Bulldogs vs Panthers Review: The Night the 6-to-1 Underdogs Shook the NRL
If you skipped the footy on Thursday night because you thought it was a foregone conclusion, friend, you are going to be kicking yourself. The Penrith Panthers rolled into Accor Stadium looking like an absolute machine. They were 5-0. Their points differential was historic. And they were facing a Bulldogs side that just lost their skipper and looked shaky in defence. The bookies had Penrith at $1.25. The Bulldogs vs Panthers clash was supposed to be a massacre. Instead, we got the upset of the year.
Let me walk you through this Bulldogs vs Panthers review because the scoreboard (28-16) doesn't even tell half the story. This wasn't a lucky win. The Dogs beat the champs at their own game: physicality and grit.
Galvin Shuts Up the Critics in Style
All week the talk was about how young Lachlan Galvin wasn't cutting it. The whispers were loud. But the 20-year-old halfback used that noise as fuel. On a night where Nathan Cleary was playing his 200th NRL game, it was the Bulldogs' number seven who ran the show.
From the opening whistle, Galvin’s combination with Jacob Preston on the right edge was pure dynamite. They sliced through Penrith's line like it was butter. That connection set up the field position for Viliame Kikau to charge over against his old club early in the piece. Kikau brushing off Isaah Yeo and running over Cleary? That set the tone. If you are looking for a guide on how to use bulldogs vs panthers game footage for training, just watch Galvin’s short passing game. Textbook.
The Turning Point: The Bin and The Burst
Penrith looked rattled. When referee Gerard Sutton sent young Casey McLean to the bin for a shoulder charge on Max King, the Dogs sniffed blood. Jacob Kiraz crossed almost immediately to push the lead to 10-0. By the time Samuel Hughes stretched out to score just before the half-hour mark, it was 16-0. Accor Stadium was vibrating.
To their credit, the Panthers didn't roll over. Dylan Edwards is a freak. His try from the scrum play gave them a pulse, and when Tom Jenkins scored his 13th try of the season on that lethal left edge, it was 16-12. The comeback looked inevitable.
Why the Panthers (Finally) Looked Human
Here is the reality check for Penrith fans. Fifteen errors. You cannot win footy games making fifteen errors. Cleary had an unhappy 200th—throwing a bad pass that led to a Dogs try early and another one that went sailing over Luke Garner’s head. Even the best have off nights.
But let’s give credit where it’s due. The Bulldogs' defence, which had leaked 56 points in two weeks, stood up like a brick wall.
- Bronson Xerri: Back from the wilderness and threw the last pass for Kiraz’s try. Looks hungry.
- The Right Edge D: They kept Brian To'o quiet. That doesn't happen by accident.
- Kurt Mann’s Hit: Put on report, sure, but it rattled the Penrith forwards.
The Sealer: Sitili Sends the Dogs Wild
With nine minutes left and the score at 16-all, this game was on a knife's edge. Most fans expected Penrith to ice it. That’s what they do. But Galvin had other plans. He put Preston into a gaping hole, and the second-rower showed incredible awareness to pass inside for Sitili Tupouniua to crash over. 22-16.
The crowd went wild when Tupouniua sealed it. The Panthers were $6 outsiders at kick-off? They played like the $1.05 favourites. This is the beauty of the NRL. Just when you think the ladder is set in stone, the Bulldogs remind everyone that this competition is wide open.
Final Verdict: If you missed the live action, do yourself a favour and catch the replay. This was a masterclass in resilience from Cameron Ciraldo’s men. For Penrith, it’s a wake-up call. For the Bulldogs, it’s a statement that their 2024 finals run wasn't a fluke. Bring on Round 7.