Despite facing two sin-binnings and an injury to Josh Addo-Carr, the Bulldogs secured a determined 32-2 victory over the Knights in wet conditions at McDonald Jones Stadium. The Bulldogs faced adversity early on when fullback Connor Tracey was sin-binned six minutes into the match for a professional foul, interfering with David Armstrong during a try-scoring opportunity. Although the Knights initially took the lead with a penalty goal, the Bulldogs, even with a man down, scored the first try of the night.
Addo-Carr made a significant impact in the first half, scoring twice. His first try came from a brilliant individual effort, chipping over the top on the last tackle and collecting the ball to score. He scored his second try 13 minutes later, showcasing his skill. However, his night ended prematurely when he left the field with a hamstring injury.
Despite losing Addo-Carr, the Bulldogs continued to dominate. Jacob Preston, who saved a try earlier, scored a well-deserved try. Toby Sexton’s sin-binning for not being square at marker provided an opportunity for the Knights, but they failed to capitalize. Instead, Josh Curran scored, extending the Bulldogs’ lead.
Preston scored his second try, followed by Bronson Xerri crossing the line. The Knights’ woes were compounded when star prop Jacob Saifiti was sin-binned in the final moments for headbutting Reed Mahoney, adding to the earlier exit of his twin brother Daniel due to a knee injury.
Addo-Carr’s performance in the first half was stellar, showcasing his talent just days after missing out on State of Origin selection. Despite the challenging conditions, he displayed his skills, impressing commentators like Cooper Cronk and James Graham. However, his game was cut short by a hamstring injury, and he will undergo scans to determine the extent of the damage.
