Bulldogs back in top position as succeed over Knights scars 32-year first

As a quick reminder, here’s how the weekend went:

• Raiders 24-20 Sharks
• Panthers 18-22 Cowboys
• Rabbitohs 20-14 Roosters
• Eels 23-22 Dragons ( GP )
• Titans 10-30 Dolphins
• Broncos 46-24 Tigers
• Sea Eagles 24-48 Storm
• Bulldogs 20-0 Knights

There’ll be plenty said and a lot to look at after this round of footy and we’ll have you covered all week over at ABC Sport.

What a brutal contest that showed off the grit of both the Bulldogs and Knights, but Cameron Ciraldo and Stephen Crichton’s team just had more class.

Even in the face of some staunch defence they just couldn’t break in the first half, Canterbury never looked panicked and clearly trusted their systems in the second half.

They dominated through the middle of the field and used Jacob Kiraz perfectly to give Greg Marzhew nightmares for the next few weeks at least.

Newcastle should take heart in its commitment to defence, but the attack was non-existent, although that was no doubt partly due to exhaustion after losing two players in the first minute and a third early in the second half.

I’ve obviously spoken about the Knights ‘ defence tonight because they’ve had to tackle all night, but this Dogs team remains impassable and Toby Sexton has twice in a row aimed up against Jermaine McEwen to maintain the clean sheet.

Reed Mahoney goes blind, then the ball comes back open to Toby Sexton, who grubber under the posts and forces the repeat set.

But Jaeman Salmon drops it in a great tackle by Phoenix Crossland.

The invaluable utility was praised by Stephen Crichton as his right-hand man in terms of lading this Bulldogs team.

He was denied a try by the bunker earlier in the half, but you can’t take this one off him as he powers onto a pass from Reed Mahoney and dives over the line.

Coincidentally it comes against the team for whom he played 90 of his 200 NRL games.

The Knights attack the Dogs ‘ line but a Kalyn Ponga grubber is claimed by Bailey Hayward, who sends Marcelo Montoya up the other end in a 70m reversal.

But the Knights somehow get the numbers back and manage to build a wall on their line, and ultimately Bailey Hayward throws a wayward pass on the last.

The Newcastle halfback is rag-dolled by Bailey Hayward and accidentally flung into the knee of Daniel Suluka-Fifita.

He’s getting checked on but will play on.

If he’s off for an HIA, the Knights will basically finish the game without a bench.

Meanwhile, Kalyn Ponga tries to manufacture something with a chip, but it kicks on and that’s a seven-tackle set.

On a tough night for Newcastle, Thomas Cant has been phenomenal in defence and he’s pulled off an impossible catch as Kalyn Ponga breaks down the right and fires a pass at his knees, which Cant somehow catches and reins in with one hand.

The set ends with Ponga grubbering into the in-goal, but Toby Sexton turns up at the last second and makes a brilliant pick-up to an awkwardly bouncing ball.

Newcastle finally puts on a threatening attacking move and have left winger Greg Marzhew unmarked, but Fletcher Sharpe’s pass goes behind him and Marzhew knocks on.

A rough night for Marzhew continues.

Jack Hetherington has done his shoulder, so he joins James Schiller and Jacob Saifiti on the injured list.

Meanwhile, Phoenix Crossland has about a minute left in the sin-bin.

The Bulldogs have a size advantage on both wings and Toby Sexton is peppering Greg Marzhew. Once again Jacob Kiraz gets above him in the contest and bats the ball to Kurt Mann to dive over under the posts.

Ashley Klein says it’s a try and, despite him being in a perfect position to rule on a knock back or knock forward, the bunker overturns and takes the try off the Bulldogs.

I thought it was a knock-on live, but the replays looked inconclusive at best to me.

We’re seeing the Bulldogs fired up and the Knights looking shot now as another couple of quick rucks sees Jack Todd powers onto a short ball and dive over next to the posts effectively untouched.

That’s his first NRL try in his second game.

A series of rapid play-the-balls leave the Knights stretched and Toby Sexton scoots through the teeth of the defence from dummy half.

Phoenix Crossland is jogging back into the line and just sticks his leg out in a cynical trip.

He’s penalised and sent straight to the sin-bin.

Jacob Kiraz leaps over Greg Marzhew and bats the ball back for Josh Curran to ground the ball.

Ashley Klein says no try on the field, but the bunker overturns.

That decision won’t sit well with a few Knights fans as there appeared to be a little bobble as he tried to catch the ball and ended up grounding it.

I’ve got no problem with that being a try, but I am surprised the bunker overturned the decision.

Can the Bulldogs finally break through or will the Knights pull off a 15-man miracle?

The Bulldogs had more than 60 per cent of possession in the first half but still couldn’t crack the Newcastle line.

The Knights lost winger James Schiller and prop Jacob Saifiti in the opening minute but still managed to hang tight and repeatedly repel the Dogs, who have been below their best in attack.

Newcastle only completed at 72 per cent, but that’s understandable considering the mountain of defence they’ve had to do.

The goal-line defence from the Knights was genuinely unbelievable — dare I say, Canterbury like — but you get the feeling the mountain of tackling they’ve had to do will take a toll later in this game, especially considering they’ll be playing over 78 minutes of this game with only 15 players available.

Bradman Best and Stephen Crichton are having a phenomenal battle and Best’s won another contest, forcing the error from Crichton as he tries to stand him up in the right corner.

I cannot believe the Knights haven’t conceded a try yet.

Greg Marzhew is put in another aerial contest with Jacob Kiraz and the ball flies into touch. Ashley Klein says Greg Marzhew touched it, but he’s got it wrong.

Kalyn Ponga challenges and the call is overturned. Another story of survival by the Knights.

The Dogs kick across to the right with Greg Marzhew completely out of position.

He gets there in time and appears to tackle Jacob Kiraz in the air. That’s ignored as Bradman Best flies up the left wing. Harry Hayes tracks him down and Best flings a pass back in-field, where Stephen Crichton recovers the ball.

But Ashley Klein goes all the way back to the aerial contest, claiming the Bulldogs knocked on in the contest and there was no advantage taken by the Knights. Not sure I agree with either call, much less ignoring Marzhew tackling Kiraz in the air.