Bulldogs slump to worst start in 54 years
CANTERBURY has slumped to its worst start in 54 seasons after being thumped 32-10 by Gold Coast.
The Bulldogs had much to play for at their spiritual home of Belmore Sportsground, with Moses Mbye featuring in his last NRL game for the club, but they were woeful, conceding six tries to two in the defeat.
With just three wins under their belt this year, it’s the club’s worst start through 14 games since their wooden spoon season in 1964.
The 22-point loss was the side’s worst under Dean Pay and saw them slip to 15th on the ladder.
Halfback Ash Taylor was chief destroyer, setting up three of the Titans’ six tries.
Michael Gordon ran for 183m, grabbed two first-half tries and made four linebreaks, while Ryan James made a compelling case for a NSW call-up, racking up 121m, 44 tackles, a linebreak, two tackle breaks and a try in a 73-minute effort.
Gordon’s early double had the Titans scoring at nearly a point a minute.
James went into the game looking to prove something to the NSW selectors with Reagan Campbell-Gillard (broken jaw) ruled out for Origin II and made a big statement when he powered past Blues prop David Klemmer to score.
The Bulldogs’ only joy in the first half came when Mbye – who departs for the Wests Tigers in a mid-season move next week – crossed in the shadows of the break.
Klemmer could come under the scrutiny of the match review committee for a late shot on AJ Brimson in the final minutes of the match.