Star recruit Lachie Galvin has scored on his Canterbury debut as the Bulldogs defeated the Parramatta Eels 30-12 in the NRL King’s Birthday clash.
Laurie Daley then announced he would make three changes to the Blues squad for State of Origin Game II in Perth.
Stefano Utoikamanu of the Melbourne Storm comes into the 17 to replace the injured Mitch Barnett, with Max King elevated to the starting prop position.
Matt Burton is added to the extended squad list to replace the injured Campbell Graham, with Keaon Koloamatangi and Lindsay Smith also named on that extended bench.
In the NRL, star Bulldogs recruit Galvin made the best possible start to life as a Bulldog with a try on debut that sent the huge pro-Bulldogs crowd into raptures.
On the bench for 60 minutes of a frantic and frenetic contest in front of 59,878 fans at the Sydney Olympic stadium — the second-biggest NRL regular season crowd ever — Galvin was introduced at half-back with the game in the balance.
His immediate involvement will go some way to vindicate the Bulldogs’ pursuit of his signature, while rubbing the Eels’s nose in the fact that they too were in the hunt.
Toby Sexton, who had been brilliant alongside the super-impressive Matt Burton, made way to move to hooker with Reed Mahoney subbed out the game, perhaps giving a glimpse at how Cameron Ciraldo will attempt to fit the teen playmaker into his table-topping squad.
However Ciraldo shuffles his pack though, the seamless way that Galvin slipped into the centre of the field will give the rest of the competition notice that the Dogs are genuine premiership contenders.
The score was 14-12 to the Bulldogs at that stage, following a thrilling first half where Burton and Mitch Moses exchanged intercept passes in the opening 10 minutes.
Matt Burton of the Bulldogs is tackled by Dylan Brown and Ryley Smith of the Eels during the NRL Round 14 match between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Parramatta Eels at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
Marcelo Montoya crossed to give the Bulldogs the lead, but a sin bin to Viliame Kikau for a late shot on Moses gave the Eels the impetus to score through Dylan Walker.
With the game in the balance, the Bulldogs put the foot on the accelerator, with Kikau, Harry Hayes and Galvin all crossed to send the Bulldogs back to the top of the NRL ladder.
Blues Origin prop King was immense, running for 229 metres from 19 carries, with 27 tackles in his 47 minutes.
Connor Tracey, in game 100, had a try assist and a game high 240 running metres.
The Eels, unrecognisable from the rabble that played the start of the season, did well to stay well in the contest, with Zac Lomax impressive and busy on the wing, running for 191 metres.
However, with Dylan Brown quiet and the Bulldogs on the front foot almost the entire second half, there was just not enough firepower to stick with it.
Brown faces at least one match on the sidelines after being accused of knocking over referee Gerard Sutton.
The Eels’ five-eighth was charged with grade two contrary conduct for an incident in the 26th minute, when he collided with Sutton on a kick chase.
If he takes the early plea, Brown will miss Parramatta’s round 16 clash at home against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday, June 22.
If Brown fights the charge and is unsuccessful, he would also miss the round 17 match against St George Illawarra.
Look back at how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
3h ago3 hours agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 8:36am
3h ago3 hours agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 8:33am
3h ago3 hours agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:52am
2h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 8:46am
Time for us to say goodbye
By Simon Smale
OK folks, that’s going to be us for the extended weekend of NRL.
Don’t stress though, because we’ll be back very, very soon when the NRL resumes on Thursday night with the Sharks taking on the Dragons at Shark Park.
I’ll be there for that and all through the weekend as we have a reduced program with an eye on Perth for State of Origin II on Wednesday, June 18.
Thanks for being with me this evening and we’ll catch you again soon.
The Blues squad has dropped, and Laurie Daley has made three changes to his 20-player squad for Game II.
Stefano Utoikamanu comes into the 17, with Max King elevated to the starting XIII.
There are three players added to the extended squad.
Matt Burton replaces the injured Campbell Graham, Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi is 19, and Panthers prop Lindsay Smith at 20.
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 8:24am
New South Wales Origin II squad
By Simon Smale
We are waiting for confirmation of Laurie Daley’s Blues squad for Game II of State of Origin.
Daley was waiting to make sure his four squad members that played tonight — Stephen Crichton, Max King, Mitchell Moses and Zac Lomax —got through the match unscathed.
As far as we can tell there were no injuries to those players.
So we’re expecting that Stefano Utoikamanu will be the only change.
But we are still waiting for that.
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 8:06am
Galvin: ‘I just wanna play footy’
By Simon Smale
Lachie Galvin, the man of the moment, is speaking to Fox Sports now.
“To get a win like that is pretty amazing,” he says.
He praises the crowd and the support that they gave him, saying that he is happy to be a part of it.
“Just to get the win with all these boys, they’ve been so good to me,” he says.
“The club is building something really special here and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
He adds that all he wants to do is play football.
“I just wanna play footy,” he says.
“I was just shutting that [chat] out and that’s all in the past now.”
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:57am
Burton praises Galvin, Sexton
By Simon Smale
Matt Burton is speaking to Fox Sports.
“It was good to be back home,” Burton tells Fox Sport.
“We started a bit sluggish at the start of that second half but we got back into the grind.
“I thought it was good. He added a lot of energy there.
“I thought he was great on debut tonight.
“I thought Sexty [Sexton] was great in the middle too.”
Burton was brilliant today – five tackle breaks, one line-break assist as well, but the numbers don’t tell the story at all.
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:54am
A perfect night for the Bulldogs
By Simon Smale
One to the new kid! Go Bulldogs
– Mike
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:52am
FT: Bulldogs claim victory
By Simon Smale
(Getty Images)
Comfortable enough for the Bulldogs after a frantic and frenetic first half.
It was a brilliant effort in that first half from the Eels.
But the Bulldogs were just so strong in that second half, backed by almost 60,000 supporters at the Olympic stadium.
With Lachie Galvin scoring on debut you’d almost say that it was a perfect night for the Dogs.
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3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:52am
80′ THE BULLDOGS ALMOST FINISH IN STYLE!
By Simon Smale
KIRAZ BURSTS THROUGH!
THEN HE OFFLOADS TO HOPOI WHO IS FELLED INCHES SHORT!
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:51am
80′ Viliame Kikau off for an HIA
By Simon Smale
He went down heavy in attempting to score.
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:50am
80′ Kikau knocks on over the line
By Simon Smale
That would have been magical from the Bulldogs.
A superb kick from Toby Sexton over the top.
Viliame Kikau can’t get to it.
Bronson Xerri can’t get to it.
And then Connor Tracey knocks on.
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:48am
79′ Mitch Moses on report
By Simon Smale
A high shot with moderate force.
That will likely only be a fine for Mitch Moses, but a little flutter of nervousness from the Blues camp perhaps.
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:46am
Crowd 59,878
By Simon Smale
It’s the second biggest regular-season crowd in NRL history.
Had it not been raining and cold, how many would be here?
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:45am
77′ MONTOYA SMASHES PENISINI!
By Simon Smale
OH MY WORD!
MARCELO MONTOYA COMES LIKE A STEAM TRAIN TO SMASH WILL PENISINI INTO NEXT WEEK!
What a shot!
Penisini did so well to hang on to that.
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:40am
74′ LACHIE GALVIN SCORES ON DEBUT!
By Simon Smale
(Getty Images)
YOU COULDN’T SCRIPT IT!
Jacob Kiraz was wrapped up by four Eels defenders in the corner, but he still managed to get the ball away.
Galvin was there in support and he is allowed to dive over untouched.
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The stadium erupts.
The Bulldogs players congregate as well.
What a moment.
The kick is good and it’s 30-12.
3h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:40am
73′ Jack Williams off for HIA
By Simon Smale
He does not look great, the Eels prop.
He’s going to have to go off and that will be his day done whatever happens.
4h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:35am
69′ Harry Hayes scores!
By Simon Smale
That’s a try to Harry Hayes, but it was Kurt Mann who made it.
A lovely break from Kurt Mann, a dummy with the hands and the feet, he gets through the line and then passes to Hayes who races over untouched.
That was great from Mann, who has run for over 150 metres now in the match.
The try under the posts makes the kick super easy for Crichton, and he makes it.
It’s 24-12.
4h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:31am
66′ Will Penisini loses the ball
By Simon Smale
Will Penisini is hit by Bonson Xerri and the ball is out.
It looked like he lost the ball before he even hit the tackler.
He did.
It’s not stopping him from challenging though – and that’s a waste of a challenge.
4h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:30am
65′ Kitione Kautoga smashes Lachie Galvin!
By Simon Smale
Oh yes, that’s a shot from Kitione Kautoga!
Galvin took the ball to the line and passed, but as he did so was hit hard by the Eels forward, who gave him a bit extra as well!
Just a bit of chat for the youngster.
4h agoMon 9 Jun 2025 at 7:28am
64′ Iongi smashed by Curran!
By Simon Smale
Oh the timing of that shot from Josh Curran!
It’s a big kick from Galvin up high, Iongi was under it, he gets up to jump and catch it, and then he is smashed by the Bulldogs second rower.
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