Dogs secure second win of 2019

A double for Corey Harawira-Naera helped secure Canterbury Bulldogs’ second win of the season, 24-12 over North Queensland Cowboys.

The Bulldogs had a positive start to the game but were denied the opening try when a pass to Jayden Okunbor was ruled forward. That allowed North Queensland to score the first try through Michael Morgan’s pinpoint kick for Justin O’Neill.

With five minutes to play in the first half, Okunbor did get his try when Ofahiki Ogden’s offload led to Rhyse Martin finding the big winger with a great lofted pass.

Eleven minutes into the second half, the Bulldogs took the lead when Nick Meaney dropped off Corey Harawira-Naera who snuck between Gavin Cooper and Matt Scott.

Then off the back of Okunbor’s break, Josh Jackson muscled his way over to extend the host’s lead. Harawira-Naera’s second try, after a beautiful short pass from Adam Elliott, looked to have sealed the Bulldogs’ second win of the season.

Ben Hampton’s try, soon after, gave the Cowboys hope but the Bulldogs successfully saw out the remainder of the game.

Bulldogs: Meaney, Okunbor, Holland, Hopoate, R Smith, Cogger, Lewis, Tolman, Marshall-King, Ogden, Jackson, Harawira-Naera, Martin; Interchanges: Lichaa, Fualalo, Elliott, C Smith
Tries: Okunbor, Harawira-Naera 2, Jackson; Goals: Martin 4

Cowboys: Martin, O’Neill, Kahu, Tuala, Hampton, Clifford, Morgan, Scott, Granville, McLean, Cooper, McGuire, Asiata; Interchanges: Baptiste, Hess, Bolton, Molo
Tries: O’Neill, Hampton; Goals: Kahu 2

Full match reports of all this weekend’s NRL games will feature in Monday’s League Express.