The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have recorded a resounding 44-22 win over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the Jersey Flegg Qualifying Final at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
With the winner progressing to meet the Minor Premiers, the Sydney Roosters, for a place in the 2023 Jersey Flegg Grand Final, and the loser going on to meet Parramatta Eels in the Minor Semi-final, both teams had a lot play for.
The Bulldogs came out of the blocks firing scoring four tries in the opening 23 minutes taking the score out to 24-0.
The first try came in the fifth minute with second rower Luke Smith finding the line out on the left edge. Fullback Joash Papalii successfully converted from close to the sideline.
The Bulldogs continued to pile on points with back-to-back tries to centre Eli Clarke and forward Timothy Johannssen - both players pushing past defenders to each find the line only minutes apart from one another.
Papalii was dangerous throughout the first half with both ball in hand and off the tee successfully kicking all five conversions as well as scoring a try in the 23rd minute.
The Sharks hit back late in the first half with two tries to winger Kristian Dixon and lock Blake Hosking to close the score to 24-12.
The Bulldogs wasted no time extending their lead once more through hooker Reuben Moyle who found space 10m out from their line, before flicking it out to Johannsen who scored his second try of the day.
Despite the Bulldogs adding two points early in the second half through a penalty, it was the Sharks who found the line first through fullback Siteni Taukamo.
Taukamo scored two tries in eight minutes with the fullback finding space on both sides of the field to race past defenders on both occasions to reduce the margin to 32-22.
Despite the early second-half surge from the Sharks, the Bulldogs stepped it up again in the the final 10 minutes to seal the win.
Two late tries to winger William Afualo and forward Fahmy Toilalo saw the Bulldogs finish with a convincing 44-22 win over the Sharks.
Talking Points
- Bulldogs fullback Joash Papalii was a standout, scoring a try in the 23rd minute and successfully kicking eight conversions from eight attempts
- Bulldogs forward Timothy Johannssen scoring a first-half double to take his team out to 30-12 at half-time.
- Sharks fullback Siteni Taukamo scored a second-half double within eight minutes of each other.
Key Moment
With the Sharks scoring two late tries in the first half to close the gap to 12 points, Bulldogs hooker Reuben Moyle found space close to their line before flicking the ball out to Johannssen to score next to the posts right on half-time.
What’s next?
The Bulldogs progress to the Major Semi-final next Saturday against the Minor Premiers, the Sydney Roosters, while the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks will face the Parramatta Eels in the Minor Semi-Final at Leichardt Oval next week.
