Bulldogs Deliver Stunning Upset to Halt Panthers' Perfect Start
The Canterbury Bulldogs have emphatically silenced concerns over their start to the 2026 NRL season with a stunning 32-16 victory that ends the Penrith Panthers' perfect run. Just when the ladder-leading Panthers appeared unbeatable, maligned halfback Lachlan Galvin inspired the Bulldogs to a commanding 16-0 lead they rode to victory as significant outsiders.
Galvin Silences Critics with Masterful Performance
Serious questions had been raised about the Bulldogs' attack during a 2-2 opening month, with halfback Lachlan Galvin wearing much of the criticism. However, the 20-year-old playmaker delivered a career-defining performance on Thursday night, taking on the bulk of kicking duties and flaunting his combination with Jacob Preston on the right edge.
Galvin's one-two with Preston put the Bulldogs in position for their first try, before a flat pass to the second-rower restored Canterbury's lead after Penrith had equalised at 16-16. When Galvin put Preston into a hole and the second-rower passed inside for Sitili Tupouniua to score, the Bulldogs appeared in sight of victory up 28-16 with just nine minutes remaining.
Bulldogs Start Fast, Panthers Struggle
The Bulldogs started explosively on Thursday night, opening the scoring through Viliame Kikau. Penrith found themselves further on the back foot when referee Gerard Sutton retroactively sin-binned Casey McLean for a shoulder charge on Max King. Bronson Xerri made an impressive return from his highly-publicised stint in reserve grade, throwing the last pass for Jacob Kiraz to give the Bulldogs a 10-0 lead after just 11 minutes while McLean was off the field.
The Panthers, who had broken numerous records in the opening five weeks, proved they may be human after all in what was their worst performance at full-strength since their form slump to begin last season. Dylan Edwards darted over from a scrum play as the Panthers made inroads on the 16-0 deficit, but 15 handling errors conspired against them on an unhappy night.
Cleary's Milestone Game Marred by Errors
Nathan Cleary had a mostly unhappy 200th NRL game, despite a beautiful cross-field kick that helped Tom Jenkins confirm a sixth consecutive try-scoring double on the left wing. Cleary's bad pass turned the ball over before the Bulldogs' first try, and at another point, he threw a pass much too high for Luke Garner to field near the touchline.
Making matters worse for Penrith, second-rower Liam Martin did not finish the game and was seen with ice on his knee, adding injury concerns to their disappointing performance. The Bulldogs' victory sends a clear message that there is still plenty of life in their 2026 campaign, while the Panthers must regroup after their first setback of the season.
