Canterbury have dealt the Melbourne Storm’s NRL finals aspirations a blow with a bruising 6-4 victory at AAMI Park.
Storm skipper Cameron Smith had the chance to level the match with two minutes remaining on Saturday night but missed a tough penalty kick from a metre in from the sideline.
That came after Bulldogs centre Tim Lafai took out Storm winger Marika Koroibete, who was unable to challenge for a Cooper Cronk bomb as they were attacking the tryline.
The Storm have a tough run home to the play-offs with five of their remaining eight games on the road and were desperate to wrap up a win on home turf.
But the Bulldogs didn’t follow the script and fought back from a 4-0 half-time deficit to take the points.
They join Manly at the top of the NRL ladder on 26 points while the Storm hold down eighth.
The first half was an arm-wrestle with defence from both sides first rate and unwilling to give an inch.
Melbourne backrower Kevin Proctor scored the only try of the half after some handy lead-up work from Smith and Cronk.
That duo, as well as Billy Slater, Will Chambers and Ryan Hoffman all backed up from Wednesday night’s State of Origin while NSW halfback Trent Hodkinson turned out for the Bulldogs.
Five-eighth Josh Reynolds missed the match through a three-game suspension for his Origin shoulder charge while Josh Morris sat out injured.
The visitors hit the lead early in the second half when prop Sam Kasiano outmuscled three Storm forwards and stretched out to plant the ball across the line.
Hodkinson added the extras for the Bulldogs to take the two-point lead in the 47th minute.
Melbourne threw everything at the Canterbury side but couldn’t find a chink in their armour.
Bulldogs fullback Mitch Brown managed to bat the ball out of the hands of newly-signed Storm winger Marika Koroibete in the in-goal and then pulled off a brilliant tackle to cut down Slater on the burst.
Hodkinson described the win as “ugly”.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” Hodkinson said.
“It was probably our ugliest game of the year but we’ll take that win.”
Gappy
Guest
I'm a very proud bulldogs supporter and we have lost some of the best players in the game, that the dogs found as young kids and turned into great football players, JT, SBW just a few in resent memory. Rugby league is a business and if teams like the Rooster Melbourne Manly Sharks don't buy players from other clubs they wouldn't have a team. Cam Smith was at Brisbane stolen from them Rooster stole Freddy, Mason, Anasta just to name a few Lyon and the Stewart brothers didn't play for Manlys jr club So this whole bred not borough is bullshit as every team has to buy
MAX
Guest
Sorry Dave , My computer was down. I have sympathy with clubs that develop junior talent and cannot hold them be it salary cap or financial reasons. But Dave, these players join Canterbury at their own freewill. If I got a call knowing that Des wanted my services it would be irresistible. In my lifetime Wayne is the best recruiter ever and Bellyache encourages that extra yard like Mandrake. But, Des Hasler has all those qualities plus he was a far superior player and has been at the coalface against the best. Manly did not appreciate they had the best coach in the world. Bad Mistake.
Sgt.ak97
Guest
If the nrl was about keeping home grown juniors the tigers and raiders would be dominating, get in touch with reality mate rugby league is a results driven business, success of clubs don't have anything to do with whether the players are homegrown or not
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Why would it get under any Canterbury fans skin that the club has the sound management to hire good players regardless of which junior pool they came from. Might be annoying from the other end of things, but not for a Canterbury fan.
P. Marlowe
Guest
JH - I agree with you. I watched the Storm -Dragons game a few weeks ago and the Storm outside backs were simply woeful. Simple dropped balls in possession and got found out in defence every time the Dragons got down their end of the field. I am not completely convinced they won't make the eight (yet) as their rivals for the other spots in the eight are also suffering with consistency issues (see Eels, Tigers, Broncos, Warriors, Cowboys), but they would need to improve significantly to make any sort of impact.
Dave
Guest
As a 'proud' Canterbury man does it get under your skin that they owe all their recent success to the other clubs they have stolen coaches and players from? Is there a homegrown junior in your squad?
Brian S
Guest
The refs gave the bulldogs the ball back after 3 loose carries dropped ball to the same player in the first half, the 3rd 1 i had a clear view of he just extended his arm with no one near & just plain dropped the ball!!?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Jackson, I will do a full analysis after round 18 but the Storm will struggle now to make the 8. I was critical of the signing of Ben Roberts and he has been instrumental in at least two Storm losses so far. You cannot have a "mistake freak" playing in the spine and the team do well over the season. Chris Sandow is another case in point.
Jackson Henry
Guest
I didn't see the game, but it seems to me that a lot of the big three's supporting cast just seem to play with no intelligence and focus. Partiuclarly some of those interchange forwards - they don't push up in defence and get found out, lose the first contact in attack and get dominated in tackles...the list goes on. One of the perils, I suppose, by having so much of your cap taken up by your spine. I'd venture to say that the big three have caried that team this year, to the point that their record would have been half as good as it is now if they were'nt there. Time after time, it seems that guys like Cronk and Smith have to pull the game out of the fire because of sheer stupidity from several other of those absolute muppets. Bellamy must be pulling his hair out. If they get it together though, geez, watch out.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
The Bulldogs best player was their former half Ben Roberts who made two dumb errors as the Storm number 6 just after HT to gift the Bulldogs cheap field position.
Gappy
Guest
Bullshit mate him won game 2 for them. Stopped DCE try just before half time and stopped slater in the last minutes of the game. You should go watch the game again.
Jacksyd
Guest
It would't surprise me if Hassler was quietly pleased Josh Reynolds didn't play last night. It was a pure game of footy based on true grit discipline by both teams and to have Reynolds erratic style and stupidity could have cost the Bulldogs. Yes, he was part of an Origin winning team but apart from his dismal display in game 3, he almost single handedly handed QLD victories in games 1 and 2.
uPelican
Guest
Well, it's good to see the old Canterbury Bankstown Berries having a good season. Des is a legend.
MAX
Guest
Canterbury- Bankstown RLFC plays an important part in my life. I regard it as a priviledge to be a member. I also love justice and courage and teamwork and mateship and skill. Last night The Bulldogs showed how to do it best. Breathing has never felt so good.
Steve b
Guest
Not only did they beat the Storm they beat the refs as well.The pinkies tried their hardest to give it to the Storm some of the decisions in this one were shockers you could have been at Red Rooster ,chicken wings all over the place and no i am not a Dogs supporter