Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs‘ aspirations for a spot in the National Rugby League (NRL) finals have significantly diminished following a 22-6 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium. The defeat leaves the Bulldogs in ninth position on the ladder, trailing the Cowboys by two points with limited rounds remaining in the regular season. This result marks consecutive losses for the Bulldogs, the first time they have been held to single figures this season.
The Rabbitohs, who have now secured back-to-back wins, maintained their perfect record at Accor Stadium for the season, achieving seven victories from seven games at the venue. This win also means the Rabbitohs have swept the series against the Bulldogs this season, a notable turnaround after losing three of their previous four encounters.
Match Overview and Key Moments
The Bulldogs started the match with strong possession, particularly in the opening 15 minutes, pressuring the Rabbitohs‘ defensive line. However, they were unable to convert this early advantage into points. Key defensive efforts from Cameron Murray and Jack Wighton prevented tries from Jethro Rinakama and Stephen Crichton during this period.
The Rabbitohs capitalised on their defensive resilience, with David Fifita opening the scoring in the 23rd minute after pouncing on a grubberkick from Cody Walker. Alex Johnston then added another try, giving the Rabbitohs a 10-0 lead at halftime. Fifita had a productive night, finishing with a try and 144 running metres, along with six tackle busts.
The second half began with a significant error from the Bulldogs. Bailey Hayward dropped the kick-off, leading directly to a try for Tallis Duncan, extending the Rabbitohs‘ lead to 14-0. Campbell Graham further widened the gap, scoring to make it 18-0 with 32 minutes left in the game. The Bulldogs‘ lone try came in the 61st minute when centre Enari Tuala scored his 50th career touchdown. Matt Dufty, who registered a try, a try assist, two line breaks, and one line break assist, sealed the win for the Rabbitohs with a try two minutes from fulltime.
South Sydney‘s goal-kicking was a concern, converting only one of their five tries. Coach Wayne Bennett acknowledged this issue, stating that the team is managing without their primary kickers. Despite this, the Rabbitohs completed 87 percent of their sets, their second-best completion rate this season, and achieved their most running metres this season with 1802.
Injuries and Future Outlook
The match saw some injury concerns for both sides. South Sydney forward Adam Elliott sustained a groin injury, having recently returned from an ankle injury suffered in Round 12. For the Bulldogs, winger Jethro Rinakama left the field with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Bronson Xerri.
Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo expressed disappointment with the team’s performance, particularly the dropped kick-off after halftime, which he described as a “killer blow.” He emphasised that the team’s focus is on their next game. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play against St George Illawarra next Saturday. Their remaining fixtures include a match against Brisbane in Round 27 and a challenging encounter with second-placed Penrith in Round 26. To have any chance of making the finals, a win against Penrith is likely essential.
The Rabbitohs‘ victory has significantly boosted their chances of returning to the finals for the first time since 2022. The minimum points required for eighth position is now 30, which officially eliminates the Eels and Tigers from contention. South Sydney‘s strong defensive effort was highlighted by conceding only one try despite the Bulldogs having 25 tackles to 22 in the attacking 20-metre zone.
Source: foxsports.com.au
