Senior Pathways Wrap Round 5: Bulldogs Claim Close Contests

By George Al-Akiki, NSWRL.com.au

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have clinched their second win of the 2025 The Knock On Effect NSW Cup season in a tight 26-24 win over a valiant Newcastle Knights outfit.

The Bulldogs capitalised first off an early penalty as halfback Joseph O’Neill perfectly held up a short ball to send centre Cooper Toy over for his second try in as many NSW Cup games to open the scoring (6-0).

The Knights dominated early field possession and forced their way up the middle of the field through some offload-laden sets by a determined forward pack led by Tyrone Thompson, though to no avail.

But the Bulldogs continued to leave the door open with mounting disciplinary errors, and the Novocastrians found their way under the posts courtesy of a barnstorming Kyle McCarthy (6-6).

An untimely knock on by Paul Bryan on his own 30m line shortly after allowed Canterbury back in the game through 2024 Jersey Flegg premiership winning teammates Cassius Tia and Jonathan Sua. The former found the latter in the right hand corner with a looping pass to make it 12-6.

Newcastle’s mounting errors became more than costly. They dropped the ball three times just short of the try-line for certain tries, once over the try-line, and were penalised for a double movement. They finally cracked the Bulldogs right edge defence minutes before half-time to put them two points behind at the break (12-10).

The away team continued their momentum into the second half with a quick shift to a wide open right edge Canterbury defence to give Francis Manuleleua his first NSW Cup try and Newcastle’s first lead of the afternoon. (14-12).

The Dogs bounced straight back as a Tia bomb tapped back by Sua put Drew Hutchison over. The home side went back-to-back after a poor error from five-eighth Will Sutton saw Jethro Rinakama run the length of the field (22-14).

But Newcastle weren’t done after yet another penalty by Canterbury gave the away side prime field position, allowing Manuleleua to break the line and find his winger Taj Annan. A short side play finished off by Riley Jones caught Canterbury out to return their lead (24-22).

 But it was late inclusion Blake Wilson who with four minutes to go stepped left then right to leave Jones behind him to score the match winning try for his team in a frantic 26-24 finish in favour of the home side.

Talking Points

Both Canterbury and Newcastle sit bottom of the standings in the NSW Cup when it comes to their completion rates (66% and 64% coming into the game) and this scrappy matchup was reflective of that. Both teams will look to tidy up their play.
Canterbury’s disciplinary issues were also a cause for concern. Their conceded penalties continued to invite the Knights into the contest, which almost cost them in the end. They’ll need to rectify this to go deep into the season.
Newcastle’s forward pack was a highlight that troubled Canterbury often. Manulelua in particular was strong with a try, try-assist, recurring tackle busts and a line-break.
The boot of Jackson Hastings was sub-par completing only 1/3 conversions in a tight game. Liam Sutton assumed kicking duties at 50%, but wasn’t enough. This combined with Newcastle’s errors on the tryline in the first half cost them their second win of the season.

Key Moment

A 40/20 by Cassius Tia with six minutes remaining gave his team prime field position and laid the foundation for Wilson’s match winning try. The centre was involved in everything for his team today.

What’s Next?

The Bulldogs will take the two points into next week’s bye, while the Knights return home to Newcastle for a round one rematch against the Magpies, their last meeting being the red and blue’s only win for the season so far.

Jersey Flegg Cup: Bulldogs 32 def Knights 28, Silktails 18 def by Warriors 28

The Jersey Flegg Cup Bulldogs claimed a thrilling victory over the Newcastle Knights, with a try in the dying stages earning them a 32-28 victory at Hammondville Oval.

Despite a double to Patrick Young, the home side were staring down the barrel of defeat with a 22-12 half-time score, and found themselves trailing by 16 just minutes into the second stanza. 

But the tides turned quickly when young winger Jope Rauqe crossed for a double in the space of nine minutes.

Now only down by four points with just as many minutes remaining, the Bulldogs stood up when it counted when Bronson Reuben crossed for the equaliser, with his goal putting the side in the lead for the very first time. 

A penalty goal from the five-eighth at full-time sealed the win, with his try and six goals seeing him rack up a personal tally of 16 points. 

Meanwhile, the Kaiviti Silktails' winning run came to an end with a 18-28 defeat to the New Zealand Warriors.

The Silktails continued their momentum with a handy 12-nil lead at the break with tries thanks to Kaveni Tikomaiiligadi and Joseva Rateri being back at home in Churchill Park in Lautoka.

But the second half belonged to the Warriors, with two tries in the space of four minutes levelling the scores.

The Silktails failed to give up, levelling once again with fifteen minutes remaining through Isoa Lakepa, but two late four-pointers saw the Warriors fly home with the two competition points in hand. 

In Round 6, the two teams will have their first face-off for 2025, with the Bulldogs hosting the Silktails at Belmore Sports Ground at 12:30pm on Saturday afternoon. 

Ron Massey Cup: Bulldogs 32 def Bulls 26

The Bulldogs' Ron Massey Cup team were successful in securing the two competition points in their Round 4 clash, with a high-scoring 32-26 victory over the Hills District Bulls at Hammondville Oval.

While the Bulls scored first just minutes into the contest, the Bulldogs replied in kind to lay on a solid 22-10 half-time lead, with winger Ragarive Wavik bagging a double.

Centre Trentham Peterson's try extended the lead further just five minutes upon resumption, and while the opposition looked to make a late comeback, Braye Porter's try in the 73rd minute all but sealed the result.

The Bulldogs will travel to TG Millner Field to take on the Ryde-Eastwood Hawks on Sunday, April 13.