Canterbury-Bankstown B team hand stacked Penrith Panthers reality check at Belmore Oval

NEVER read too much into a trial match. Unless your full strength outfit is belted by a reserve grade side. The Bulldogs have given Anthony Griffin plenty to think about ahead of their NRL opener.

The Bulldogs B team thrashed Penrith’s strong line-up at Belmore Oval

NEVER read too much into a trial match.

Unless your full strength outfit is belted by a reserve grade side.

Penrith’s stacked line-up were outplayed across the park at Belmore Oval last night against what will essentially be Canterbury-Bankstown’s NSW Cup team.

The youthful Bulldogs squad produced an impressive 24-10 victory over Anthony Griffin’s men, proving they’ll enter 2018 with reasonable depth.

Playmaker Lachlan Lewis threw his hat in the ring as a potential candidate to partner Kieran Foran should incumbent halfback Matt Frawley struggle at any point in the season.

The Bulldogs B team thrashed Penrith’s strong line-up at Belmore Oval

The trial loomed as an opportunity for five-eighth Josh Cleeland to press his case for a top 17 berth, but it was the nephew of immortal Wally Lewis who orchestrated two tries in an impressive showing by the former Raider.

“All the young kids got a shot, that’s what Dean (Pay) was saying and prepping us for all week,” Lewis told bulldogs.com.au after the game.

“To come up against a full strength Penrith side, no one believed in us, as you could expect coming up against a big side, the boys they did well.

“We were tough and that was our game plan, come out and just stick it to them.”

The Panthers’ first choice spine of Dylan Edwards, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary and Peter Wallace all played big minutes, but failed to break the Bulldogs’ stern defence in front of the Belmore faithful.

In a tactical blow out for the forward pack, Griffin failed to make a single interchange in the opening half of football.

The Dogs were far superior to Penrith in attack and defence

Stand-in fullback Kerrod Holland showed his previously unseen versatility with a strong performance that included two crafty try-assists, while Nu Brown pushed his case for round one selection with a solo try of his own.

The Bulldogs’ B team handed Penrith a brutal early season reality check that is sure to raise plenty of unwanted questions at the foot of the mountains.