NRL: Bulldogs sink Dragons with late burst

Sam Kasiano of the Bulldogs is celebrates scoring during his side's late run against the Dragons. Photo / Getty Images

Canterbury survived some Josh Dugan magic to maintain their charge towards the NRL finals with a 39-20 come from behind win over St George Illawarra on Monday night.

Trailing by 12 points with half an hour remaining, the Bulldogs scored five unanswered tries - including a double to man mountain Sam Kasiano - to solidify fifth spot on the ladder.

For much of the night it looked like being the Josh Dugan show after the recently re-signed Dragons fullback scored a first half double and set-up another for Jason Nightingale during a withering burst by the home side.

Four straight tries gave the Dragons a 48th minute 20-8 lead, but when they botched a kick-off for the second time in the game, the momentum shifted violently in the Bulldogs' favour.

The much-maligned Tony Williams did what 'Dogs fans have been asking him to do all year when he rumbled over off a short Trent Hodkinson pass to start the rot, the halfback again the orchestrator when Kasiano locked it up just after the hour mark.

Two minutes later the Bulldogs were in the lead when Tim Lafai sliced through to set up Josh Morris before Kasiano and Williams secured their doubles to complete the ambush.

It looked like being a comfortable night at the office when the Bulldogs scored two tries in the opening 12 minutes, before the Dragons turned to Dugan - who on Friday agreed to terms for another four years in the 'red v'.

With little else working for the home side, Dugan scored two brilliant individual tries, the first with two big right foot steps before a chip and chase on the stroke of halftime to give his side an unlikely lead.

He played the crucial role in Nightingale's try just after the restart and when Sam Perrett's missed intercept attempt gifted Daniel Vidot a four-pointer, the home side appeared in control.

"We probably let ourselves down a little bit ... I think they had six penalties in a row which made it really difficult," Canterbury coach Des Hasler said of his side's mid-game slump.

"It was difficult for us to build momentum and then when we were down their end a couple of times we squandered a couple of opportunities.

"Once we got a bit of footy in the second half we were able to get on a bit of a roll."

Dragons coach Steve Price was furious with his side, defeat ending whatever slim chance they had of making the top eight.

"20-8 up, we started to play like a footy team that was behind and that was the most frustrating thing," Price said.

"We started to throw balls out of our arse as opposed to playing field position, kicking long.

"We didn't play with any smarts at all."

- AAP