Canterbury five-eighth Josh Reynolds revealed his match winning field goal against Sydney Roosters was the first of his career as the Bulldogs confirmed their premiership credentials with a gritty 9-8 defeat of the premiers.
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With the Roosters defenders expecting halfback Trent Hodkinson to have the attempt at field goal, they rushed up on him and he passed the ball to Reynolds for the NSW Origin representative to calmly break the 8-8 deadlock from 20 metres out.
Remarkably, Reynolds later revealed he had never even previously attempted a field goal.
"That was my first ever field goal in footy, not even in juniors I have never kicked one so I am pretty pumped about that," Reynolds said. "When it left my foot I was a bit surprised so I got a bit lucky tonight.
"I thought Trent was going to pot it and he got a bit of pressure and passed it to me. I was ready for it and I just tried to stay as composed as I could, I got a little bit excited because I wanted to kick it. It was a good feeling. But I don't ever think I have even attempted one so there you go."
Bulldogs captain Michael Ennis said it was sastifying to defeat the premiers in such circumstances after last week beating Melbourne in Perth.
Canterbury have also beaten Cronulla, while their two losses have been by narrow margins - 18-12 defeat against Brisbane and 18-16 against Penrith.
"It was pleasing to back last week up," Ennis said. "It is a tough place to win and they are a very good football side so it is nice to accumulate those sort of points at this time of the year."
Second-rower Tony Williams and fullback Sam Perrett were among the Bulldogs best, and a tackle by the latter to cut down Mitch Aubusson on the Bulldogs line was crucial.
"He has really risen to the challenge," Canterbury coach Des Hasler said of Perrett. "He was superb tonight under the high ball and at fullback for us he has been really good. He is a class act."
