Bulldogs vs Wests Tigers

The Bulldogs have handed Tim Sheens' Tigers a nightmare 0-3 start to the season, beating the merger club 26-22 at Belmore. Cameron Ciraldo's side were able ...

“Picked up the intercept and then found the Ferrari outside of him… It took more than 60 minutes for David Klemmer to register the Tigers’ first line-break, and it seemed to spark them into life with Luke Brooks scoring one and setting up another in a startling burst that no one saw coming. The 19-year-old picked off a Doueihi pass and dumped it off to Addo-Carr for his first of the afternoon, before the rookie claimed a kick from five metres out, broke away and then traded passes with his winger who finished off a stunning team try. The only thing hotter than Belmore on Sunday afternoon was the blowtorch being applied to the Wests Tigers after an hour of ineptitude saw them lose 26-22 to the Bulldogs who almost threw it away in five minutes of madness. The former Raider was solid in defence, making 32 tackles but bombed what looked to be a certain try and the Tigers’ best chance to record a four-pointer in the first half. Tim Sheens was desperate for the English international to inspire his troops to their first win of their 2023 campaign, but instead the merger club went down to Cameron Ciraldo’s Bulldogs. Sheens’ side were then well and truly in the game when Brooks found Charlie Staines for their final four-pointer of the game, but in the end they missed out on their first season win. Fonua Pole was the next to score after Naden sliced through the line past halfway, handing the Tigers a glimmer of hope. The 19-year-old centre collected a chip and burnt the defence, passing the ball back and forth with Addo-Carr before his winger scored. Bulldogs backrower Viliame Kikau broke through the line for the first try, finding Hayze Perham on the inside for his first try for the club. Moments later a Paul Alamoti intercept set up Josh Addo-Carr for his first four-pointer of the night. Cameron Ciraldo’s side were able to avoid a late Tigers barrage, scoring three tries in only four minutes to bring the margin back to only four points.

Bulldogs: Jayden Tanner comes onto the bench in place of Franklin Pele. Tigers: John Bateman will make his club debut in the second row with Shawn Blore ...

David Klemmer 11. David Nofoaluma 3. Josh Reynolds Josh Addo-Carr 6. 1. Jacob Kiraz 3.

Wests Tigers have suffered a 26-22 defeat to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in sweltering conditions at Belmore Sports Ground.

With the lead at just four points, Wests Tigers were unable to convert the momentum into one last try and the Bulldogs held on for victory. Naden then busted through and set up Fonua Pole to cut the lead to ten with ten minutes remaining. A David Klemmer tackle, deemed to be dangerous, gave the Bulldogs the chance to push their lead to fourteen, but the hosts declined the shot at goal and decided to push for a third try.