The Bulldogs have snapped a five-match losing streak against the Melbourne Storm and announced themselves as National Rugby League title contenders with an emphatic 26-10 victory in Gosford.
The four-tries-to-two win for the 'Dogs was made all the more impressive by the fact they did it without star halfback Brett Kimmorley, who was forced from the field early with a cork.
In Sydney, St George Illawarra thrashed the struggling Cronulla 26-4 with the Dragons second rower Mickey Paea playing down his on-field bust-up with the Shark Paul Gallen afterwards, refusing to be drawn on whether the Cronulla skipper racially abused him.
Television commentators suggested there may have been racial vilification aimed at Paea by Gallen, but the 23-year-old would not confirm or deny the incident took place despite making a complaint to the referee on the field about it.
Elsewhere, Penrith thrashed the Sydney Roosters 48-6.
