Bulldogs Celebrate Dream NRLW Debut with Impressive Victory Over Knights

The Bulldogs made a remarkable entry into the NRLW, showcasing a dazzling attacking performance to triumph over the Knights at Accor Stadium.

This thrilling encounter featured the club’s star signings, with both Moana Courtenay and Ashleigh Quinlan each bagging a brace.

Despite having six players making their NRLW debuts, the Bulldogs remained unfazed by the experience of their two-time premiership-winning opponents.

In the opening 10 minutes, both sides fought tooth and nail to break the deadlock, exchanging possession in the hunt for the first points.

It was Courtenay’s moment of brilliance that finally unlocked the scoring for the Bulldogs.

She skilfully fended off two defenders before expertly keeping her foot barely above the sideline as she dashed over in the corner to score. Unfortunately, Tayla Preston was unable to convert.

In an effort to make a strong impact in her return to the NRLW, Bulldogs star Andie Robinson made an impressive 65m break through the middle, positioning her team for the next try.

She was tackled just short of her opponent’s 20m mark, allowing Ash Quinlan to utilise quick ball play and her footwork to reach the try line.

After a review by referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski regarding Quinlan’s grounding, with three Knights defenders trying to hold her up, the Bunker ruled in favour of the Bulldogs, awarding the try.

“They dismantled Newcastle’s defence… they were not prepared,” commented Allana Ferguson during the commentary on Nine.

“It’s astonishing that many of them haven’t played any footy in nine months.”

The Bulldogs narrowly missed out on another try to kick off the second half, but co-captain Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa made amends, charging under the posts to score.

With dropped balls and errors limiting the Knights’ momentum, the Bulldogs wreaked havoc on their defence.

However, Vette-Welsh’s effort wasn’t enough, as Quinlan went on to secure her second try, concluding the match with a final score of 26-12.

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In her post-match comments, Robinson expressed pride in the team’s achievement and reflected on her personal journey returning to the sport.

When asked what motivated her to score, Robinson revealed that her time away from the game due to an ACL injury had ignited a renewed passion for rugby league.

“It was a long absence for me,” she shared in a post-match chat with Nine.

“I believe it added a bit of extra fire in my belly. Being back with the girls was fantastic.”