The Knights have ended the Bulldogs unbeaten start to the 2026 season with a 24-16 win on the back of solid defence and a Dominic Young hat-trick at Accor Stadium.

The visitors took a 16-0 lead into half-time despite Dylan Lucas spending 10 minutes in the sin bin, running up two tries late in the half.

The Bulldogs had the overwhelming weight of possession in the second half and unleashed wave after wave of attack, but the Knights did enough to turn them away and secure victory.

Our second match takes us to CommBank Stadium for the latest chapter in a great rivalry between the Panthers (3-0) and Eels (2-1) before we wind things up in Townsville where the Cowboys (1-2) await the Storm (2-1).

The Storm will be smarting after letting a 14-0 half-time lead slip against the Broncos in Round 3 so Todd Payten’s men will need to be on high alert.

Follow all the action from Round 4 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com’s live blog.

 

Panthers v Eels at CommBank Stadium

16th: Finally some relief for the Eels with Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards making an error, handing over possession. 

13th min: After the forwards were having all the try-scoring fun to start the game, half Blaize Talagi gets in on the act. Leaping like a back over the top of Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi, the five-eighth rips the ball from his grasp and runs away to the try line. Cleary ones again converts for an 18-0 lead as the Panthers outpace the clock. 

11th min: And another. This time it’s forward Isaiah Papali’i who goes over as the Panthers go back-to-back. Another conversion for Cleary for a 12-0 lead.

6th min: Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo gets his side on the board with a try straight under the posts. Penrith have been in relentless form to start this season and it looks to be a continuing trend today. They march up the field and attack the Eels line, with the skipper crashing over to set and early tone. Nathan Cleary converts and it’s 6-0. 

Kick-off: Panthers kick off to give the Eels first use of the ball. 

Late Mail

Panthers: Jack Cogger has been ruled out from the Panthers’ 19-man squad, with Jack Cole coming on to the interchange for the Battle of the West. No changes to the starting side. Ivan Cleary’s men are chasing a fourth-straight win to start the year. 

Eels: The Eels retained the same 19-man squad named on Tuesday, with Luca Moretti confirmed for his first game of the season via the interchange, while Brian Kelly takes his place for the injured Jordan Samrani. Jack De Belin was omitted from the extended squad. Parramatta have won their last four games at CommBank Stadium but have lost their last four games against the Panthers.

Numbers Game

The Panthers have won their last four games against the Eels.
The Eels have won their last four games at CommBank Stadium.
The Panthers are aiming for a 4-0 start for the third time since 2021.
Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored nine tries in his last five games at CommBank Stadium.
Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored 10 tries in his last 10 games against the Eels.

 

Cowboys v Storm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

 

Numbers Game

The Cowboys have won three of their last four games against the Storm in Townsville.
Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes has won seven from eight against the Cowboys.
Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater has scored five tries in his last six games at QCB Stadium.
Storm fullback Sua Faalogo has scored nine tries in his last six NRL games.
Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi has scored five tries in five games against the Storm.

 

Bulldogs v Knights at Accor Stadium


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Bulldogs v Knights – Round 4, 2026

 


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NRL Press Conference: Bulldogs v Knights – Round 4, 2026

Full-time: The Knights have held off a charging Bulldogs side to return to the winner’s circle with a 24-16 win. The home side fought hard to close the gap to four points midway through the second half after the Knights held a 16-0 lead at half-time.

80th minute: The Bulldogs launch waves of attack on the Knights line, but the Novocastrians hold them out to seal victory.

74th minute: Jacob Kiraz is awarded a try after a fingertip grounding following a Stephen Crichton pass that bounces off the head of Matt Burton. Crichton misses the kick. Knights 24-16.


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Jacob Kiraz Try

72nd minute: Dominic Young notches a hat-trick after intercepting a Connor Tracey cutout pass and running 75 metres to score under the posts. Sandon Smith fails to convert. Knights 24-12.


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Dominic Young 3rd Try

67th minute: The Bulldogs find themselves in good field position after a penalty for a crusher tackle, but a solid shot from Bradman Best forces the ball loose from Conno Tracey’s hands.


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Dominic Young 2nd Try

62nd minute: The Knights turn mountains of defence into attack, with Dominic Young sprinting away for another long-range try after a short-side play started by Sandon Smith out of dummy half. It came off the back of a penalty for a crusher tackle to get them off their own line. Smith misses the conversion attempt. Knights 20-12.

55th minute: Matt Burton gets his second try of the game, throwing the dummy and using his physicality to crash over after earning a set restart at their own end. Stephen Crichton converts. Knights 16-12.


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Matt Burton 2nd Try

50th minute: The Bulldogs finally get points on the board after Jacob Kiraz gets a miracle offload away, which bounces into the hands of Matt Burton to waltz over. Stephen Crichton converts. Knights 16-6.


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Matt Burton Try

45th minute: The Bulldogs start the game firmly on attack but can’t find their first points in the face of the stout Knights defence. Phoenix Crossland returned to the field after passing his HIA.

Half-time: The Knights shut out the Bulldogs in the first to take a 16-0 lead into sheds, despite being reduced to 12 men after an early Dylan Lucas sin bin. The visitors were dogged in defence, holding up the Bulldogs over the try line twice and keeping them out on last tackle on multiple occasions. While the home side struggled to make their opportunities count, the Knights built pressure smartly before Harrison Graham entered the game with fresh legs to play havoc with the Bulldogs defence, sparking two late tries.


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Dylan Lucas Try

40th minute: Dylan Lucas extends the lead for the Knights on the stroke of half-time, dragging Lachlan Galvin – who made the error to gift the Knights field position – over the try line after some superb footwork from Fletcher Sharpe to make the space for his backrower. Sandon Smith converts. Knights 16-0.

37th minute: Phoenix Crossland leaves the field for HIA after being caught in a collision in an aerial contest between Jacob Preston and Fletcher Hunt.

35th minute: Harrison Graham makes his mark off the interchange, putting Tyson Frizell over under the posts just moments after the Knights rake made a 50m line break from dummy half. Sandon Smith converts. Knights 10-0.


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Tyson Frizell Try

31st minute: The Bulldogs and Knights go set-for-set forcing each other to work it off their try lines.

25th minute: Pasami Saulo hits back, crunching Josh Curran with a strong tackle with the Bulldogs in sight of the line. After a short delay, Curran is back to his feet, but leaves the field soon after with a rib injury.

23rd minute: The Bulldogs withstand an extended period defending their own line, with Pasami Saulo spilling the ball for the Knights.

19th minute: The Knights earn a glut of possession on attack, with Sandon Smith forcing two line drop-outs to keep the pressure on. Dylan Lucas returns to the field.

13th minute: The desperate Knights defence does it again, holding up Marcelo Montoya over the try line after yet another Bulldogs attacking raid.

10th minute: Viliame Kikau comes within centimetres of scoring on last tackle but the Knights defence is strong enough to hold him out. 

9th minute: Dylan Lucas is sent to the sin bin after obstructing Connor Tracey as the Bulldogs fullback attempted to take a 20m restart.

8th minute: Try time! The Knights throw the ball wide in their own half and Dominic Young races away down the sideline, outrunning Connor Tracey to score the first four-pointer of the game. Sandon Smith hits the upright with the conversion attempt. Knights 4-0.


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Dominic Young Try

6th minute: Max King comes close to scoring a play after Fletcher Hunt spilled a trademark Matt Burton spiral bomb,but loses possession over the try line. 


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Burton unleashes a monster bomb

3rd minute: Lachlan Galvin forces a drop-out on the back of a Connor Tracey line break on a kick return, but the Knights recover the restart.

Kick-off: We’re underway at Accor Stadium, with the Bulldogs looking for their fourth straight victory against the visiting Knights.

Late Mail

Bulldogs: A late change for Cameron Ciraldo with Lipoi Hopoi starting at prop and Sitili Tupouniua reverting to the bench. Sam Hughes will miss the match after picking up a suspension playing NSW Cup last weekend. Jake Turpin (concussion) and Harry Hayes (delayed concussion symptoms) have also been ruled out as the Bulldogs look to continue their unbeaten start to the year. Logan Spinks and Bronson Xerri were omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. Captain Stephen Crichton has won seven from seven against the Knights.


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Ciraldo: Tracey does a lot that goes unnoticed

Knights: Pasami Saulo moves into the starting side 90 minutes before kick-off with Tyson Frizell going to the bench. Justin Holbrook confirmed on Friday that five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe would make his comeback from a knee injury suffered in Las Vegas. Trey Mooney misses the game through suspension. Bench forward Cody Hopwood plays his second NRL game while Wilson de Courcey is in the frame for an NRL debut as part of the six-man bench.

Numbers Game

The Bulldogs have won their last three games against the Knights.
Knights halfback Sandon Smith will make his 50th NRL appearance.
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton has won seven from seven against the Knights.
Knights centre Bradman Best has scored seven tries in his last six games against the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs second-rower Jacob Preston has scored six tries in his last six games.