The Canterbury Bulldogs proved they shouldn’t be discounted from the NRL premiership reckoning by scoring a gritty 23-16 victory over the Manly Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.
The win was sweet revenge for the Bulldogs, who were thumped 32-10 by the Sea Eagles a month ago. While that contest was one sided, the rematch was in the balance until the final 10 minutes. With scores locked at 16-16, Bulldogs captain Michael Ennis slotted a field goal to put his side in front by one.
The Sea Eagles regathered the ball from the kick-off and had two sets on the Bulldogs line, but their attempt at a field goal was charged down. A bust from Peta Hiku down the right touchline gave Manly hope of pulling off a late miracle, but the play came to nothing after the winger’s chip kick went out on the full.
From the ensuing set, the Bulldogs iced the game when Ennis dived over under the posts. With teammates Trent Hodkinson, Josh Reynolds and Josh Morris on State of Origin duty for NSW, Ennis lauded the effort of his under-strength Bulldogs team.
“That’s a massive win for us, with obviously three of our big guns not being here,” he told Channel Nine. “Our forward pack was enormous. Our back three, there’ll be people talking about them tomorrow. They’re outstanding. It’s a special win for us tonight.”
After a rugged start to the game, Manly opened scoring in the 16th minute through Dunamis Lui, who crashed over near the posts at close range. The Bulldogs, however, replied almost immediately, prop James Graham scoring a carbon copy of the try at the opposite end.
The next points didn’t arrive until late in the half. Bulldogs centre Krisnan Inu was the provider, the centre showing great evasive skills to beat four tacklers and set up a 12-6 lead for his team at the break.
After fading late in the first half, the Sea Eagles stormed out of the blocks when play restarted and moved within two of the home team when winger Clinton Gutherson crossed out wide. But the see-sawing nature of the contest continued, the Bulldogs scoring next through Corey Thompson after Manly fullback Brett Stewart failed to clear a short kick.
Trailing 16-10 with less than a quarter of the match remaining, the Sea Eagles set up a grandstand finish when second-rower Justin Horo crossed following a Bulldogs error from a bomb.
