NRL Round 1 2022: Cowboys v Bulldogs match report, score, pressure eases on Trent Barrett

Trent Barrett got the win that he craved to start the season - but Sunday’s underwhelming performance won’t fill the under-pressure coach with all that much confidence.

Jason Taumalolo had increased involvement (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Just one try was enough to temporarily justify Canterbury’s much-hyped $5m recruitment drive – and drive away scrutiny on an under-pressure coach.

In a match which finished in torrential rain and included 24 errors, a clunky and nervous Canterbury ground out a brave 6-4 round one win over North Queensland in Townsville.

Victory was unimpressive but eased pre-season pressure starting to gather again around coach Trent Barrett. The Bulldogs lost three players to concussion and were forced to activate their 18th man before holding on for a courageous win.

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“That was a tough game – we hung in there and I’m just glad to get the two points,” said Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr. “This game will give us a lot of confidence, these boys needed it. It was an ugly game but we got the job done.”

Recruit Josh Addo-Carr and the Bulldogs celebrate after winning their round one NRL match (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Canterbury fielded seven new players – Tevita Pangai Jr was ruled out pre-game through injury – but could not generate any chemistry or momentum.

But that didn’t matter – Barrett was only after a win, and he got it. It was a character-building win which saw Bulldogs players embrace in celebration at fulltime.

Barrett can now avoid the media pressure for at least another week. The plucky yet battered Bulldogs certainly played for their coach.

“Trent Barrett will be the most relieved man in Australia,” Matt Johns told Fox Sports.

Canterbury did everything wrong in the first half.

There were missed tackles, dropped balls, kick-offs going dead on the full, kicks rolling over the dead ball line, professional fouls, silly penalties, forward passes, ill-discipline and sin bins. And they conceded eight penalties to two.

Canterbury tidied up multiple areas in the second half with just one try and a conversion proving pivotal.

That try arrived in the 53rd minute through a tip-on from recruit Braidon Burns to winger Jayden Okunbor. Burton’s sideline conversion gave Canterbury a 6-4 lead.

Canterbury offer so much strike out wide – especially their left side – but the ball rarely travelled that far in the first half. The Bulldogs also needed to overcome forward Jack Hetherington being sin-binned in the first half.

After running last in 2021, having won a pitiful three games all season, this was a win Canterbury desperately needed. In the past two seasons, Canterbury has won just seven of 45 games.

Joy at Belmore will be brief though.

Canterbury face some heavy artillery in coming weeks including Brisbane (round 2), Manly (rd 3), Melbourne (rd 4), Penrith (rd 5), Souths (rd 6) and then the Sydney Roosters in round eight.

CRANKY COWBOYS

North Queensland fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow appeared to score the match-winning try in the 77th minute from a bomb but the fullback was deemed offside.

It was an incredibly tight call, yet a correct one, despite jeers from local fans.

Cowboys forward Tom Gilbert scored the opening try and it was a ripper through a left shift and wonderful lead-up from five-eighth Tom Dearden, who easily sliced open the Dogs defence.

North Queensland skipper Jason Taumalolo, back from a hamstring injury, admitted his side was “frantic” at times during the game. Cowboys hooker Jake Granville was placed on report for contact with Burton’s legs after a kick in general play.

Both teams missed a combined total of 44 tackles in the slippery and humid conditions.

Jason Taumalolo had increased involvement (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

CONCUSSION CONTROVERSY

Burns was taken from the field in the 57th minute by the new independent doctor now based in the NRL bunker.

The decision to replace Burns came five minutes after his on-field head clash.

Burns came to the sideline complaining to Canterbury’s medical staff he could continue playing.

Burns’ centre partner, Brent Naden, came from the field concussed eight minutes later and did not return. He too wanted to remain in the game.

Dogs hooker Jeremy Marshall-King was also taken from the field with a head knock.