Overview

• Jethro Rinakama scored on his NRL debut late in the first half to give Canterbury the lead they would maintain.
• Matt Burton and Kurtis Morrin both went off for head-injury assessments in the 59th minute yet returned to help hold off a late Cowboys surge.
• Reed Mahoney and Toby Sexton each played the full 80 minutes as Canterbury sacrificed a playmaker spot for extra forward depth.
• The victory leaves the Bulldogs equal third on 30 competition points alongside the Melbourne Storm and firmly in contention for the minor premiership.
• North Queensland’s loss drops the Cowboys to 17 points with only three wins outside the top eight, putting their finals hopes in jeopardy.