulldogs are using a captains challenge after a knock on by Reed Mahoney. The challenge is unsuccessful

72min

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

70min

Conversion: Dragons
Kicked by Valentine Holmes.

No mistake

Bulldogs lead Dragons 16 - 28 Bulldogs
68min

Try: Dragons
Scored by Jacob Liddle. Kick to come.

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

Bulldogs lead Dragons 14 - 28 Bulldogs
67min

Amazing goal line defence to deny Viliame Kikau. Times running out but the Dragons desperation is still on show

63min

Emre Guler placed on report for a hip drop tackle

57min

Conversion: Dragons
Attempted by Valentine Holmes.

Goes across the face

Bulldogs lead Dragons 10 - 28 Bulldogs
56min

Try: Dragons
Scored by Ryan Couchman. Kick to come.

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.

Bulldogs lead Dragons 10 - 28 Bulldogs
53min

Conversion: Bulldogs
Kicked by Matt Burton.

No mistake from in front

Bulldogs lead Dragons 6 - 28 Bulldogs
52min

Try: Bulldogs
Scored by Sitili Tupouniua. Kick to come.

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.

Bulldogs lead Dragons 6 - 26 Bulldogs
50min

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.

48min

Conversion: Bulldogs
Kicked by Matt Burton.

Off the upright and in

Bulldogs lead Dragons 6 - 22 Bulldogs
46min

Try: Bulldogs
Scored by Sitili Tupouniua. Kick to come.

A repeat set for the Bulldogs punished the Dragons, with Kurt Mann short ball sending Sitili Tupouniua over on his Bulldogs debut.

Bulldogs lead Dragons 6 - 20 Bulldogs
43min

Bad news for the Dragons, with reports Ryan Couchman suffered an ACL injury during the first half.

39min

Good scramble defence by the Bulldogs denies a try to Christian Tuipulotu and forces a handover

39min

Captains challenge by the Dragons from a knock on. It is successful and they will get the ball back

36min

Conversion: Bulldogs
Kicked by Matt Burton.

Nails it from the left hand side

Bulldogs lead Dragons 6 - 16 Bulldogs
35min

Try: Bulldogs
Scored by Connor Tracey. Kick to come.

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.

Bulldogs lead Dragons 6 - 14 Bulldogs
33min

Conversion: Bulldogs
Kicked by Matt Burton.

Bends back the kick from the right sideline

Bulldogs lead Dragons 6 - 10 Bulldogs
31min

Try: Bulldogs
Scored by Blake Wilson. Kick to come.

The Dogs capitalise off the scrum, with movement by Burton and Tracey stripping the Dragons for numbers out wide and letting Wilson stroll over

Bulldogs lead Dragons 6 - 8 Bulldogs
31min

Mathew Feagai drops a Burton Bomb and the Bulldogs will be on the attack from a scrum

27min

Jack De Belin sent for a HIA

25min

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!

23min

Jacob Preston has been placed on report for a late hit, with the Dragons getting another penalty in attacking range.

21min

Dragons get a penalty in attacking position after a high tackle.

19min

Conversion: Dragons
Kicked by Valentine Holmes.

Makes no mistake from right in front

Dragons lead Dragons 6 - 4 Bulldogs
18min

Crichton put on report for dangerous contact

17min

Try: Dragons
Scored by Christian Tuipulotu. Kick to come.

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!!!

Tied up at Dragons 4 - 4 Bulldogs
15min

Conversion: Bulldogs
Attempted by Matt Burton.

Sideline kick, fades out past the left upright

Bulldogs lead Dragons 0 - 4 Bulldogs
14min

Try: Bulldogs
Scored by Marcelo Montoya. Kick to come.

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.

Bulldogs lead Dragons 0 - 4 Bulldogs
13min

The Bulldogs get a penalty after the Dragons failed to pack a scrum in time, and they’ll go on the attack

8min

Bit of a mistake by Ilias, with his kick going over the dead ball line

2min

And Viliame Kikau knocks it on! The Dragons are pumped up too!

1min

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)