‘They are the real deal’: 32-year first as unbeaten Dogs make statement to go top of ladder

Canterbury are on top of the NRL ladder after they upset Cronulla 20-6 on Saturday night to open their season with four wins for the first time since 1993.

The Bulldogs were at long odds to win at Shark Park but they’ve pulled off a classic ambush to remain the only unbeaten side in the competition – and they did it without two of their best players in Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau.

MATCH CENTRE: Sharks v Bulldogs, teams, stats, video

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Cronulla was on the attack in the fifth minute when they lost possession after playing the ball just 20m from the try line with no dummyhalf and Craig Fitzgibbon looked far from impressed in the coach’s box.

The Dogs scored the opener after stand-in No. 6 Bailey Hayward threw a beautiful short ball for Jacob Preston to crash through.

The Sharks hit the front when Nicho Hynes put Kayal Iro over in the 32nd minute, but the visitors retook the lead when Bronson Xerri crossed just before the break.

Cameron Ciraldo’s men picked up where they left off in the second half as Stephen Crichton crossed before Xerri bagged his double.

Canterbury forward Sitili Tupouniua was binned in the final minute of the game for an ugly late shot on Braydon Trindall.

Here are the biggest talking points out of the match from NCA Newswire’s Dave Lyall.

XERRI PUNISHES FORMER CLUB

Former Shark Bronson Xerri has led the Bulldogs to the top of the NRL ladder with a comprehensive dismantling of his former side in front of a packed Sharks Stadium.

Xerri, who made his debut for the Sharks as an 18-year-old in 2019 before being sensationally suspended from the game for four years for a serious doping violation, was brilliant crossing for a pair of tries as the Dogs triumphed 20-6.

The stunning Bulldogs win following Melbourne’s loss earlier on Saturday means the boys from Belmore are the only remaining undefeated team just four weeks into the new season. It was also their first win at Sharks Stadium since 2011.

Commentating on Fox Sports, Sharks premiership winner Michael Ennis was full of praise for Xerri and the Dogs after the centre scored the match winner.

“They are the real deal, they have come here and they’ve ambushed the Cronulla Sharks who defensively have been terrific for years but the tenacity of Bronson Xerri, changing direction, coming back on the inside.”

The Bulldogs scrambled and scrapped throughout in a performance that will put everyone on notice that they are a genuine top for team in 2025.

Xerri and fellow centre Stephen Crichton gave the Sharks outside backs nightmares, while unheralded halves Toby Sexton and Bailey Hayward out enthused and outplayed their more fancied opposition Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall.

The first half was played at a frenetic pace and it was the Bulldogs who opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Bailey Hayward hit Jacob Preston with a peach of a pass on the left edge that the backrower juggled before plunging over.

It took another 20 minutes for the Sharks to get on the board, Hynes sending Kayal Iro over for his fifth try of the season, before Xerri scored his 10th try in 12 games at Sharks Stadium to help the Dogs to an 8-6 halftime lead.

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said a few changes to their attack this week in a shortened preparation had helped in what they knew would be a tough battle.

“We didn’t get a whole heap of training in, but we changed some things in our game this week, so we had to spend a fair bit of time walking through and things like that.

“The way everyone committed to that and committed to the plan was outstanding.

“We were excited about the challenge of coming here against a consistent top four team, and whether we won or lost, at least we’d have a sort of line in the sand of where we’re at.

“But very happy with how the game went. I thought they came out really hard and I thought we had to weather a storm there for a bit, and then once we started to get our game on, we’ve seen some really good signs of what we’ve working on over the preseason. So a lot to like about it.

“They’re a quality opposition, and we had to play at a really high level and come up with those big plays if we were going to get the points.”

Sharks skipper Cam McInnes said although his side looked like they might be able to reverse the Bulldogs’ momentum in the second half, they weren’t able to make the right plays.

“Not firing shots, really, like it looked like we may been, but they weren’t, you know, good shots. They weren’t the way we want to play or can play. So yeah, a bit to work on there.”

REED REPORT

Fiery Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney will be anxiously awaiting the match review committee’s thoughts after several incidents that caught the ire of the Sharks and referee Chris Butler.

In the first half he was placed on report after striking Sharks prop Toby Rudolf with a swinging forearm across the head while desperately trying to stop a try.

Then, 15 minutes into the second stanza he was placed on report for the second time after he led with his shoulder into the head of Daniel Atkinson who was prone on the ground after pouncing on a loose ball.

Despite his issues with the referee, Mahoney was brilliant for the Bulldogs, popping up everywhere in defence and guiding the Dogs around from dummy half.

Mahoney’s teammate Sitili Tupouniua might have judiciary questions to answer too after being sin binned for a late hit on Trindall on the final play of the game.

TODD OF THE FUTURE

The Bulldogs look to have unearthed a star of the future in Jack Todd who made his NRL debut from the bench after being called into the 17 today at the expense of Kurtis Morrin.

Todd, a product of Dungowan in the New England region of the state, only played for 17 minutes but did enough to suggest he will play plenty more at this level.

The 22-year-old has been in the Bulldogs’ Pathways system since 2019 and the first player to progress through to the top grade from the club’s Greater Northern Academy.

RUDOLF’S ROLLERCOASTER RETURN

Rudolf made his first appearance of 2025, returning from the bench following off-season shoulder surgery but his initial foray lasted just six and a half power packed minutes.

After several strong runs Rudolf was surging for the line on his fourth hit up when he was collected by a Mahoney’s swinging arm and sent for an HIA, which he passed, returning to the field to start the second half.

While he was obviously short of a gallop, Rudolph made an immediate impact in all three stints he had on the field and will bring valuable depth to the Sharks as the season progresses.

LOST BALL

So excited after scoring the first try of the second half, Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton followed the trend of booting the ball into the crowd behind the posts.

The only problem was Crichton’s left boot deposited the ball over the grandstand and out onto the opposite side of Captain Cook Drive with height injured teammate Matt Burton would be proud of.

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