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The Roosters have moved level with Penrith on 36 competition points after they came from behind to defeat the Bulldogs 20-18 in front of a raucous crowd at Allianz Stadium in a game that felt like the finals had come early.<\/p>\n
The home side was down by 10 points with 14 minutes to go and looked in all sorts as they found new ways to drop the ball.<\/p>\n
But Billy Smith\u2019s second try of the night gave them some hope, before a booming Sam Walker bomb bewildered the Bulldogs backs who let the ball bounce.<\/p>\n
Salesi Foketi reacted quickest and slammed the ball down just moments after his decoy run took out Connor Tracey who had no chance to tackle Smith.<\/p>\n
They survived a poor kicking performance from Walker who missed two conversions and a late penalty goal, but he did land one from the sideline that proved the difference, with Victor Radley sealing the win with a brutal hit on Enari Tuala.<\/p>\n
The Roosters are now level with Penrith who went down to the Warriors earlier in the night, with the pride of the east and west to clash in a Thursday night epic next week in a game that could decide the minor premiership.<\/p>\n
DCE “Trying to find our best 80 minutes” | 07:14<\/p>\n
FINALS FANTASY<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs would have moved up to seventh spot on the ladder if they\u2019d held on for another win, but instead they\u2019ll finish the round outside the eight with a massive game against the Bunnies coming up next week.<\/p>\n
They couldn\u2019t get into the contest in the first half but looked set to produce another upset victory when they raced in three tries in the space of 11 minutes.<\/p>\n
Bailey Hayward\u2019s first run of the night led to a long-range try for Jacob Kiraz, while Lachlan Galvin burst through to get their second of the evening.<\/p>\n
But they just couldn\u2019t kill off the Roosters in the final quarter of the contest when their opponents gifted them field position.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a loss that could come back to haunt them given they still have to play the Panthers which makes next week\u2019s game against South Sydney so important given how tight the middle of the table is.<\/p>\n
Roosters narrowly survive Dogs scare | 07:54<\/p>\n
HAMMY BLOW<\/p>\n
Canterbury\u2019s loss was further soured by another hamstring injury to Sitili Tupouniua who lasted just five minutes against his former side.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs wrecking ball was in his first game back from a serious hamstring injury suffered against Manly in Round 16, but now faces another stint on the sidelines.<\/p>\n
JUDICIARY WATCH<\/p>\n
Victor Radley was placed on report for a tackle late in the half on Kurt Mann. He has one careless high tackle charge and a dangerous contact charge in the past 12 months. All up, he has nine careless high tackle charges in his career. Only Nelson Asofa-Solomona (11) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (15) have more careless high contact charges <\/p>\n
Dogs Cut Through! | 00:36<\/p>\n
STAT ATTACK (via Fox Lab)<\/p>\n
Expected Set Points: Roosters 23.6, Bulldogs 21.2 <\/p>\n
A hard fought victory for Roosters as they came back from 18-8 down with 13 minutes to go. Possession was even with Roosters having 48% to Bulldogs 52% as both sides struggled to hold the ball with Roosters completing at 73% and Canterbury 70%. Second phase play was the tactic from either team as Bulldogs made 15 offloads to Roosters 10<\/p>\n
Roosters seventh straight victory – their longest streak since 2022 (8 wins)<\/p>\n
Roosters haven\u2019t lost to the Bulldogs at any venue but Accor Stadium since 2016, winning nine straight games at other venues. <\/p>\n
Roosters won 11 of last 12 games at Allianz and on a streak of six in a row<\/p>\n
Roosters have won 11 straight the week after scoring 50+ points or more – the longest current stretch of any team<\/p>\n
Fifth time Bulldogs have been held tryless in the first half this season<\/p>\n
Billy Smith scored his fourth career double – has scored a try in six consecutive games. Also ran for 177 metres with six tackle busts<\/p>\n
Jacob Kiraz scored his seventh career double. Ran for 150 metres with four tackle busts and three offloads<\/p>\n
Fox Lab POTM – Another strong performance from Naufahu Whyte as he ran for 154 metres with 59 being post contact, two tackle busts, three offloads and 13 tackles without a miss<\/p>\n
The best performers on the night.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n