Round 13
Bulldogs 38 d. Knights 22

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

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

El Masri breaks Lamb's try-scoring record
Sat June 3, 2006
Hazem El Masri tonight has become the greatest tryscorer in Canterbury's history and also became just the 11th player to land 600 career goals in a great night for the under-rated winger and the Bulldogs club.

For so long now we've heard tripe from one particular commentator that you can only thrive if you are a big winger or centre but El Masri certainly isn't big and isn't the fastest winger running around. However, he's the smartest winger out there who knows his strengths, the lines on the field and extremely fast between the ears. No player doesn't score 124 tries in 231 games if they can't play and El Masri has proven himself to be one of Rugby League's outstanding performers over the last 11 seasons.

When Daryl Halligan retired at the end of the 2000 season, El Masri was handed the goal kicking duties and the Bulldogs were immediately written off because Halligan consistently turned four into six points. El Masri took time to adjust to a fulltime kicker and by 2002 had established himself alongside Halligan, Matthew Ridge and Jason Taylor as the finest goal kicker of them all.

The Bulldogs were boosted during the week with coach Steve Folkes re-signing for another two years and despite being in his 9th season at the club, it was a great decision as Folkes is one of the premier man-managers in the game and his honest approach to coaching and dealing with players has seen him be a success in the coaching caper. Folkes was a reluctant coach where he had to be pushed into the position by Chris Anderson and since then he hasn't looked back where he allows his footballers to do the talking and keeps his talking to minimum where whenever he speaks he is respected.

Folkes has often criticised referees but he's done it when his teams have won so people take notice and it's not a case of sour grapes. He's rarely kept out of the spotlight except when he called David Gallop as someone who is as "weak as piss", which is a true reflection on Gallop the leader and also the blunt honesty of Folkes. A Bulldogs product, Folkes who played all his Junior Football with the Bankstown Sports club and was graded in 1977. He has since been an outstanding servant for the Bulldogs with 245 first grade games, 308 grade games, 9 State of Origins, 5 Tests and 1 Kangaroo Tour and McLean Reserve next to the Crest has since been named the Steve Folkes Reserve. He played the 1989-90 season with Hull FC and only in 1990 wasn't he at the Bulldogs club where he's been involved as a player, trainer and coach. There's never been a finer and more loyal clubman for any club than Folkes and the Bulldogs made an outstanding decision to keep him as coach.

Both Newcastle and Canterbury had disappointing losses last week. The Dragons clicked into gear in disposing of the Knights 38-12 at EnergyAustralia Stadium and the Bulldogs were absolutely woeful in losing 25-6 against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium. It was a big game for both clubs and they played accordingly with everything being put into this match.

Newcastle opened the scoring when they received an early penalty in good field position with Andrew Johns landing the opening two points.

The Bulldogs struck back when Sonny Bill Williams drew in two defenders to put El Masri over in the corner where he had next to no room to work with. El Masri failed to convert as the Bulldogs led 4-2. The lead was very short lived when Daniel Holdsworth created the next try when he threw the perfect intercept ball for Brian Carney to pounce on and race 60m to score untouched. Johns was unable to convert with Newcastle leading 6-4. The Bulldogs tried to claw their way back into the game with Williams launching a great shoulder charge on the great Newcastle halfback to show that he's ready to take the throne as the dominant player in the game.

Newcastle extended their lead in very controversial fashion. Tony Grimaldi stripped the ball one-on-one only to have it stolen from Danny Buderus when a Knights player was around the legs of Grimaldi. Referee Paul Simpkins, who hails from Kurri Kurri in the Hunter Valley ruled play on and a few tackles later Clint Newton scored following good work from Kirk Reynoldson. Johns converted for the Knights to lead 12-4.

Corey Hughes inspired the Bulldogs comeback with two powerful tries in easily his best performance for the club in his 155 first grade games and the only double he has scored in his career to date. Hughes this week cut out the niggle and ill-discipline from his game and showed that he's a handy player and someone who can earn his niche within the side. Hughes had an outstanding game opposing Danny Buderus and the longer minutes he got in this match made his performance much more effective. Efforts like this will see Hughes constantly earn praise and will in the end benefit the Bulldogs cause throughout the season.

Anthony Quinn leveled the scores right on the halftime break when Newcastle kept the ball alive and caught the Bulldogs defence on the right hand side short with Quinn having a saloon passage to the line. Johns was unable to convert as both sides when into the sheds with the scores level.

The Bulldogs came out the more dominant side in the second half and claimed first points when a blunder from Quinn allowed El Masri to score his second try and equal the record of Lamb for most tries in first grade for the club. El Masri has long held the grade record as Lamb only played one lower grade game in the opening round of the 1986 season. El Masri converted his own try for the Bulldogs to lead 22-16.

Holdsworth redeemed his earlier blunder when he sliced through some tired Knights defence close to the line for the Bulldogs to jump 12 clear at 28-16.

It was perfectly fitting that El Masri entered his name into another Bulldogs record when he was on the spot from a perfectly timed grubber kick from Brent Sherwin. Both players over the years have worked a great understanding where Sherwin has created many opportunities for El Masri. Sherwin has struggled for confidence this season and in the second half produced his most dominant display where he clearly finished with the points over Johns. El Masri timed his run to perfection and Sherwin's kick was right on the money.

Lamb's final season at Canterbury was El Masri's first and both players have been outstanding legends for the Bulldogs and in the community. El Masri was a late beginner in Rugby League where he was into Soccer as a youngster. He played for the Enfield club and his talent was spotted very quickly by Bulldogs management where he was graded in 1995 and made his top grade debut the following season. Lamb grew up on Rugby League playing for the Chester Hill club and spent 13 seasons with the Hornets where he now has the ground name after him. Lamb's talents were originally missed by Peter Moore where he had four productive seasons at Wests but the Magpies financial woes and them originally being kicked out of the Premiership after 1983 saw Lamb link back with Canterbury and the rest has been a glorious history.

Nothing will ever takeaway from Lamb's achievements at Canterbury where he was named Captain of the Bulldogs 70-Year side and was inspirational in leading the Bulldogs to success in 1995 and was an important member through the Warren Ryan Dogs of War era in the mid-1980's. However, records are there to be broken and it couldn't be more fitting to a Bulldogs champion in El Masri who has been a shining light on and off the field for the club over the last 11 seasons. El Masri continues to defy the critics and cliches in proving that he's a prolific footballer and one of the top 2-3 wingers in the game today.

Newcastle trailing 32-16 got back into the match when Quinn pounced on a loose ball to score. Johns added the extras with the Knights had flashbacks of winning through a miracle comeback as Cronulla nearly did two weeks ago.

However, the Bulldogs sealed victory in the final moments when Reni Maitua got on the outside of Matthew Gidley to seal victory and cross for Canterbury's 7th try of the night - not bad for a team that supposedly can't attack.

Canterbury have been criticised all season for not being able to beat a decent side this year, particularly on 2SM but they proved against the Knights that they can match it with anyone in the Premiership with the forwards dominating up the middle and Sherwin finding his old confidence.

Newcastle played well in the opening 40 minutes, however they were out muscled in the forwards and Johns looks like he is carrying an injury where age seems to be catching up to him mid-season. It's a challenging task for Newcastle coach Michael Hagan in how he manages Johns in the coming weeks and gets him primed for the matches that matter. The other 16 players on the field have to lift on the field to take the pressure off Johns and not be an entire one-man outfit.

BULLDOGS RECORDS

Most Games: Steve Mortimer 272, Terry Lamb 261, Steve Folkes 245, Chris Anderson 232, Hazem El Masri 231, Steve Price 222, Eddie Burns 212, Fred Anderson 197, Craig Polla-Mounter 192, Chris Mortimer 191, Peter Mortimer 190, Andrew Farrar 186, Ray Gartner 185, Darren Smith 185.

Most Tries: Hazem El Masri 124, Terry Lamb 123, Chris Anderson 94, Peter Mortimer 79, Steve Mortimer 79, Steve Gearin 63.

Most Points: Hazem El Masri 1686, Daryl Halligan 1490, Terry Lamb 1279, Steve Gearin 1006, Les Johns 545.

Most Goals: Daryl Halligan 630, Hazem El Masri 600, Steve Gearin 405, Terry Lamb 375, Les Johns 233.

Most Tries in a Match: 5 by Edgar Newham vs Balmain, SCG, 1946 and 5 by Nigel Vagana vs Souths, Aussie Stadium, 2002.

Most Points in a Match: 34 by Hazem El Masri vs Wests Tigers, Telstra Stadium, 2006

Most Goals in a Match: 11 by Hazem El Masri vs Souths, Aussie Stadium, 2003

Most Tries in a Season: 23 by Nigel Vagana, 2002

Most Points in a Season: 342 by Hazem El Masri, 2004 (Premiership Record)

Most Goals in a Season: 139 by Hazem El Masri, 2004 (Premiership Record)

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