Inu stars as Dogs savage Roosters

Updated May 29, 2012 09:46:15

Krisnan Inu started his Canterbury career with a bang as he inspired his new club to a 30-12 win over Sydney Roosters on Monday night at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The mercurial former Parramatta utility back signed for the Bulldogs last Thursday from the Warriors and made an immediate impression, scoring two tries, setting up a third and kicking three goals as the Roosters slumped to a third successive defeat.

Des Hasler's side sealed the win on the back of some outstanding defence, soaking up intense pressure from the hosts in either half, but taking advantage when in possession to run in six tries.

Hasler was full of praise for Inu and said he was delighted to have secured the services of a player of his calibre mid-season.

"He's played in two grand finals and lots of Test footy and he is a handy acquisition for us given the extent of injuries we've had to our inside backs," he said.

Roosters coach Brian Smith said his players appeared to run out of energy midway through the second half, and skipper Anasta revealed his frustrations at another refereeing controversy, when the visitors led 14-12.

Anasta said referee Jason Robinson apologised to him late in the game, admitting he bungled a call that led to Canterbury's third try.

Anasta argued that Lafai should have been penalised for a knock-on, in the build up to the try, but was waved away by Robinson.

"He told me he didn't see it," Anasta said.

"It didn't cost us the game but it's so frustrating as it keeps happening to us.

"He then comes to me at 30-12 and says 'sorry Braith I got that one wrong'."

"It's too late then."

The Roosters broke the deadlock in the ninth minute when Mitchell Pearce stepped off his right foot to slalom his way under the posts for his third try of the season.

The Bulldogs' response was swift as they took full advantage of a penalty conceded by Boyd Cordner to find good field position three minutes later, and Inu scored an easy try in his 100th career game.

Sam Kasiano looked to have given the Bulldogs the lead when he charged to the line, but the big New Zealander was ruled to have impeded two players and the try was ruled out by the video referee.

To add insult to injury for the visitors, the Roosters responded when Anthony Minichiello darted over and Braith Anasta added the extras.

However, the Bulldogs scored two quick tries just before the interval with Inu brilliantly catching and offloading in mid-air for Frank Pritchard to crash over.

And from the following set, Jonathan Wright latched onto Michael Ennis's hopeful kick forward and touched down.

The Roosters started the second half well but the Bulldogs took control by the 56th minute with Inu darting over from dummy-half for his second four-pointer.

David Stagg then touched down for his side's fourth try just after the hour-mark, and Wright iced the game with a breakaway run from 90 metres after Anasta's intended pass for Mitch Aubusson fell into his hands.

The Dogs (14 points, +87) jump from eighth to fifth on the ladder, the 18-point margin pushing them past the Cowboys (14, +78) on for-and-against.

Manly and Wests Tigers also have 14 competition points but the Warriors are nipping at their heels in ninth.

Bulldogs: 30 (K Inu 2, J Wright 2, F Pritchard, D Stagg tries; K Inu 3/6 conversions)

Roosters: 12 (M Pearce, A Minichiello tries; B Anasta 2/2 conversions)

ABC/AAP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, canterbury-2193, belmore-2192, bondi-junction-2022, nsw, australia

First posted May 28, 2012 20:54:58

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Barba's Bulldogs savage Sharks

Updated May 21, 2012 22:38:37

Canterbury full-back Ben Barba gave Queensland a timely reminder of his talents as he engineered a 26-6 win for the Bulldogs over Cronulla on Monday night at the Olympic stadium.

The Maroons decided they did not need the dynamic number one on their bench for game one this Wednesday night, but State of Origin is a long series and Barba continued to push his case with a blistering two-try display.

Barba made it 18 tries from his last 16 matches at Homebush - a record comparable to Manly full-back Brett Stewart's feats at Brookvale Oval - to consolidate the Bulldogs' position in the top eight.

But Barba feels that if an Origin call-up is in his future, it will come when the time is right.

"I thought I was going alright but there's some great players for Queensland and I'm in no rush," he said.

"It's a big stage to step up to Origin and I can probably learn a bit more before I get there.

"I always knew I was a long shot ... I've just got to focus on this and one day my time will come."

The dynamic number one said people from the Maroons camp were in touch with him after the team for game one was announced and encouraged him to keep his head down.

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler is confident Mal Meninga has his full-back in his sights.

"I think they've well and truly got him earmarked," Hasler said.

"He attended the pre-Origin camp this year and you've only got to look at some of his stats, the way he's been performing with his ability to break the line and score points.

"I'm sure there is a plan in there for B Barba."

Canterbury surged to a 24-0 half-time lead and although the Sharks kept things tight in the second half, without captain Paul Gallen and star Todd Carney there to inspire them, they surrendered their place in the top four to Manly.

Barba was electric from the back and was on hand to score after just seven minutes, backing up a 30-metre line-break from hole-running second rower Dene Halatau.

Moments later he played beautifully out the back of a left-side attacking raid to put centre Tim Lafai over for a 12-0 lead after just 10 minutes.

And in the final minute before half-time, Barba chased through a perfectly placed Josh Reynolds grubber.

Barba showed his full array of talents on Monday, mixing scintillating ball running with intelligent defensive plays at the back.

Cronulla saw the match slip from its grasp midway through the first half, when Jeff Robson butchered a certain try, before the visitors fell victim to a controversial video referee decision down the other end which saw the Bulldogs skip away to 18-0.

A 70-metre dash from Colin Best should have resulted in a Sharks try from the ensuing play - but instead of passing to the four-man overlap to his right, Robson went himself and the golden chance died.

When video ref Chris Ward ruled centre Jonathan Wright did not knock on into the hands of Cronulla winger John Williams before regathering and touching down off a Reynolds bomb, it was always going to be a long way back.

Captain Jeremy Smith surged over for the Sharks four minutes after half-time to give the visitors hope, but they did not offer enough in attack.

Journeyman Luke MacDougall dislocated his elbow in his first game for the Bulldogs, while prop Sam Kasiano could once again attract the attention of the match review committee for an awkward first half tackle on Sharks second rower Sam Tagataese.

Hasler was happy with how his team came out of the blocks but said there is plenty of room for improvement.

"We've got a bit to work on but very happy with the win," he said.

"It was essential that we won tonight.

"Cronulla were probably a little flat coming out of a very tough game against Melbourne."

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan agreed but said it is not panic stations with a bye next week.

Flanagan conceded that the Sharks struggled in attack without star number six Carney, but said they will learn to cope for the rest of the Origin period.

"I will excuse tonight but I won't excuse it too often," he said.

"I am really proud of what they've done to date but I'm not proud of what we did tonight as a group.

"We were off the pace. We knew what they were going to throw at us but we sat back and watched them do it to us."

Bulldogs: 26 (B Barba 2, T Lafai, J Wright tries; B Goodwin 4/4 conversions, 1/1 penalty goals)

Sharks: 6 (J Smith try; J Williams 1/1 conversions)

AAP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, cronulla-2230, canterbury-2193, nsw, australia

First posted May 21, 2012 20:56:40

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