Game Summary
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs put in a stunning second-half performance to defeat Parramatta 42-22 in Round Seven of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup at CommBank Stadium on Sunday night, handing the Eels a fourth consecutive defeat.
Parramatta made a blistering start, with halfback Joseph Nohra conjuring a superb 40-20 kick that set up a try to winger Mohamed Alameddine in the ninth minute. The Eels then added a second through captain Jake Tago before extending their lead to 16-4 after centre Devonte Vaivela crossed, with Nohra converting all three tries.
Bulldogs hit back through a barnstorming individual effort from winger Jethro Rinakama, who showed tremendous strength to score from the left edge and pull the scoreline to 16-4. With momentum shifting, halfback Alex Conti then turned the game on its head, selling a brilliant dummy twice in the space of minutes to score two tries and level the match at 16-all at half-time.
The second half opened in similarly frantic fashion. Canterbury debutant Maila Setu crossed in the right corner to put the Dogs in front, before Tago hit back immediately for Parramatta to level at 22-all.
Captain Logan Spinks then crossed for Canterbury as Conti's brilliant ball-playing put the Dogs ahead. A knock-on on the kick chase gifted Canterbury another try to Setu, his second on debut, extending their advantage to eight.
The final quarter belonged entirely to the Bulldogs. Parramatta errors and penalties continued to invite pressure, and when substitute hooker Daniel O'Donnell burrowed over with under seven minutes remaining, the result was beyond doubt. Spinks sealed a second try late on, with Conti converting to complete a dominant 42-22 victory.
Talking Points
The win lifts Canterbury to ninth on the NSW Cup ladder, while Parramatta remain in 12th with just one win from seven starts this season.
Debutants on both sides made an impact, with Canterbury winger Maila Setu scoring twice and Parramatta drawing on several young guns from their Jersey Flegg system.
Key Moments
Conti's double dummy in the 35th minute defined the contest. Just minutes after scoring with one dummy, he dummied again in almost identical fashion. Two tries in four minutes wiped a 12-point deficit and changed the entire complexion of the game at half-time.
What's Next?
Both clubs will look to build on this result heading into Round Eight. Canterbury, climbing to ninth, will be keen to string consecutive wins together, while Parramatta face an urgent need to arrest what is now a four-game losing streak and find some consistency before the season slips further away from them.
