Bulldogs Suffer Third Consecutive Defeat in NRL Clash
Canterbury’s struggling attack once again failed to make an impact as the Bulldogs faced a 28-12 loss against North Queensland at Accor Stadium. This defeat marked their third straight loss, while the Cowboys secured a crucial win that could influence the future of their head coach, Todd Payten.
Payten’s team has been one of the most entertaining and high-scoring sides in the 2026 NRL season. However, they opted for a more defensive approach during this match, relying on strong defense to secure their sixth win in seven games. The Cowboys were forced to defend 43 Canterbury play-the-balls within their own 20m zone, highlighting the Bulldogs’ inability to break through the opposition’s line.
Despite the challenges, the Bulldogs managed to score two tries. The first came from halfback Lachlan Galvin, who made a solo run through the Cowboys’ defense. The second try was scored by back-rower Josh Curran, who capitalized on a mistake by Zac Laybutt to scoop up an aerial bomb.
“I think we’re going to have to be more resilient as a group when we defend,” said Payten. “We showed that tonight, and we’ve shown it in periods throughout the year. I also like how consistent we’ve been getting out of our own end and not making errors that put us under pressure. Everyone’s contributing, and that was a real team performance.”
On the other hand, Canterbury’s attacking cohesion has been lacking all season. The debate over the Bulldogs’ spine intensified this week after NRL Immortal Andrew Johns questioned Galvin’s ability to lead the side alongside Matt Burton.
“The way we finished and let in three soft tries is not good enough,” said Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo. “We’re in a bit of a spot right now, clearly low on confidence, and we need to remember there was a lot of good stuff in the first 60 minutes.”
Galvin has continued to find ways to score tries recently. He broke the deadlock in the seventh minute with a run to the left, squeezing through the Cowboys’ defense. However, that was about as good as it got for the Bulldogs, as the Cowboys went into halftime leading 12-6.
Reuben Cotter applied pressure on a Tom Dearden grubberkick, and former Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney set up fullback Scott Drinkwater with a short ball. Curran then took advantage of Laybutt’s error to tie the game at 12-12 in the 52nd minute.
Although the Cowboys struggled with possession, a powerful run from Jason Taumalolo helped them create a gap that the Bulldogs couldn’t close. The Tongan forward offloaded in heavy traffic, and Tom Chester made a surging run through a disorganized Canterbury defense before offloading to Drinkwater for his second try.
In the final five minutes, Jake Clifford and Braidon Burns both scored tries, adding to the Bulldogs’ woes as many fans left early. The only negative for the Cowboys was the injury to back-rower Jeremiah Nanai, who suffered a recurrence of a shoulder issue requiring off-season surgery.
“It’s really disappointing for him because he’s worked super hard,” said Payten. “It’s not great.”
