NRL 2024: Canterbury Bulldogs win 13-12 over New Zealand Warriors in golden point thriller
The Bulldogs epic golden-point victory over the Warriors may have come at a massive cost, with a key forward suffering a suspected broken jaw.
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The Bulldogs epic golden-point victory over the Warriors is set to come at a cost with key forward Jaeman Salmon suffering a suspected broken jaw.
Dogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said Salmon would go for scans to determine the club’s worst fears.
“It’s not great, it looks like a broken jaw,’’ Ciraldo said.
“It’s not ideal for him, he’s having a really good year Jaemon. He’s doing alot of things that people don’t see.
“He’s probably one of our best communicators.
“He’s the glue guy in our forward pack and it looks like a broken jaw and if it is we’ll miss him for that period.’’
Matt Burton has put his hand up to replace injured New South Wales centre Latrell Mitchell for the State of Origin decider, following his heroics in the Bulldogs’ golden point win over the Warriors.
A relieved Burton declared he’d be ready if selected by Michael Maguire after sealing the Bulldogs’ second-straight extra time victory.
Named at 18th man for the Blues in Game One, Burton was overlooked completely for NSW’s last start series leveller.
“I’m just happy to get the win here, but I’ll be more than happy to put my hand up for New South Wales if they need me,” Burton said.
“You saw in Game Two what the Blues showed, there’s something special building there. It was unreal to be around the boys in Game One.”
Burton would have been none the wiser as news of Mitchell’s foot injury reverberated across rugby league circles during the Bulldogs’ last gasp win.
Unknowingly, Burton was the first of a long list of candidates being assessed to fill Mitchell’s void in New South Wales’ backline for the upcoming State of Origin decider.
A former Dally M Centre of the Year winner, Burton’s two Origins to date were also at centre. The Bulldogs playmaker has also previously featured for Australia in the position.
He will now likely contend with Newcastle’s Bradman Best and returning Sea Eagles livewire Tom Trbojevic for Mitchell’s spot.
Burton’s field goal in the 88th minute kept the Bulldogs’ top four aspirations well and truly alive. The five-eighth was unlucky not to seal the win in regulation time as his first of four one-point attempts ricocheted off the upright.
Burton was important for the Bulldogs from start to finish.
He jolted the game into life in the opening 20 minutes with an intercept deep in his half that ended in a Bronson Xerri try 95 metres downfield, only to seal the game when it mattered most.
ATTRITION ENHANCES ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT
Despite the defeat, the Warriors change in mentality continues to be commended, just two rounds removed from conceding 66 points to the lowly Gold Coast Titans.
Despite the loss of their entire back three in Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Marcelo Montoya and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, the bootleg Warriors continued to grate at a Bulldogs defence which to this point had conceded the fewest tries competition-wide this season.
Defensively sound themselves, the Warriors turned away a barrage of Bulldogs attacking plays, only to fall to defeat late in extra time.
“We didn’t want that [Titans] game to define us. We moved on fast and got back to where we know we can be,” Warriors coach Andrew Webster said.
“We still weren’t smart out there, but they put so much effort in. So resilient despite so many injuries. They showed up for each other. But we didn’t get what we wanted, which is really disappointing.
Seeing such significant adjustments to their mentality, the Warriors’ recent showings are reminiscent to those seen throughout their top four campaign last year. Though wins will need to come soon if they’re to return to finals football in 2024.
ONE TO WATCH
Leka Halasima. Remember the name.
What he lacked in minutes, he sure made up for in impact.
Accustomed to the back row, Halasima was forced to spend his NRL debut in the centres with injuries forcing several backline reshuffle.
Only a miraculous Reed Mahoney tackle stopped the rookie’s barrelling 40-metre run ending in a likely matchwinning try.
Fox League commentator Andrew Voss was quick to compare the Tongan native to a young Sonny-Bill Williams during a performance that looked the start of a promising career.
“He almost scored one of the most amazing tries on debut. It was amazing. His first run through the middle. We knew he was capable of it and we’re all super proud of him,” Webster said.
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Originally published as NRL 2024: Canterbury Bulldogs win 13-12 over New Zealand Warriors in golden point thriller
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