Round 2
Bulldogs 47 d. Tigers 12

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Bulldogs
Hazem El Masri [WG] 34 Pts; 4t, 9/10g
Luke Patten [FB] 4 Pts; 1t
Reni Maitua [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
Willie Mason [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
Brent Sherwin [HB] 1 Pts; 1fg

Wests Tigers
Brett Hodgson [FB] 8 Pts; 1t, 2/2g
Daniel Fitzhenry [F8] 4 Pts; 1t



Bulldogs Bare their Teeth
Tue March 21, 2006
The Bulldogs have shown that they are a serious threat for the 2006 NRL premiership with a crushing 47-12 win over the West Tigers at Telstra stadium this evening in front of 32 500 fans.

Hazem El Masri celebrated his tenth anniversary in first grade with a club record 34 points in the match with four tries and nine goals. He was just one of the star performers for the Bulldogs in what can only be described as a comprehensive performance for the 2004 premiers.

The Bulldogs forward pack completely dominated the Tigers in what was at times a fiery encounter. Mark OMeley and Bryce Gibbs had a running battle that saw both have ten minutes in the sin bin but ended with Gibbs being taken from the field suffering from a heavy concussion. Willie Mason had another outstanding game but may have a case to answer for at the judiciary after being put on report for a high tackle on Jamaal Lolesi.

El Masri started the scoring with a penalty goal after four minutes. Mason was then able to barge over the line and skilfully ground the ball in the 14th minute to make the score 6-0. El Masri converted before busting the Tigers goal line defence for one try and getting a second thanks to some great lead up work from Brent Sherwin. He was able to incept a Tigers pass and sprint to the line before passing to put El Masri across the line.

The Tigers started the second half with a renewed vigour with Daniel Fitzhenry plunging over and Brett Hodgson adding the extras and getting his own converted try six minutes later. The score was 24-12 and a comeback looked likely.

However it was not to be as Brent Sherwin potted a field goal to give the Dogs a 13 point advantage and this began another scoring blitz as the Bulldogs put the match beyond doubt. El Masri sealed his points haul with his third and fourth try as well as another three goals to exceed Daryl Halligans record of 28 points in match. Luke Patten dived over in the final two minutes to hammer the final nail into the defending premiers coffin.

In a match that had few positives for the Tigers, Brett Hodgson had another fine match, showing that he is an able captain in place of Scott Prince. But the side clearly missed the attacking genius of Benji Marshall who wont return for at least another three weeks.

The Bulldogs will take plenty of confidence from their performance as they face a tough challenge against the Newcastle Knights at Energy Australia Stadium next Friday night.



El Masri lights up Harmony Weekend
Sat March 18, 2006
Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri scored a club record 34 points as the Bulldogs emerged from a seven-match losing streak to defeat defending premiers Wests Tigers 47-12 in front of a great crowd of 32,587.

It was fitting that El Masri enjoyed his finest performance in the game promoting Harmony Day from the National Rugby League. Celebrated on March 21st, Harmony Day provides an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate the successes as a diverse and harmonious multicultural society as well as re establishing our common values of respect and good will towards Australians of all backgrounds. It also says 'no' to racism. Australia hit an all-time rock bottom as a country last year when anti-Lebanese racism riots happened in Cronulla with enormous damage done.

Rugby League unfortunately has been a sport littered with racism, especially against the Lebanese community from supporters of rival clubs, aspects of the media and even those in management positions wihtin the game. People for too long have been able to hide behind the racism card and Harmony Weekend is an opportunity for people to unite together, both in Rugby League and in society.

El Masri was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, and has for the last 10 years been one of the finest sporting ambassadors on and off the field throughout the Canterbury-Bankstown district. El Masri during the last week celebrated 10 years in the top grade since making his debut against Balmain in 1996 at Parramatta Stadium when he came in as a last minute replacement for the injured Matthew Ryan. El Masri was in and out of first grade in 1996 and 1998 but finally cemented a full-time position in 1999 forcing Gavin Lester back to reserve grade. El Masri's career has only gone forward since he tookover the goal kicking duties from Daryl Halligan for the 2001 season. Critics at the time were gloating that the loss of Halligan will see the Bulldogs struggle but El Masri has more than just followed on from the legacy created by Halligan.

The Bulldogs were woeful against Penrith last weekend and needed to lift to get their season back on track. Whatever was said and done during the week by Steve Folkes must have worked as many of the players who looked washed up came out last night full of fire, passion and desire to do well. The fowards led by Willie Mason won the battle and Mason was well supported by Chris Armit, Tony Grimaldi, Reni Maitua and a pumped up Mark O'Meley.

Wests Tigers had a point to prove to see if they can win without Benji Marshall. The World Club Challenge exposed attacking weaknesses with Marshall unavailable and last night they missed the magic only Marshall can provide.

El Masri landed an early penalty goal with Mason crossing over for the opening try. The Bulldogs putting pressure on the line found Mason on the last tackle who crashed his way over. El Masri converted the try and added a penalty goal for the Bulldogs to lead 10-0. El Masri scored the first of his four tries when he came in field and went through the smallest of holes to surge over. El Masri converted his own try for the Bulldogs to lead 16-0 and added another penalty goal to push that margin out to 18.

On the stroke of halftime Brent Sherwin intercepted a pass from Scott Prince at the scrum base and passed it inside to El Masri who scored his second try and following his conversion, scored 20 points in the first half.

During the first half both Bryce Gibbs and O'Meley spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for fighting.

Wests Tigers came out firing in the second half with Daniel Fitzhenry and Brett Hodgson scoring quick back-to-back tries to all the sudden reduce the margin to 12 points and the momentum swinging in favour of the defending premiers.

Gibbs was knocked out cold when he got his head into the wrong position when trying to tackle O'Meley. The poor technique of Gibbs could see a witch hunt on O'Meley who did nothing except charge the ball up. The NRL are likely to deem O'Meley attacked the head of Gibbs when simply Gibbs ignored basic tackling techniques.

The Bulldogs regained composure and a 35m drop-goal from Sherwin extended the margin out to 13 points with 15 minutes to go. The Bulldogs put on four unanswered tries with El Masri snaring two of them, Maitua scoring one and Luke Patten scoring the final one on the night. El Masri finished with the remarkable haul of 34 points through four tries and nine goals. The previous club record was held by Halligan who had hauls of 28 against Gold Coast in 1998 and Western Suburbs in 1999. El Masri's best was two hauls of 26 against Newcastle in 2001 and South Sydney in 2003.

El Masri's nine goals was two short of his own club record he set in 2003 against South Sydney and his four tries places him alongside names such as Tony Nash, Eddie Burns, Bernie Lowther, Peter Mortimer, Andrew Farrar, Terry Lamb, Ewan McGrady and Matt Utai. The record holders for most tries in a match is five by Edgar Newham against Balmain in 1942 and Nigel Vagana against South Sydney in 2003. El Masri however is the first player to score four or more tries in a match twice, the first time he achieved this was against Hunter Mariners in 1997.

El Masri now has 1,578 points for the Bulldogs, which includes 116 tries and 557 goals. El Masri is within sight of Lamb's club record 123 tries but is still a fair way short of Halligan's 630 goals. El Masri is 200 points ahead of Halligan as the club's leading point scorer and next week will move into equal 5th on the all-time first grade appearances alongside Steve Price with 222 and only behind Steve Mortimer 272, Terry Lamb 261, Steve Folkes 245 and Chris Anderson 232.

The Bulldogs are back but like most sides in the competition they need a good run with injuries as the depth in our lower grades isn't as strong as years gone by. Only the Eels and Roosters have any serious depth whereas the other clubs rely on the top 17-20 players to do the job.

As for the Wests Tigers, coach Tim Sheens won't be hitting any panic buttons but the issue of struggling without Marshall will be the major talking point. However the Tigers did let in seven tries and Marshall isn't in the side for his defensive capabilities.

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