Dogs dominate as Bunnies go off the boil

Canterbury have made it three in a row tonight, downing last year's premiers South Sydney 32-18 at ANZ Stadium in front of 26,503 fans.

In a match where both sides needed victory to ensure their respective top-eight positions, it was the Bulldogs who started stronger, opening the scoring through makeshift hooker Damien Cook after ten minutes.

Trent Hodkinson's conversion gave the Bulldogs a 6-0 early lead which stretched quickly to 12-0 after Sam Perrett got across the line out wide. The Rabbitohs then looked to wrestle back some momentum, but poor execution and solid Canterbury defence saw the Bunnies unable to cross.

Not long later the Bulldogs had their third try through Brett Morris, set up perfectly by Frank Pritchard whose second try assist of the night helped the 'Dogs to an 18-0 lead. The boys from Belmore seemed destined to hold that lead until the break, but Damien Cook had other ideas.

Already a tryscorer in his return to the NRL, Cook chased through a failed Trent Hodkinson field goal on the stroke of halftime, benefiting from a ricochet of a Rabbitohs' player before soccering it ahead, gathering it before the dead ball line and tapping it back for Sam Perrett, who secured it to score his second try of the evening. Hodkinson failed to convert, so the Bulldogs took a 22-0 lead into the sheds.

The second half started a little slower - the Rabbitohs finally got on the board in the 49th through Bryson Goodwin, while Canterbury hit back through the NRL's top tryscorer in Curtis Rona ten minutes later.

With twenty minutes remaining, the 'Dogs led 26-6 and it was from here the Rabbitohs pushed a little harder - Alex Johnston scored wide on the right, and with Adam Reynolds' conversion the Bunnies drew within 14 points, but the 'Dogs had an answer for that too, Shaun Lane awarded a try off a Sam Perrett bat-back. Hodkinson converted for a 32-12 lead. The Bunnies managed a late converted consolation try through Jason Clark to bring the final scoreline to 32-18.

The big worry now for South Sydney is they face the top two in coming weeks after tonight's loss - and they may have to do it without Greg Inglis who picked up what looked like a potentially serious leg injury late in the contest. They'll be sweating on news of his condition ahead of next Thursday's clash with Brisbane at Allianz Stadium.

Canterbury meanwhile seem to be humming along at the right time, and have lifted to 6th on the table. They still have Josh Reynolds and Aiden Tolman to return from injury - and only face the lowly Knights (next Saturday 5:30pm at Hunter Staidum) and Warriors between now and the finals.

Match Details

South Sydney Rabbitohs 18 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 32
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Crowd: 26503
Halftime Score: South Sydney Rabbitohs 0 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 22

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (18)
Tries: Bryson Goodwin, Alex Johnston, Jason Clark
Conversions: Adam Reynolds (3/3)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (32)
Tries: Damien Cook, Sam Perrett (2), Brett Morris, Curtis Rona, Shaun Lane
Field Goals: Trent Hodkinson (0/1)
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (4/6)

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:

3 points - James Graham
2 points - Frank Pritchard
1 point - Damien Cook

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary

Welcome to Friday night footy at ANZ! South Sydney are hosting Canterbury at the shared home ground of both sides. It's a critical one for both sides - the Bunnies can secure a top four berth with a win here tonight while a win for the blue-and-whites will ensure they are in the box seat to wrap up a finals berth themselves.

Few will forget the spite from the last encounter between these sides - the Good Friday Grand Final Re-match was the most memorable game of the season for all the wrong reason and saw fiery Bulldog David Klemmer sin-binned and subsequently suspended for abusing referee Gerard Sutton, and captain James Graham for two charges including the contrary conduct against Sutton himself. The Rabbitohs got home 18-17 on the back of a controversial late penalty goal and the 'Dogs season degenerated from there while the Bunnies righted their sails to ensure they'd stay in the eight all season.

In TEAM NEWS the Rabbitohs have opted to bring back Cameron McInnes in at hooker to replace suspended international Issac Luke. Paul Carter is moved back to the bench with Chris Grevsmuhl the player to miss out. Canterbury are 1-17.

The Bulldogs have come back from 24-16 down to defeat the Rabbitohs 26-24 in the Holden Cup Under 20's. The loss for Souths means they're all but assured the wooden spoon in this year's National Youth Competition.

After 400 minutes of lead-up by the host broadcaster, we almost have kickoff. Teams on the park... just about ready now.

1: We're underway and Canterbury push over halfway off the first set, but the Hodkinson kick on the last asks no questions of Rabbitohs' fullback Greg Inglis.

2: Souths' first set ends with a kick fielded by Sam Perrett, and Canterbury will start from just short of their own 40m line.

3: Much better this time from Hodkinson, though Alex Johnston fields the kick and manages to keep it in the field of play.

4: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Sam Kasiano makes an unforced error.
First error of the game is from Kasiano in a big tackle. South Sydney attack from 30m out.

5: Souths pick up a penalty just two tackles into the set. They tap and go from 20m out.

6: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Greg Eastwood makes an unforced error.
Eastwood fumbles it forward trying to clean up a loose pass.

6: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Greg Inglis makes an unforced error.
Inglis throws a shocking low pass that Bryson Goodwin can't get his hands to, and it flies into touch. Canterbury scrum on their own 10m.

8: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Sam Perrett makes an unforced error.
Hodkinson puts it up, Goodwin takes it but Perrett manages a one-on-one strip before losing it attempting to get a pass away. Souths' scrum 10m out from their own line.

10: Canterbury with the better of the metres gained today, and find themselves inside the Rabbitohs' 10m on the last tackle.

10: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Damien Cook. Kick to come.
The Bulldogs use the numbers through offloads on the last and Pritchard finds Cook backing away from a tackle and Cook goes in untouched.

11: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson has no trouble adding the extras to Cook's opening try.

13: Rabbitohs penalised on the Bulldogs' return set. Big chance for Canterbury again here.

15: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Moses Mbye makes an unforced error.
Moses takes on the line on the last but loses the ball attempting to get an unusual offload away. Souths ball 10m out.

16: Canterbury with another penalty, Brett Morris breaks into the backfield then the Souths' chasers bring him down, but hold on too long. The Bulldogs tap and play.

17: Klemmer is out there for Canterbury too.

17: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Sam Perrett. Kick to come.
Beautiful long ball out wide from Hodkinson finds Perrett out wide and he goes in almost untouched.

19: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson makes no mistake again. Early dominance from Canterbury here.

21: Good long low kick from Adam Reynolds on the fourth tackle backed up by a good chase and subsequent defensive set has kept the Bulldogs trapped inside their own 40m for a set.

23: Bulldogs get away with some luck there, a stripped ball goes to Tom Burgess but he doesn't hear the 6-again call and kicks it. Canterbury have it.

24: End to end stuff from both sides since the last 'Dogs try, but the leading side's momentum seems to have dropped away a little.

25: Browne is off after copping a knock to the head trying to pressure Adam Reynolds after a kick.

26: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Moses Mbye makes an unforced error.
Mbye loses it just inside the Bunnies' half. A few plays later Canterbury have conceded a penalty as well, Souths with a fresh set just 30m out...

27: Perrett appears to have knocked it dead off a Rabbitohs' kick, but replays show it was Bryson Goodwin, and that Perrett's hand only propelled Goodwin's hands. Drop-out overruled, Bulldogs 20m restart.

28: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Brett Morris. Kick to come.
Hands, offloads, TRY TIME! The Bulldogs go down the short side, Rona puts it in-field to Pritchard who provides another freakish offload - Brett Morris the recipient. "B Moz" clambers over the line to extend Canterbury's lead!

28: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Three from three. All Canterbury so far.

29: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Trent Hodkinson makes an unforced error.
Hodkinson can't get his hands properly to a horrible Damien Cook pass out of dummy-half. Souths ball on halfway.

32: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Trent Hodkinson makes an unforced error.
Hodkinson with a hand to the ball as Sutton tries passing on the last. Souths scrum 10m from the Canterbury line.

33: Canterbury concede another penalty, Souths less than 10m out.

34: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Thomas Burgess makes an unforced error.
Oh dear. First hit up and Tommy finds himself sans ball. Not looking good for the cardinal and myrtle so far tonight.

36: Bulldogs inviting South Sydney back into this - a late set penalty 30m from their own line and now the Rabbitohs attack again...

36: And another one. And now we have Tim Grant and David Klemmer getting into each other.

37: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Trent Hodkinson makes an unforced error.
Hodkinson tries to pick up a loose offload but loses it. Souths with ANOTHER feed 10m out.

38: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Alex Johnston makes an unforced error.
Not really working for the Bunnies tonight. The Rabbitohs see space on the edge but it gets to Johnston awkwardly and he knocks on.

39: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Greg Inglis makes an unforced error.
Is this the Rabbitohs' worst half of footy this year? Inglis gets a neat pass from Stewart but just fumbles it. Simple stuff.

40: UNSUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Field goal attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
VIDEO REFEREE POSSIBLE BULLDOGS TRY. We'll explain it in a second. What the hell?

40: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Sam Perrett. Kick to come.
Perrett a double! Hodkinson attempts the field goal, it bounces off a Souths player, Cook has chased through, soccers it ahead, beats it to the dead ball line himself and bats it back to the waiting Perrett!!! WHAT. A. TRY!

40: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
Hodkinson misses. Unbelievable half of footy from the blue-and-whites. 22-0 and we go to halftime.

41: We're back underway. Bunnies with a mountain to clumb, Canterbury wanting to put their stamp on the competition.

41: James Graham goes down under an awkward tackle and he's being told to go and have a concussion test, even if he doesn't want it.

43: Awkward. Moses Mbye runs 90m after collecting a Souths' kick but he's offside from it deflecting off Pritchard and it's a Souths penalty. All that juice used up for nothing.

44: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Kirisome Auva'a makes an unforced error.
The Bunnies try to shift it wide too quickly and Auva'a can't take it. He cops a knock from Sam Perrett's hip for his troubles. Bulldogs ball.

45: South Sydney concede a penalty inside their own half. Canterbury start things from halfway.

46: Sam Perrett comes within inches of a hat-trick! Can't quit pull the ball in. South Sydney 20m restart.

48: Souths manage to force a drop-out... and replays show the call from touch judge Brett Suttor was completely incorrect. He judged Brett Morris to have his foot on the dead ball line when it was inside the in-goal. Big chance for the Bunnies here.

49: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Bryson Goodwin. Kick to come.
Finally the Bunnies are in! Cheeky John Sutton kick finds Goodwin on the edge who avoids Sam Perrett enough to get it down.

51: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Is this the beginning of the comeback? Reynolds converts from out wide to revive the premiers' hopes.

52: James Graham possibly seen saying "I Told You So" as he returns from the concussion test, but his team now only leads by 16 instead of 22.

56: A bit of end-to-end stuff. Adam Reynolds looking worse for wear but he's pushed the trainer away and re-joins the defensive line.

57: Kasiano finds Hodkinson with a brilliant offload to gain Canterbury some metres, before the 'Dogs trap Souths in-goal on the next play off a well-placed Mbye grubber.

59: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Curtis Rona. Kick to come.
Wowee! Curtis Rona backs himself from 10m out, pushes to the line and throws himself in the air to grab his 20th try of the season!

60: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
Hodkinson's radar just not quite on-point there from the touchline.

65: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Alex Johnston. Kick to come.
Alex Johnston gets over in the corner for the Bunnies.

65: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
Great stuff from the touchline. Margin shortens to 14. Fifteen left. Could it happen?

67: Bulldogs penalty after some confusion off a high kick - Rabbitohs offside. Back down the field Inglis is down with some leg soreness.

69: VIDEO | Possible Bulldogs TRY to Shaun Lane after Sam Perrett batted it back.

69: TRY CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Scored by Shaun Lane. Kick to come.
Perrett goes up and bats it back, Shaun Lane gets it down and the men upstairs agree with Jared Maxwell, it's a try.

69: UPDATE: Greg Inglis is now off the park, hobbling badly.

69: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson converts and the Dogs are back to a twenty-point lead and have the two competition points in the bag.

73: UNFORCED ERROR CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Frank Pritchard makes an unforced error.
Pritchard sets up a nice looking play down the left but manages to drop it cold beside him in attempting an odd dummy.

74: TRY SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Scored by Jason Clark. Kick to come.
Jason Clark scoots over on the last tackle for the Bunnies, great work from dummy-half.

75: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Conversion attempt by Adam Reynolds successful.
No drama for Reynolds from beside the posts. Five to go, 14 the margin.

77: UNFORCED ERROR SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Kyle Turner makes an unforced error.
Souths try some quick hands out the left near halfway and Turner gives up the ball. Dogs scrum with three left.

79: The 'Dogs look to have scored through Lloyd Perrett but there's a forward pass in there. Souths ball.

80: That's all. Souths try to nail it near fulltime but no dice. Canterbury dominant and win by 14.