The Bulldogs have survived a late surge from a desperate Wests Tigers side to hold on to a 26-22 victory in a thrilling Round 3 clash at Belmore on Sunday.
Cameron Ciraldo's side appeared set to cruise towards victory with a 20-lead after 66 minutes before Wests Tigers ran in three tries in four minutes to set up a thrilling finale.
With Matt Burton laying the platform, Paul Alamoti and Josh Addo-Carr producing the magic, the Bulldogs were lucky their early tries from a lethal left edge were enough to hold on to the two points.
After a disciplined start, the Bulldogs opened their account in the fourth minute when forward Viliame Kikau broke through the line and offloaded to put Hayze Perham through from close range.
Perham opens Dogs account at Belmore
Nine minutes later and the home side was in again when 19-year-old Paul Alamoti intercepted an Adam Doueihi pass and raced downfield before finding Josh Addo-Carr who scored his third try for the season. Kyle Flanagan's conversion made it 12-0.
Come the 17th minute, John Bateman looked to make a dream return to the NRL when he skipped in field and kicked a perfect grubber to score under the posts, but replays showed he fumbled the ball over the line.
Just four minutes later and Tim Sheens' side opened their account when centre Brent Naden intercepted a Max King pass, running 90 metres and reducing the deficit 12-6.
Naden intercept brings Wests Tigers back into it
The Bulldogs hit back in the 28th minute when Alamoti defused a high ball and burst down the paddock before linking up with Addo-Carr, toying with Wests Tigers' defenders to hand the flying winger a double.
Moments before the half-time bell and the Bulldogs were gifted another two points after Wests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau was penalised for being offside and then again for verbal dissent. Flanagan kicked the penalty goal to take a 20-6 lead to the sheds at half-time.
Pressure continued to mount against the Tigers in the second half after some early errors and the Bulldogs extended their lead through Burton who danced his way through lacklustre defence to run 40m and score under the posts. Flanagan's conversion stretched the lead 26-6.
With 13 minutes to play, the Wests Tigers came to life with three spectacular runaway tries in four minutes through halfback Luke Brooks, forward Fonua Pole and fullback Charlie Staines.
A simple play, turning the ball inside before breaking the Bulldogs line, Staines' first try in Wests Tigers colours reduced the deficit to just four points with ten minutes to play.
Razzle Dazzle Wests Tigers try
While the visitors at everything to the Bulldogs in a bid to claim their first win for the season, the home side hung on to bring the Belmore Faithful to their feet at full time.
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Match Snapshot
- Temperatures reached 36C at Belmore on Sunday, granting on-field drink breaks 20 and 60 minutes into the match.
- The Bulldogs' left edge had a day out at Belmore, with Paul Alamoti and Josh Addo-Carr combining for 259 run metres in the first half.
- Sunday's match was the first time the Wests Tigers have played at Belmore Sports Ground.
- Forward John Bateman showed plenty of good signs in his Wests Tigers debut, laying 33 tackles and coming close to scoring a try.
- Wests Tigers prop David Klemmer was placed on report in the 21st minute for a dangerous tackle on Raymond Faitala-Mariner.
- Wests Tigers centre Brent Naden was placed on report in the 75th minute for dangerous contact.
- Bulldogs forward Viliame Kikau was placed on report in the 57th minute for dangerous contact.
- Tim Sheens' mid-game tactical change saw winger David Nofoaluma brought to the bench, Adam Doueihi moved to fullback and Charlie Staines to the wing.
- Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz ran for 255 metres in his 80 minute performance.
- Wests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau lead from the front, making 44 tackles in his third game as a Tiger.
Play of the Game
Hooker Reed Mahoney and five-eighth Matt Burton combined seamlessly to stretch the Bulldog's lead early in the second half. The Bulldogs No. 9 took off with some sweet steps from dummy-half before finding the Australian representative five-eighth who powered his way through a lacklustre Wests Tigers defence to run 40m untouched and score under the posts.
Burton all class
What They Said
“I’m pleased in one aspect that we came back into the game after handing them those long-range tries. We didn’t play well in the first half but in the second half we were much better at chasing them. The effort on the chase on the two Addo-Carr tries was brilliant, we didn’t lack effort and that’s all I’m asking from the guys is to make sure we’ve got that effort. Losing Papali’i probably forced that decision (play John Bateman), I think I would have kept John another week. You’ve got to remember it’s sub-zero conditions in England at the moment and he only left there three or four weeks ago. He’s a big addition to our club and I’m really comfortable about him coming into the club, it makes my job difficult to pick a back row and I’m really happy with that.” – Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens.
“We’re still a new team and we’re learning on the run a little bit but there were things in there today that I was pleased about that we improved on from last week but there’s still a lot of things we need to fix up. Of course it’s frustrating that we’re not an 80-minute team yet but we’re getting closer. I’d be more disappointed if we were going backwards but we’re actually getting better each week and playing for longer periods. Day one when I rocked up here it was pretty obvious he (Paul Alamoti) was something special, I’ve watched him over the last couple of years with excitement and I knew he was going to be a good player but I’m not surprised, I think he’s got more in him.” – Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo.
NRL Press Conference: Bulldogs v Wests Tigers - Round 3, 2023
What's Next
The Bulldogs will look to make it three straight when they jet off to Auckland to meet with the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium. While Tim Sheens' side will be hoping they can have more luck on the road, chasing their first win for the season against the Storm in Melbourne.