Kiraz injured as Bulldogs secure top-four spot

Canterbury should consider themselves lucky that Penrith were missing 16 players.

The Bulldogs triumphed 28-4 against a second-string Panthers outfit at Accor Stadium on Thursday night, securing their first top-four finish since 2012.

But the blowout most people were expecting didn’t eventuate.

The Dogs should have run up a cricket score considering the amount of first-grade talent that was being rested. The premiers’ superstars were all sitting in the stands at Accor Stadium, while Nathan Cleary took a seat inside the coach’s box to watch one of rugby league’s true David versus Goliath battles.

The Bulldogs were too good for the Panthers. Credit: Getty Images

The Panthers, who featured six club debutants, and only one player from last weekend’s loss to Canberra – Brad Schneider was in Mudgee, but never took the field against the Raiders – were never going to win, but they certainly had a dig.

Arguably, the best moment of the game was a bullet-like cutout pass from off-contract fullback Daine Laurie for Paul Alamoti to score in the second half.

While Penrith coach Ivan Cleary can be proud of his makeshift team, his counterpart Cameron Ciraldo would have been disappointed. His mood would not have improved by seeing Jacob Kiraz hobble off with an ankle injury with 10 minutes remaining.

Yes, the Dogs won, but they were clunky in attack, almost sloppy, and clearly struggled to get up mentally for the contest. That can happen in games you are expected to win easily.

Canterbury fans were happy to wrap up a spot in the top four. Credit: Getty Images

But it still would have been nice to see the Dogs be ruthless and pile on the points, especially this late into the campaign.

One of the biggest disappointments was their attack and some of their last-tackle options, especially in the first half.

A lot of the supporters made it known they were unhappy with some of the decisions being made by Lachlan Galvin. The same fans cheered Toby Sexton, the playmaker Galvin replaced midway through the year, when his face was beamed onto the big screen.

Galvin scored the first try of the night, while Jacob Preston scored the first of his three for the night just before half-time.

One of the Dogs’ best on ground was back-rower Sitili Tupouniua, who twice could have scored in the first half.

Canterbury will play against Cronulla next Saturday, and their consistency throughout the season has earned them that all-important second chance in September.

Penrith will trot out the bulk of their big names next week against St George Illawarra, then have to win four weeks in a row in the finals if they are to make it five straight titles.

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