The Bulldogs bounced back from a shock loss to the lowly Wests Tigers last weekend to produce a dominant performance against the out-of-form Warriors.
It is the third straight loss for the Warriors has seen the drop out of the top 4 for the first time since Round 6. And with a resurgent Dragons next week as their opponent, there's a very real chance that the Broncos and Sharks could both jump the Warriors on the table.
As for this contest, it was played in unrelenting rain for the full 80 minutes, in a heavily sodden surface that slowly became muddy through the middle. These conditions did little to deter the Bulldogs attack though.
The game started inauspiciously with a penalty goal by Adam Pompey after just 3 minutes. The Bulldogs followed suit 3 minutes later when Stephen Crichton levelled the scores. It was another ten minutes before the next score, which was another penalty goal to Crichton.
Ill-discipline, especially from the Warriors had given the Bulldogs a lot of easy field-position. After 21 minutes of play, this finally resulted in the first try of the game to the Bulldogs when Viliame Kikau got the ball on the left short-side, ran to the line and dived low well short of the line but he slid into the in-goal and got to the line for a try. Crichton failed to convert from out wide.
Five minutes later, Warriors halfback Te Maire Martin was ruled out with concussion and within a minute later Selumiela Halasima suffered a head clash with Lachlan Galvin and also had to come off, but was later cleared of injury and concussion.
In the 31st minute the Bulldogs shifted quickly from the right wing to the left, creating the extra man and Jethro Rinakama slid over to score in the corner. Crichton added the extras.
Just before the halftime whistle, Crichton ran to the line before getting a great ball to the unmarked Enari Tuala who scored in the corner. Crichton's sideline conversion was perfect and at halftime the Bulldogs had a commanding 20-2 lead.
10 minutes after play resumed the Bulldogs extended their lead when Crichton, playing at first receiver got the ball from the back of a scrum, ran to the line, dummied twice and then powered through Adam Pompey to score a strong solo try. He needed some medical attention to his shoulder after the try. Matt Burton took the shot at goal from the sideline and he hit the upright.
The Warriors finally got across the Bulldogs stripe in the 54th minute when Samuel Healey, close to the Bulldogs line, grubbered for himself. The ball was blocked by Jacob Preston, but Healey kicked it again into the Bulldogs in goal, he followed it through and planted the rolling ball down for a try. Pompey converted.
From the restart James Fisher-Harris pushed a marker a bit too energetically, giving the Bulldogs a penalty and Crichton potted another penalty goal.
With 12 minutes remaining, Jacob Kiraz with beautiful handling in horrid conditions, caught an awkwardly low pass, stepped inside a defender and then split the next two defenders to dive over for a brilliant try. Crichton converted from touch.
The Warriors added a consolation try in the dying stages of the match when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck snatched an intercept and raced away to score. Pompey converted. The Bulldogs scoring a solid victory 32-14.