Dragon hearts broken in Vegas thriller

The contest’s opening points belonged to the Red V after Clint Gutherson earnt his side a penalty through a hounding kick chase with Valentine Holmes knocking over a penalty goal.

Canterbury managed the first try however with Lachlan Galvin sending Jacob Preston through a hole down the right-hand corridor to dive over with Stephen Crichton adding the extras to make it 6-2.

Undeterred, the Dragons marched back down the other end off the back of a courageous Tu kick defusal and a powerful Jaydn Su’A carry.

Damien Cook crafted a pinpoint, last-tackle grubber off the left foot for Emre Guler who won the race to the football to score and push the Dragons back ahead.

The seesawing nature of the opening stanza persisted with Crichton stepping up to add a penalty goal to make it a tie game 26 minutes in.

The Couchman twins appeared to have forced a momentum-turning error off the following kick-off only for a Bulldogs Captain’s Challenge to overturn the on-field call and instead result in Toby being placed on report for high contact.

Christian Tuipulotu was also placed on report several plays later for a high shot, but the Dragons defence held strong off it to force an error and retain possession.

Tu’s bravery was again on show moments later with the debutant swallowing a Matt Burton bomb and wearing a Crichton high shot.

The Dragons lost their Captain’s Challenge a little under four minutes out from the break in an attempt to overturn an escort call.

Crichton slotted his third goal of the night to put the Bulldogs ahead 10-8 heading into the intermission.

Moses Suli left the field early in the second half for a HIA – which he ultimately passed – after his head slammed into the ground in a heavy collision bringing Mathew Feagai into the contest as the NRL’s new six-man bench rule was brought into play.

The Bulldogs found a try off the back of it with Crichton sending his winger Jacob Kiraz over off an attacking scrum to make it 14-8 with a half-hour to play.

The man of the night Setu Tu etched his name onto the scoresheet an hour in off the back of a timely Su’A offload which Clint Gutherson managed to bat on as the deficit shrunk back to two.

Kyle Flanagan produced a try-saving tackle on Galvin moments later after Burton regathered an audacious, centre-field grubber.

Tu’s debut ended prematurely as a result of cramps bringing Feagai back into the action on the right wing.

The Bulldogs surged onto the attack off the back of what appeared to be a knock-on with the Dragons producing several desperate cover tackles – none more impressive than Tuipulotu driving his opposite into touch and marking the moment with an NFL-style first down celebration.

The Bulldogs were later penalised whilst in possession for an offside player gathering the ball handing Flanagan a chance to slot a penalty goal from 30 metres out to make it 14-all with six minutes to play.