The Bulldogs leap back into the top eight following a convincing win over the Gold Coast Titans – the match ending 36-4.
>>MATCH REPORT: Dogs beat Titans to stay in top eight
The start of the match saw both sides struggle to keep possession, with unforced errors causing a disrupted first 15 minutes. Brett Morris and Curtis Rona gave the Bulldogs the lead through the first half, but Faifai Loa kept the Titans within reach before half time.
Gold Coast were playing well, and were matching the Bulldogs for possession throughout the first 60 minutes, but seemed to collapse as Sezer was taken off midway through the second half. The Bulldogs then capitalised, with tries to Eastwood, Morris, Rona and Klemmer.
A fantastic try to James Roberts couldn’t keep the Titans in the match, and Faifai Loa got his second on the fulltime buzzer to narrow the difference.
The Canterbury Bulldogs face off against the Gold Coast Titans this afternoon as they look to build on last week’s impressive win against the Broncos. Join The Roar from 4:00pm (AEST) for live scores and updates.
The Gold Coast Titans sit in 15th position and once again are a strong chance for taking home the wooden spoon this year. There hasn’t been a team more consistently bad over the past five years, and yet they somehow seem to get results against the Bulldogs.
In Round 14 the Bulldogs suffered a 14-point loss to the Titans, going down 28-14, and before that, in Round 26 last year, the Titans somehow came back from an 18-0 deficit to beat the Bulldogs 19-18.
In a game which, on paper, looks like a walkover victory for the Bulldogs, we could see a different result emerge.
Beau Falloon and Eddy Pettybourne come back into the squad for the Titans, whose main goal for the rest of this season will be to avoid the wooden spoon. They’re without Nate Myles again, who remains on the sideline with a shoulder injury.
The Titans’ best chance for victory has to be their uncanny ability to beat the Bulldogs no matter what the odds suggest. With Greg Bird leading the line and James Roberts and David Mead in the centres; perhaps an upset is on the cards. Look out for Roberts in particular, who has been one of the more consistent performers this year.
The Bulldogs have all the right players to stay in the top eight, and their performances of late have helped them keep within reach of the finals’ series.
Greg Eastwood makes a welcome return at lock, moving young New Zealand international Sam Kasiano to the bench. Michael Lichaa is in the starting squad despite limping off against Brisbane last week.
For the Bulldogs, a win seems more probable then not, though they’ll need to overcome their Titans hoodoo. The Morris brothers, along with Josh Graham and Greg Eastwood, will be pivotal in the result this afternoon.
Prediction: Bulldogs to overcome their poor history against the Titans, and work toward consolidating their spot in the top eight. 18-12
James Anderson
Roar Guru
Full Time Score: Bulldogs 36-14 Titans The Bulldogs leap back into the top eight following a convincing win over the Gold Coast Titans. The start of the match saw both sides struggle to keep possession, with unforced errors causing a disrupted first 15 minutes. Brett Morris and Curtis Rona gave the Bulldogs the lead through the first half, but Faifai Loa kept the Titans within reach before half time. Gold Coast were playing well, and were matching the Bulldogs for possession throughout the first 60 minutes, but seemed to collapse as Sezer was taken off midway through the second half. The Bulldogs then capitalised, with tries to Eastwood, Morris, Rona and Klemmer. A fantastic try to James Roberts couldn't keep the Titans in the match, and Faifai Loa got his second on the fulltime buzzer to narrow the difference.
James Anderson
Roar Guru
80' - TRY ON THE BUZZER!! Gold Coast get over the line through Faifai Loa. Some exceptional footwork and balance to keep the ball in play on the left wing and dive over for his try. Greg Bird misses from the left touch. Bulldogs 34-14 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
79' - Hodkinson converts narrowly. 36 plays 10, that should be it for the night. Bulldogs 36-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
78' - TRY BULLDOGS!! Strong run through the middle from Browne opens up space for Klemmer, who still had to use his strength and power to get through the struggling Titans. Bulldogs 34-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
76' - Bulldogs with a couple of strong runs again, and they're on the 20m line with two to go. From the right wing, Eastwood instigates a switch of play to the left, but Mbye grubber kicked through when he should've gone around the outside. Bulldogs 30-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
74' - Faifai Loa with some strong defence on his defensive ten to stop the bulldogs. Titans get possession but can't make much ground. They look deflated. Bulldogs 30-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
72' - Hodkinson doesn't convert again, but this game is already over. How many more will they get is the only question now. Bulldogs 30-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
71' - TRY BULLDOGS!! Eastwood gets his second for the night. Rona made the line break to start the attack, and Hodkinson then kicked to Perrett, who pulled the ball back into play from the touch line to set up Eastwood for the try. Fantastic play Bulldogs. Bulldogs 30-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
70' - EASTWOOD TRY!! Finsihes off one of the best team tries you'll see all year. Video ref to confirm. Bulldogs 26-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
68' - Curtis Rona with the points for the second time tonight, but it was Pritchard's line break that set It up. Kasiano then gave the quick offload to Rona on the outside, who got over the line well. Hodkinson couldn't convert. Bulldogs 26-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
67' - ANOTHER TRY BULLDOGS!! Bulldogs 22-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
66' - Titans knock-on through Pettybourne. Pritchard takes off into some space, and is only stopped by Mortimer back tracking quickly. They keep coming. Bulldogs 22-10 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
64' - You would think the game is wrapped up now. Titans haven't managed to threaten too much tonight. Unless Roberts has two more tries in him, I can't see the Gold Coast coming back. Bulldogs 22-8 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
63' - Hodkinson Converts Bulldogs 22-8 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
62' - BRETT MORRIS!! TRY BULLDOGS!! Brett Morris saw Roberts try and said, I can do that too. Fantastic speed from the Full-back, who got up in the front line to add an extra man, to make a line break and power 30m to the try line. Bulldogs 16-8 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
61' - Lost ball for Titans. I think it was Douglas who lost it. Bulldogs now on the ball. Bulldogs 16-8 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
60' - Fantastic speed from Roberts for that Try. He is electric! Titans need to use that try as momentum. One player can only do so much. Bulldogs 16-8 Titans
James Anderson
Roar Guru
59' - ROBERTS TRY!! Roberts with some good footwork to find a gap through the Bulldogs defence, who were caught napping. Can't ride off the QLD boys just yet. Great solo try made from nothing. Bulldogs 16-8 Titans
jamesb
Guest
What a try!
James Anderson
Roar Guru
58' - Kasiano almost powers his way through. He is on fire tonight. Sezar is off the pitch at the moment assessing a shoulder problem. Bad news for Titans. Bulldogs 16-4 Titans