As it happened: Bulldogs hold off Panthers to lock up top-four finish

Full-time: In front of 23,597 fans the Bulldogs have secured a top-four finish and a double shot in the finals. The Bulldogs had 11 players who ran for more than 100 metres led by Connor Tracey (192m), Jacob Kiraz (183m), Max King (182m) and Jacob Preston (162m and 10 tackle breaks).

80 min: Matt Burton launches a monster field goal attempt from 42 metres out but the ball drops under the crossbar and we finish at 28-4.

79 min: Sitili Tupounia dies with the ball on the last tackle as the Bulldogs' attack continues to splutter against a gutsy Panthers outfit. 

74 min: Sione Fonua is ruled out after failing a head injury assessment. With two players ruled out due to concussion the Panthers activate their 18th man, 19-year-old Jaxen Edgar who makes his NRL debut.

70 min: Jacob Kiraz lands awkwardly on his left ankle after catching a high ball and is assisted from the field.

68 min: Jacob Preston takes the ball 30 metres out and strolls through some soft defence before stepping around Daine Laurie to race away and complete his first career hat-trick. Matt Burton adds the extras. Bulldogs 28-4.

67 min: Brad Schneider goes to the air, Marcelo Montoya spills it, the ball lands in the lap of Daine Laurie who scores but replays show Paul Alamoti had touched the ball in the contest and the bunker rules the try out.

66 min: Another Bulldogs error, this time from Jacob Kiraz, as completion rates drop for both teams.

65 min: Austin Dias comes up with a cold drop to hand the Bulldogs field position again.

63 min: Lachlan Galvin goes to the line and throws a tough pass to Sam Hughes who puts it down.

58 min: Daine Laurie continues his superb night with a brilliant cut-out pass to put Paul Alamoti over in the corner for the Panthers' opening try. Alamoti fails to convert his own try. Bulldogs 22-4.

55 min: Matt Burton takes the ball 15 metres out and leaves Brad Schneider in his wake to stroll in for another Bulldogs try. Stephen Crichton converts. Bulldogs 22-0.

53 min: The Panthers move the ball to the left edge with slick hands but Jesse McLean is well contained by Connor Tracey and Stephen Crichton.

52 min: Kurt Mann goes to the line and throws a pass which is intercepted by Billy Phillips.

48 min: Jacob Preston becomes the Bulldogs' leading tryscorer for the season as he surges into a hole between Jack Cole and David Fale and dots down for his 10th try of the season. Matt Burton converts. Bulldogs 16-0.

47 min: Panthers hooker Soni Luke leaves the field for a HIA after copping a head knock trying to make a tackle. He passes the assessment and is able to return to the game.

45 min: A loose offload by Jesse McLean puts the Panthers under the pump but they hang on for another set when Daine Laurie bats a Stephen Crichton grubber dead.

Half-time: The Bulldogs have dominated possession 60 per cent to 40 per cent and completed 20 of 22 sets at 90 per cent but couldn't quite click in attack despite playing against 12 men for 10 minutes. Jacob Kiraz racked up 103 run metres while Stephen Crichton had five tackle breaks. Daine Laurie was strong for the Panthers with several crucial tackles and a couple of incisive runs.

39 min: Matt Burton is penalised for a high tackle on Daine Laurie and the Panthers get a late shot at points but the Bulldogs hold firm.

37 min: Kurt Mann leaves the field for a HIA just moments after going on report for a shoulder charge on Jesse McLean. The Bulldogs No.14 passes his HIA.

34 min: A loose pass from Lachlan Galvin finds Stephen Crichton who evades Jesse McLean before sending a pass back inside to Connor Tracey who finds Jacob Preston for the Dogs' second try. Matt Burton bangs over the conversion. Bulldogs 10-0.

31 min: The Panthers are penalised for a crusher tackle on Stephen Crichton but the Bulldogs again fail to find a way through and the Panthers hang on despite only having 41 per cent of possession.

29 min: Connor Tracey gets over the line but Daine Laurie does a sensational job to turn him on his back and prevent him from getting it down.

29 min: Sitili Tupouniua powers onto a pass and goes close to scoring but the Panthers do well to hold him up. Luke Sommerton cops a stray boot in attempting to stop Tupouniua and is sent for a HIA. Sommerton is assessed as a Category 1 head knock and won't return.

24 min: A poor flick pass by Connor Tracey lands at the feet of Jacob Kiraz who knocks it on.

23 min: Zac Lipowicz is placed on report and sent to the bin for a hip drop tackle on Matt Burton.

22 min: Brad Schneider puts his kick out on the full and hands the Bulldogs possession on halfway.

17 min: The Bulldogs strike first when Josh Curran breaks the line from 45 metres out and finds Lachlan Galvin in support, the halfback racing away to plant the ball down in the left corner. Stephen Crichton fails to convert. Bulldogs 4-0.

13 min: A clever grubber from Matt Burton forces a line dropout and the Panthers are penalised for an incorrect restart when David Fale touches the ball before it goes 10 metres.

10 min: Brad Schneider goes across field and tries to lob a pass to his outside men but Bronson Xerri comes up with an intercept.

8 min: A great run by Daine Laurie gets him to within a metre of the line before Luke Sommerton grubbers into the in goal and earns the Panthers a repeat set.

6 min: Stephen Crichton runs the ball on last tackle and the Panthers hold firm and then come away with a penalty after Sam Hughes is nabbed for a dangerous tackle.

4 min: The Panthers squander their opportunity when Luke Sommerton is pinged for a 'roll ball' in the play the ball.

3 min: A sloppy second set from the Bulldogs with Bailey Hayward throwing a poor pass out of dummy half which Jacob Preston knocks on.

Late Mail

Bulldogs: The Bulldogs will line up 1-17 as named. Viliame Kikau has been ruled out after being sent to hospital with a skin infection, with Josh Curran coming into the starting side. Daniel Suluka-Fifita comes into the team after Harry Hayes suffered a hamstring injury. Enari Tuala is the 18th man.

Panthers: The premiers are 1-17 with no late changes on game day. r the Panthers, with Ivan Cleary opting to rest 16 players for Thursday's match. Back-rower Zac Lipowicz, centres Sione Fonua and David Fale and bench forward Billy Phillips make their NRL debuts. Riley Price, the son of former Bulldogs legend Steve Price, will play his first game for Penrith, while Jack Cole and Brad Schneider will combine in the halves. Jaxen Edgar is the 18th man.

Numbers Game

• The Bulldogs have not defeated the Panthers at Accor Stadium since 2018.
• The Panthers have won their last eight games against the Bulldogs.
• The Bulldogs have won seven from nine at Accor Stadium in 2025.
• Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz has scored five tries in his last six games.