The Bulldogs have produced the upset of the 2026 season, spoiling Nathan Cleary’s 200th game milestone in the process with a stunning 32-16 win over Penrith.

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The Panthers were being talked up as a team that could go through the season undefeated after they became the first side to ever win their first five games by at least 20 points, but the debate is dead after the Bulldogs beat them soundly.

It was a mammoth upset at Accor Stadium on a night made worse with star edge forward Liam Martin being forced off with a left knee issue.

While their streak is over, the Bulldogs will be celebrating all the way back to Belmore after they silenced their critics with one of their best wins under Cameron Ciraldo.

“That’s a famous night for the Dogs. They haven’t just beaten the premiership favourites, they’ve thumped them,” Dan Ginnane said.

Lachlan Galvin was one of the Bulldogs’ best, recording four line break assists and a try assist while much-maligned halves partner Matt Burton also enjoyed his best game of the season.

Penrith hit back after 0-16 deficit | 01:27

BIG HITS

Lach and Load

Galvin has been scrutinised more intensely than most players in the league, and some of the questions around his attacking ability have been on point.

But he was the best player on the field in what may have been his finest 80 minutes in the NRL as he laid on tries, whacked opponents and kicked more than we’ve seen from him in the past.

Galvin had four line-break assists and tormented the Penrith left-edge defence all night as his combination with Jacob Preston went up a couple of gears.

He was instrumental as they landed several early haymakers to open up a 16-0 lead, before he iced the contest with a lovely short ball for Preston to score and then put him in another hole to set up Sitili Tupouniua for the clincher.

It was an incredible performance by the Bulldogs without injured skipper Stephen Crichton, with the recalled Bronson Xerri setting up his side’s second try in his first game back from a stint in NSW Cup.

Jenkins at the double

Tom Jenkins probably won’t get anywhere near Alex Johnston’s try-scoring record, but the Panthers winger has drawn level with the Souths legend with another stat.

Jenkins has now scored doubles in six-straight games, matching what Johnston did in 2021 after he scored a try in each half to take his season tally to an astounding 14.

His first try finished off a lovely shift to the left when Penrith ran it on the last, but his second was a thing of beauty when he latched on to a stunning cross-field kick from Cleary who couldn’t have placed it any better.

“What an absolute corker. The kick was perfection but the take has made that a very special moment,” Dan Ginnane said on Fox League.

But that would be their final points of the night as they were shut out for 38 minutes as their impenetrable defence finally faltered with Cleary and Isaah Yeo well below their best.

Tom Jenkins with this outstanding leap over Marcelo Montoya to score his 15th try of the season.Source: FOX SPORTS

Original sin

Casey McLean faces a nervous wait for the charge sheet to drop after the teen star was belatedly sent to the sin bin for a high shot on Max King.

The Origin bolter was marched for 10 minutes early in the first half after replays showed his shoulder make contact with the prop’s head, although it took another set for the Bunker to tell the referee that he had to send him from the field.

Bulldogs utility Kurt Mann was placed on report for a similar incident after appearing to make contact with Scott Sorensen’s head, but he avoided a stint in the bin.

Talagi found out in ‘field day’

Galvin and Preston had already developed a strong combination entering Thursday’s game, and against Penrith they had plenty of success targeting young Panthers five-eighth Blaize Talagi.

Talagi has been much-improved in 2026, looking far more poised in his second year at Penrith while his physicality in defence has also lifted.

That wasn’t the case against the Bulldogs though, with Talagi missing a team-high six tackles as he was found out on Penrith’s left edge.

“Presto had a field day because they worked out there was a weakness there,” Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh said post-game.

Stat Snapshot (Fox Sports Lab)

Bulldogs snap two game losing streak – their highest score since round 23 last season.

Just the Bulldogs second win from 11 games against Penrith since 2020.

Panthers first loss of the season – their two most recent regular season losses have come against the Bulldogs.

First time since round 10 last season Penrith conceded 30 points.

Bulldogs 10-0 lead after 12 minutes was the first time this season Panthers have trailed by double figures.

Panthers worst completion rate since round 5 last season (27/39 – 69%).

Casey McLean was sin binned and placed on report for a high tackle on Max King. He has one previous careless high tackle charge last season.

Liam Martin left the field with 10 minutes remaining and was on the bench with ice on his left knee.

Tom Jenkins scored a sixth straight double, just the second player all time to score 2 or more tries in six straight games (Alex Johnson 2021).

Lachlan Galvin celebrated game 50 with a career high 4 linebreak assists

Fox Lab POTM – Jacob Preston scored a try, made a career equal high three linebreaks (three times, all against Panthers), ran 10 times for 93 metres and made 33 tackles with just one miss.

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