The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have recorded their first 3-0 start to the season since 2012 following a 16-8 win over the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
There was plenty of feeling between the teams from start to finish but it was the Dogs’ grit and tenacity that proved superior in what was a real grind of a game.
Match: Eels v Bulldogs
Round 3 -
home Team
Eels
17th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
2nd Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Bailey Hayward looked comfortable in his first NRL start at five-eighth, finishing with a try assist and two linebreak assists, while remaining busy in defence with 33 tackles.
Bronson Xerri, Marcelo Montoya and Connor Tracey got through a mountain of work, while Harry Hayes was enormous off the bench with 125 running metres and 35 tackles – no misses.
The Bulldogs got out to an early lead after Daniel Suluka-Fifita – who was elevated to the starting side before kick-off - charged over to score his first NRL try under the posts.
The Eels nearly hit back through Jack Williams in similar fashion only for a sensational tackle Tracey stopping him in his tracks.
But moments later they did get on the board after some quick hands down the left edge sent Will Penisini over in the corner.
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NRL Match Highlights: Bulldogs vs Eels - Round 3, 2025
Xerri scored his first try of the season after fooling Eels defenders with a show-and-go, before Blake Wilson came up with an acrobatic one-hand putdown to send the side into the half-time break with a 14-4 lead.
The Eels opened up the scoring in the second half with former Bulldog Josh Addo-Carr crossing in the corner. It came after Tracey was penalised and put on report for an accidental high shot on another former Bulldog in Jordan Samrani.
Skipper Stephen Crichton kicked a penalty goal on the buzzer to seal the result.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 16 (Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Bronson Xerri, Blake Wilson tries; Stephen Crichton 2 goals) def Parramatta Eels 8 (Will Penisini, Josh Addo-Carr tries)
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NRL Round 3 Post-Match Press Conference
