Canterbury score on the siren to down Canberra 16-12 in NRL trial match

A TRY on the final siren has earned Canterbury a 16-12 win over the Raiders in their trial match on the Sunshine Coast in Kieran Foran’s club debut.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — APRIL 29: Josh Jackson of the Bulldogs is tackled just short of the line during the round nine NRL match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the Canberra Raiders at ANZ Stadium on April 29, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

BULLDOGS coach Dean Pay has lauded the performance of much-hyped off-season signing Kieran Foran, following his first outing for the club.

The 27-year-old played the first half of the team’s 16-12 victory over the Raiders in a trial at the Sunshine Coast, directing play with authority.

“I thought he was really good,” Pay said.

“He had some really good touches and he looks fit and strong again, which is like the old Kieran that he was at Manly.

“He’s done a really good job of working on himself to getting himself to back to where he is.”

Foran is at his fourth club in four years but on Saturday he appeared immediately at home in the blue and white.

Foran was quiet on debut for the Dogs.

He guided them to a 12-0 halftime lead with a string of accurate passes and short kicks. He also barked plenty of orders.

“He’s a quality player and that’s what we want him to do,” Pay said.

“He needs to sort of take the leadership and the reins of the team so it’s really good for us.”

Pay, in his first game as coach of the Bulldogs, is eager to turn things around at the club which missed out on finals last year.

“We want our fans to be excited about our footy team,” he said.

New captain Josh Jackson was a force while David Klemmer proved a menace.

Moses Mbye was solid in his first outing as Bulldogs fullback.

“He was good. It’s only his first game (there) so he’s only going to get better,” Pay said.

Maligned for their lack of attacking spark last season, the Bulldogs showed aggressive intentions early, when hooker Michael Lichaa dived over from short range, after a succession of penalties.

There was some spite early in the contest, with Junior Paulo and Adam Elliott sin-binned.

The Bulldogs scored right on halftime.

The play-the-ball was in the spotlight in this trial as well, with a couple of penalties conceded.

Lichaa kept busy and he found Greg Eastwood with a short ball late in the first half and Mbye converted for a 12-0 halftime lead.

There were significant changes to teams in the second half, particularly from the Bulldogs.

Raiders ballplayer Sam Williams found a wide-running Sia Soliola early in the second half, with Aiden Sezer converting to reduce the deficit to 12-6.

Makahesi Makatoa crashed over from short range and Blake Austin converted to level the scores with eight minutes remaining.

But Josh Bergamin crossed in the corner in the last minute to seal the deal.

Originally published as Canterbury score on the siren to down Canberra 16-12 in NRL trial match