NRL updates: Canterbury Bulldogs defeat Parramatta Eels after Joe Ofahengaue produces a heartening act of sportsmanship
Canterbury has overcome two players being stretchered off the field to overrun Parramatta 22-18 in front of 45,000 fans at Stadium Australia.
The Bulldogs scored two tries in the final 12 minutes to secure the victory and move into the top eight despite the loss of Josh Curran (concussion) and Jacob Preston (broken ankle) on Monday afternoon.
Curran’s injury produced a heartening act of sportsmanship from rival Eel Joe Ofahengaue, who rolled the Bulldog into the recovery position and did not leave his side until help came.
A 74th-minute winner from Blake Wilson in front of a 45,496-strong crowd — a record for a Bulldogs–Eels regular season match — sparked delirium among Canterbury’s long-suffering fans in the stands.
It took the Bulldogs all of the 2023 season to scratch their way to seven wins but already in 2024 they have matched that mark in round 14 to indicate their improvement under Cameron Ciraldo. The Dogs moved up to seventh spot with the win.
it was Parramatta who struck first when winger Blaize Talagi, filling in for Maika Sivo, crossed on the right flank after six minutes.
Canterbury hit back through captain Stephen Crichton, who strolled over for his own try before sending in pint-sized winger Wilson with a one-handed, no-look pass five minutes later.
Mitchell Moses began to come into his own and the Eels’ No.7 showed his quality when he ran at a retreating Dogs’ defence on the fifth tackle before the ball made its way to Will Penisini to finish in the corner.
Canterbury were also hurting after losing prop Josh Curran and lock Bailey Hayward to concussion.
Moses converted both of Parramatta’s first-half tries to give his side a 12-10 half-time lead.
Bulldog Matt Burton had a second-half try rubbed off for an obstruction and Bronson Xerri had another denied for a forward pass.
When Eels forward Kelma Tuilagi crashed in to make it 18-10 and Mann was sin-binned for a crusher tackle, it seemed as if nothing would fall the Dogs’ way.
Crichton gave them hope with a try 12 minutes out from full-time, cutting the Eels’ lead to just two points.
With five minutes left, fullback Connor Tracey veered across the field to find Wilson in the corner to clinch a valuable victory.
Re-live all the action in our blog below.