Milestone Mann Seals Fifth Straight Win for Bulldogs

The win not only marked the first time since 1993 that the Bulldogs started a season with five victories, but also since keeping the Knights scoreless in a match in what was another defensive masterclass for Cameron Ciraldo's men. 

After an eventful but low scoring first half, Canterbury came firing out of the blocks with quick fire tries to Josh Curran and rookie Jack Todd - who touched down for his first four-pointer of his career - before Mann sealed the result in the 70th minute. 

It also marked the return of fan-favourite and Lebanon International Jacob Kiraz, who had a night to remember in his first match of 2025, setting up the opening try and running for 178 metres.

Canterbury claimed opening points with Stephen Crichton slotting a penalty goal after a successful Captain's Challenge overturned a knock-on ten metres from the line.

Over enthusiasm in defence fared poorly as they invited the Novocastrians into their half, but crunching defensive efforts from Jacob Preston and Curran kept their line intact. 

While Bronson Xerri was taken into touch close to the line, Crichton and Reed Mahoney put it upon themselves to create pressure after forcing consecutive line drop outs with deft touches.

Fijian International Marcelo Montoya came inches away from touching down after collecting a chip from Scottish International Bailey Hayward in another near-miss, before Kiraz missed out on a try of his own in an almost identical manner. 

Crichton came off second best in a collision just seven minutes from the break, but the crowd's fears were allayed when their inspirational Captain rose to his feet to fight on. 

The Samoan sensation nearly found himself over the line just moments later, only for the Newcastle defence to converge and force an error, with a frustrating first half ending with a 2-nil scoreline.

While they had to wait 41 minutes, the crowd was finally in full cheer as Kiraz's acrobatics saw the Steeden tapped back for Indigenous All Star Josh Curran to dive on and score. Crichton's conversion saw the lead go to eight points.

The enthusiasm in the stands rose further after Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland was sin binned, and it was at fever pitch when rookie Jack Todd charged through for the first try of his career.

Making further inroads with the one-man advantage, Mann came agonisingly close to celebrating his milestone match with a try, only for The Bunker to find a knock-on in the process.

Both sides traded crucial errors at the line as the match entered its final quarter, with momentum halting and fatigue creeping in as the scoreline remained 14-nil to the Blue and Whites. 

Just as Newcastle were threatening to score their first try, a ricocheted kick was taken from Hayward, who ran 40 metres downfield before finding Montoya, with the Bulldogs now back on the attack.

A clever grubber from Xerri earned the ball back from a drop out, and it was Mann who was vindicated for his earlier efforts after charging through the defence on fifth tackle and scoring the match-winning try with ten minutes to go. 

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20 (Josh Curran, Jack Todd, Kurt Mann tries; Stephen Crichton 3 goals; Stephen Crichton penalty goal) def Newcastle Knights nil