NRL 2026 LIVE: Jenkins scores his sixth double in six games as Panthers strike first in second half

That was a crucial moment, and the Bulldogs let it slip.

Thomas Jenkins puts the ball down thanks to an epic tackle from Enari Tuala, and the Bulldogs have Penrith on the roped.

They spread the ball left, Matt Burton looks threatening, he almost slips through, but his offload for Viliame Kikau hits the deck and is knocked on.

That’s a big missed opportunity for Canterbury with the game in the balance.

Bulldogs 22, Panthers 16 with 24 minutes to go

Just when the Bulldogs needed something, it’s the Lachlan Galvin and Jacob Preston combination that comes up with the play.

Galvin delivers the short ball to Preston, who slips between Blaize Talagi and Isaiah Papali’i to score.

Matt Burton adds two with the kick, and the Bulldogs go ahead by six.

Bulldogs 22, Panthers 16 with 32 minutes to go

Sitili Tupouniua puts the ball down in the Bulldogs first set, and the Panthers make them pay.

And, they make them pay with a sensational try for Thomas Jenkins as he gets his second tonight to make it six doubles in six games.

Just when the play looked dead, it was a beautiful (and perfect) cross-field kick from Nathan Cleary that made it all possible, as a flying Thomas Jenkins beat Marcelo Montoya to the ball to score.

Cleary’s kick hits the upright, and it’s all square at Accor stadium

Panthers 16, Bulldogs 16 with 36 minutes to go

Here we go, the final 40 minutes is under way.

If the Bulldogs can pull this off, it would be a huge win, but you just get the sense the Panthers won’t play anywhere near as badly as they did in that first half.

Bulldogs 16, Panthers 12 with 40 minutes to go

For the first time in 2026, the Panthers are behind at the half-time break.

Impressive stuff from the Bulldogs, who were particularly good in the opening 15 minutes of this match.

The Panthers on the other hand, have been messy. The passes are hitting the deck, and they look choppy rather than the well-oiled machine we’ve seen in the first five weeks of the season.

Canterbury have been good, but it’s hard not to think that Penrith will recover this game somehow.

Half-time: Bulldogs 16, Panthers 12

And this might be where the Bulldogs fall apart.

The Panthers challenge a knock on call, arguing that Marcelo Montoya got a touch to it first, and, the bunker agrees.

Great challenge from Penrith, who set the scrum and get the ball to Dylan Edwards who powers across to score.

Bulldogs 16, Panthers 12 after 31 minutes

Kurt Mann is a lucky man tonight.

He makes heavy contact on Scott Sorensen, and the bunker would like to take a look.

After a closer inspection, they rule there is a little shoulder in there, but it’s more head on head contact...ouch.

Mann is put on report, Penrith get a penalty, and the Panthers are once again on the attack.

Bulldogs 16, Panthers 6 after 29 minutes

Finally, the Panthers are in, and of course, it comes from Thomas Jenkins on the left edge.

That’s Jenkins’ 13th try this season in six games.

The Bulldogs were expecting Nathan Cleary to send a kick cross-field, but he decided to run the ball and shift it out to his lethal left edge.

That might be the spark that ignites their attack tonight, as Cleary adds the two with the conversion.

Bulldogs 16, Panthers 6 after 27 minutes

Has the pressure of the ‘perfect’ start finally gotten to Penrith?

The short ball from Bailey Hayward at hooker to Samuel Hughes proves a masterstroke.

Dylan Edwards steps to the left, and Hughes stretches out to score just next to the posts and extend their lead.

Bulldogs 16, Panthers 0 after 22 minutes