Round 22
Cowboys 14 l. Bulldogs 54

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Bulldogs turn it on
Sun August 6, 2006
The Bulldogs have produced their most brilliant first half performance of the season to cement their position in the top two and send a major signal to their opponents that they are equally lethal in the backs as they are brutal in the forwards.

All season the Bulldogs have been written off as a major contender despite being the only Club not to lose two games in a row and outside of Melbourne have been the most consistent winning Club in 2006.

Andrew Emeilo opened the scoring in the 5th minute when the Bulldogs pushed the ball wide following a great offload from Roy Asotasi and a flick pass inside from Luke Patten saw the right centre score. Hazem El Masri converted from outwide to give the Bulldogs an early 6-0 lead.

The Bulldogs second try came in the 13th minute when Patten scooted out from dummy half catching the Cowboys defence lazy around the ruck pass and passed it to Reni Maitua who shrugged off several poor attempts at tackle to score near the posts.

Any chance of a Cowboys victory were put to rest in the final seven minutes of the first half as the Bulldogs raced in three unanswered tries.

Sonny Bill Williams scored the Bulldogs 3rd try when he ran wide off Daniel Holdsworth to scoring in the left hand corner where he had too much pace for the Cowboys defence. El Masri landed a terrific conversion from the sideline to push the Bulldogs 18 clear.

Brent Sherwin helped create the Bulldogs next try when he put Maitua into a great hole who passed it to Patten backing up on the inside to score under the posts.

The Bulldogs weren't to be done with for the opening half when a great exchange of short passing saw Andrew Ryan break clear with Willie Tonga in support to finish off the try.

Both long range tries on the stroke of half-time sent out huge warning signs to rival clubs that the Bulldogs can play the razzle dazzle equally good as the grinding stuff.

The second half wasn't going to be as good as the first half for the Bulldogs as they traditionally clock off in spectacular fashion turning easy victories into a close win. Even though they let in three tries in the final 40 minutes, they scored four of their own to ensure they asserted their authority on the match.

Emeilo scored his second try in the 46th minute when WIlliams grubbered across the field with El Masri picking it up and flick passing it to Emeilo for his second. It was great skill by Williams who showed he has an effective short kicking game adding another string to hos bow. El Masri landed another sideline goal with the Bulldogs leading 36-0.

North Queensland scored back to back tries with Mark Henry scoring outwide and then Ashley Graham scoring from the restart of play with both tries unconverted. The Graham try looked very suspect to say the least and in a closer game probably wouldn't have been awarded.

Another Asotasi offload created a Bulldogs try with Williams in the right spot at the right time to collect his first career double in the 64th minute for the Bulldogs to lead 42-8 following El Masri's conversion.

Sherwin was farcically sent to the sin bin for a brilliant one-on-one strip and from the penalty Matthew Scott crashed through Williams and Mark O'Meley to score. The decision by Paul 'Homer' Simpkins to send Sherwin to the bin was comical to say the least and an insult to the stripping rule, which Sherwin perfected legally under the current rules and not the rules of when Allan Langer and Terry Lamb were in their prime.

The Bulldogs dominated the match from the start and they made sure they finished the strongest side with two tries in the final five minutes.

El Masri scored a strong try from close range, which was his 15th for the season and he converted for the Bulldogs to lead 48-14.

Tonga made a trademark break down the left hand side from the restart and found Trent Cutler in support who raced 40m to score under the posts. Cutler who is the son of former Canterbury stalwart and Life Member Stan Cutler who was very unlucky to miss the 1980 Grand Final has been given his opportunity with the suspension to Matt Utai and injury to Cameron Phelps where he is playing for his career in the Blue and White. Cutler didn't disappoint and deserved the try. El Masri converted to finish with a personal tally of 22 points and round off the Bulldogs 54-14 victory.

North Queensland have problems and there's no two ways of denying that both on and off the field. Whatever has happened since the opening five rounds has had a damaging effect on the Club and they will be lucky to make the top eight. Cowboys Coach Graham Murray did say the Bulldogs were the best side his Club has played this year and said any side that beats them will win the competition, but it doesn't hide the problems or even the rumours going on in and around Townsville.

The Bulldogs have been a side that's been winning all year without putting together a complete performance until last night. Very few tipsters and alleged experts had them in the top eight at seasons start and those who did had them around the 7th and 8th positions. One former Bulldogs player earlier in the year said there was a culture problem within the Club and said their future was in serious doubt - only now a few months later they are entrenched in the top two and a Club that is still on the rise.

Maitua was clearly the Bulldogs best performer and produced one of the most complete lock forward displays of the season. Other players to shine for the Bulldogs were Asotasi, Ryan, Chris Armit, Williams, Tonga and Sherwin. The performances of the latter two will no doubt impress Coach Steve Folkes the most as Tonga is finding full confidence after a spate of injuries and Sherwin is brilliantly steering the Bulldogs ship around the park and he's already proven as a big match halfback. Sherwin and Tonga clearly enjoyed their Football last night and that is only good for the Bulldogs.

The form of O'Meley and Nate Myles would be a worry for the Bulldogs. O'Meley has produced a few strong games but hasn't been consistent and Myles has left his good form at the Origin arena. With Jarrad Hickey in excellent form, both players will be under pressure if they don't improve their form on a consistent basis.


Brilliant Bulldogs maul Cowboys
Sun August 6, 2006
Source: www.bulldogs.com.au

The Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs have cemented their place in the top two after winning their fifth match in a row with an impressive 54-14 victory over the Cowboys in Townsville tonight.

The Bulldogs arrived in North Queensland on Friday morning with the intentions of taking their game to the next level. They did just that as they piled on five unanswered first half tries to lead the hosts 30-0 at the break.

It all started in the 5th minute off the back of a good run from Willie Tonga. Asotasi was able to get a ball away in traffic before the 'Dogs spun the ball out wide for Andrew Emelio to score. El Masri made no mistake as the Bulldogs led 6-0.

The Bulldogs continued to apply the pressure and nearly came up with a second try minutes later however El Masri placed a foot into touch as the Cowboys fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Not for long though as the Bulldogs persisted in attack with Luke Patten scooting out of dummy half before linking up with Reni Maitua who burst through three defenders to score next to the uprights. El Masri added the extras and the 'Dogs were looking dominant early on.

The two sides then battled it out with the Cowboys throwing all they had at the Bulldogs line only to be repelled on several occasions. Cowboys captain Travis Norton didn't do his side any favours ten minutes out from the break when he reacted to a Willie Tonga tackle. The experienced Norton got up swinging as the two players exchanged blows before referee Paul Simpkins awarded a Bulldogs penalty.

Just minutes later the 'Dogs dove over for their third try as interchange forward Sonny Bill Williams was allowed too much room as he strolled through the defence to score an uncontested try. Hazem continued his kicking success as the Bulldogs jumped out to an 18-0 lead.

That simply wasn't enough for the Bulldogs though as they added a further two tries before the break with Luke Patten and Willie Tonga both scoring long-range tries to give the visitors a stunning 30-0 lead.

With the Cowboys season on the line tonight a much more committed performance was expected however the Bulldogs support play and defence was simply damaging. With that in mind the Cowboys had to score the opening try of the second half to have any hope of a miracle fight-back.

That miracle became the impossible just five minutes after the break as Sonny Bill showed his skill by putting a grubber through. El Masri gathered it up before slipping the ball to Emelio who dove over in the corner for his second of the match. El Masri slotted the conversion from out wide once again and the Bulldogs led 36-0.

The Bulldogs defence was looking unbreakable during the first 55 minutes of play however it finally cracked as the Cowboys enjoyed back-to-back sets on the 'Dogs line before scoring in the corner through Mark Henry. The conversion from out wide was unsuccessful and the scores remained 36-4 in favour of the Bulldogs.

Moments later the Nort Queenslanders were at it again, this time scoring after being given the benefit of the doubt from the video referee. Ashley Graham was awarded the four-pointer after he got the deflection from a well-weighted bomb to score out wide. The conversion was unsuccessful once again with the Bulldogs leading 36-8 with 20 minutes remaining.

The Bulldogs however were not going to let the Cowboys build a decent tally and with just over 15 minutes remaining Sonny Bill Williams made sure of that as he found himself on the end of a Roy Asotasi offload close to the line as he crossed for his second of the night. El Masri made it 7/7 with another successful conversion.

With just over ten minutes on the clock the Bulldogs were dealt a blow as halfback Brent Sherwin was sin binned after being judged to have stripped the ball on the ground. The 'Dogs paid the price immediately as the Cowboys crossed for their third try in the second half as Matthew Scott barged over the line. Graham converted and the scoreboard read 42-14 in favour of the visitors.

The Sherwin sin-bin was sure to put a hole in the Bulldogs defence however it only seemed to lift the blue-and-whites as they dove over for their eighth try with just five minutes remaining. This time Hazem El Masri got in on the act after the ball was sent accross field. He converted his own try as the Bulldogs eyed the half century, leading 48-14.

From the proceeding kick-off Willie Tonga broke the line before unloading to winger Trent Cutler who raced away to put the icing on the cake. El Masri converted as he took the final score out to 54-14 along with grabbing a personal tally of 22 points.

The win puts the 'Dogs six competition points ahead of the Broncos, Sea Eagles and Dragons with just four rounds remaining before the finals.

Report source: www.bulldogs.com.au

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