Last week they faced competition leader Canberra, this week the second-placed Bulldogs provide another demanding test for the One New Zealand Warriors in the Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21 competition).
The two sides square off at Belmore Sports Ground in Sydney on Sunday (12.00pm kick-off local time; 2.00pm NZT) with the Warriors facing another testing hurdle as they seek to end a run of three consecutive defeats.
The scoreline suggested otherwise at 6-34 inside the last quarter of last Saturday's match against Canberra, but the Warriors had competed well at various stages before coming home strongly.
In a withering late assault they scored three tries in the space of just two minutes through centre Sialetili Faeamani, second rower Kayliss Fatialofa and winger Rapheal Sio. With fullback Tallan Egan converting all three superbly, the Warriors trimmed the final margin to 24-34.
They had been just 6-16 down at halftime and were well in it before essentially gifting the Raiders three tries, two through failing to clean up kicks and the other from an intercept.
In many of the key statistical measures the Warriors shaded Canberra included post-contact metres, tackle breaks, line breaks and missed tackles but the lapses proved costly.
When the Warriors played fast and direct in the later stages they looked a different side.
They'll need that approach on a sustained basis against a strong Canterbury Bankstown side as they look to bounce back from successive losses to Wests Tigers, the Dragons and the Raiders.
Match: Bulldogs v Warriors
Round 18 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Taye CochraneFullback for Warriors is number 1 Tallan Egan
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jordi MazzoneWinger for Warriors is number 5 Rapheal Sio
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Danny GabraelCentre for Warriors is number 3 Alvin Chong Nee
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Sosaia KaufusiCentre for Warriors is number 4 Sialetili Faeamani
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Ratu RinakamaWinger for Warriors is number 16 Ezekiel Tavita
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Ragarive WavikFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Caleb Laiman
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Joseph TeaupaHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Cassius Cowley
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Larry MUAGUTUTIAProp for Warriors is number 8 Tobias Crosby
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reuben MoyleHooker for Warriors is number 9 Jeriko Filipi-Talisau
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Jack UnderhillProp for Warriors is number 10 Rodney Tuipulotuvea
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Logan Spinks2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kayliss Fatialofa
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jed Reardon2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Augustino Filipo
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Bud SmithLock for Warriors is number 13 Etuate Fukofuka
Interchange
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Patrick YoungInterchange for Warriors is number 14 Maui Winitana-Patelesio
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Fahmy ToilaloInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Paea Sikuvea
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Callum DonaldsonInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Paaua Papuni-abbott
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Elijah MataaleInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Ben Peni
Reserves
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Replacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Braye PORTERReplacement for Warriors is number 20 Compton Purcell
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