The Bulldogs registered back-to-back wins on Friday night at Accor Stadium, defeating an Origin-stripped Melbourne Storm 30-20 with a six-try second half. Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Xavier Coates, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Harry Grant were all in Origin camp. Stefano Utoikamanu started at prop for the Storm, Trent Toelau wore the No.9, and Keagan Russell-Smith partnered the Hughes replacement. The Bulldogs were equally depleted with captain Stephen Crichton in Blues camp, but the team that took the field had the depth and the legs to wear the Storm down. Jacob Kiraz scored on return from the ankle that ruled him out at Magic Round. Matt Burton kicked four from five conversions.
Second-Half Tries Decide It
The game was tight at half-time with the Bulldogs taking control through the third quarter. Kiraz scored on his return off a Galvin grubber. Jacob Preston followed up minutes later, crashing over from acting half. Bronson Xerri added the next try of the second half off a Burton cut-out pass. Bailey Hayward dummied over from dummy half in the closing stages. The Storm's late tries were the consolation. The Bulldogs' completion rate was the standout, with Galvin and Burton running good metres apiece and the back row of Preston, Tupouniua and Salmon outworking the Storm's depleted pack.
Round 12 Bye Round Rolls On
Round 12 is the first major bye round of the year with Penrith, Roosters, Sharks and Wests Tigers all out. The Dolphins beat the Raiders 30-22 at GIO on Thursday night for a club-record fourth straight win without their Queensland Origin contingent, Kristian Woolf's side now sitting in the top eight at 6-5. Saturday has Manly v Titans at 4 Pines at 3pm and Dragons v Warriors at Jubilee at 5:30pm. Sunday closes the round with Cowboys v Rabbitohs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium at 4:05pm. Origin Game 1 follows on Wednesday 27 May at Accor Stadium with the NSW Blues making the short trip from their Central Coast base and the Maroons flying down from Brisbane on the Tuesday.
Where the Markets Land
The Bulldogs went around at $1.77 head-to-head with the line at -1.5 and the result cleared by 10 points, with the line bet a straightforward collect for anyone who took it at our reviewed bookmakers dabble, Ladbrokes and Picklebet. The finals top-eight market firms on Canterbury after the win, with the Dogs back to even-money to play in September. Storm premiership futures drift on a heavy week without their Origin core, but the Round 13 fixture at home to the Tigers will likely see the side back in form once the Origin stars return. Kiraz anytime tryscorer landed for the punters who held him through the ankle layoff. Burton four conversions in five was the kicking-game prop that came in late on the Friday. Round 12 betting wrap and Sunday's Cowboys-Rabbitohs preview via ABC Sport.