The Bulldogs have scored the first try of 2024 after skipper Reed Mahoney put young gun centre Eli Clark over out wide in the 5th minute.
“First try to one of the kids if you will… for some tonight it’s the biggest game of their life,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League.
MATCH CENTRE: Bulldogs v Storm, teams, stats, video, highlights
But it didn’t take long for the mood to change and Mahoney was put on report following a tackle in the 12th minute.
“That’s not an ideal start to his season,” Mick Ennis said.
It allowed Storm Dean Ieremia to cross moments later and it’s 6-6 after 15 minutes.
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MATCH PREVIEW
The NRL is back, baby!
It might only be the opening game of the Pre-season Challenge but rugby league’s disciples have been waiting months to see this first clash back as the Bulldogs host the Storm at Belmore at 7pm AEDT.
There are several interesting storylines out of tonight’s fixture but none bigger than Canterbury centre Bronson Xerri returning after a four-year ban for performance-enhancing drug use.
“He’s just got so much natural talent, Bronson,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo told Fox League just before kick-off.
“I’ve got to say when we signed him I thought it wouldn’t be until mid-year when he’d start to make his way into the team. But after six or seven weeks he was picking so much stuff up and it got to a point where I couldn’t think of a reason not to put him in the team.”
Fullback Blake Taaffe will also make his Bulldogs debut alongside utilities Drew Hutchison and Jaeman Salmon in a new-look Dogs side.
Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen returns from his horror leg injury ahead of schedule and will start in the No. 1 jumper.
“I didn’t expect him to start the season to be honest, but he’s kicked on better than I thought,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy told Fox League.
“There will be a couple little demons there because he’s had such a bad run… we probably want him to be a bit selfish tonight and look after himself and get through and grow in confidence.”
Exciting young gun halfback Jonah Pezet is the halfback with Jahrome Hughes away on Maori All Stars duties.
Source Agencies
