Newcastle Knights v Canterbury Bulldogs match report: Fans furious at Dogs’ breakfast dished up

Canterbury fans were seen walking out of Accor Stadium in disgust on Sunday afternoon, as the Bulldogs were smashed 66-0 by the Newcastle Knights.

Reed Mahoney of the Bulldogs is seen dejected at full time after the round 18 NRL match between Canterbury Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium on July 02, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

It seemed settled that Wests Tigers were the worst team in the NRL until Canterbury entered the debate around 3pm on Sunday afternoon. Like the Tigers on Saturday night in Townsville, the Bulldogs didn’t have a go and the Knights gladly ran in 11 tries in a 66-0 smashing at Accor Stadium.

It was always going to be a battle for Canterbury to make the finals this season given their roster and injuries have cruelled them at times. But they were only really missing Villiame Kikau and Luke Thompson on Sunday.

At least the Tigers didn’t put up their terrible display in front of their home fans.

The Bulldogs were down 30-0 at halftime and the booing roared around the ground which captain Reed Mahoney said was “frustrating” to hear.

“I guess they’re upset and frustrated but so are we,” he said.

“We are the ones out there working really hard and we don’t want that to happen. We want them behind us.

“We know the results we are trying to get and we are working hard and what we are doing during the week just isn’t turning up on game day.

“The fans don’t have the right to do that. Well they do in a way, but we are working really hard and it is not easy at the moment.

Reed Mahoney of the Bulldogs is seen dejected at full time after the match between Canterbury Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium. Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“I will support my players and this club. It is hard, but we have just got to move on and keep working hard as we are.

“We don’t want that to happen. We want them to be behind us.

When Kurt Mann scored three minutes into the second half, a heap of Canterbury fans got straight up and walked out.

With each Knights try, more and more got out of their seats and walked to their cars.

And who could blame the 11,004 supporters who optimistically turned up. Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo copped his share of abuse from his own fans as they left in frustration.

One supporter yelled at his coaches’ box: “this is f**ing disgusting”. Ciraldo however, wasn’t critical of the effort of his players despite the flogging.

“It’s easy to say there was a lack of effort when it was 66-0 but I was seeing different things out there, more than a lack of effort,” Ciraldo said.

“I actually saw more effort today than I did last time against Cronulla. “Things just snowballed and things went against us and the harder we tried the worse it got.” Canterbury looked like they’d never trained together. They were so clunky and disorganised.

“They’re learning on the job right now and maybe there’s a few too many learning out there at the moment,” Ciraldo said.

“The thing I love about this club is how passionate the fans are and there’s an expectation of winning and you don’t get that at every club. “There’s a lot of history around winning but you can’t just flick a switch and turn it into a winning club.

“It’s not a great moment. It’s an embarrassing moment and a disappointing moment.

“We’ve got to stick together. We’re going to turn this club around and if you stick with us there’s going to be good times ahead.” When the Bulldogs got a late penalty, and were down 66-0, their fans sarcastically called for them to take the two points.

Phoenix Crossland of the Knights makes a break and scores a try during the round 18 match. Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

PONGA DOMINANCE

Kalyn Ponga was a class above the Bulldogs.

He carved them up the whole game.

Ponga’s beautiful sleight of hand was on show early as he sent Bradman Best over from close range to give the Knights a 12-0 lead after 18 minutes. The try he laid on to Phoenix Crossland in the 35th minute was one of an Origin player.

Sure, he was playing against a poor side but he looked like a Group 1 horse going around in a maiden at Kembla Grange.

Despite his superb form, Ponga said he won’t be playing Origin next week. “I’ve already spoken to Billy (Slater) and we spoke about where I am mentally and I just want to focus on the Knights.” Ponga said. “Our season is not done and I want to put everything I can into the Knights. “We’re in the fight every week.”

POOR BURTON

Matt Burton was trying his best but his teammates weren’t helping his Origin hopes.

Understandably, he struggled to get into the game and has had a tough season playing out of position with no creative help around him. If he plays Origin on Wednesday week it will be because Brad Fittler already had him picked in his mind before Sunday.