Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Triumph in Jersey Flegg Cup Final Against Cronulla Sharks

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs secured a narrow victory over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the Jersey Flegg Cup Grand Final, emerging with a 14-12 win at CommBank Stadium. The Bulldogs, coached by former NRL captain Josh Jackson, claimed their 11th under-21s title and became the first team since the Penrith Panthers in 2006-07 to win consecutive championships.

Josh Jackson, in his inaugural year as head coach, expressed his pride in the team’s performance, particularly their resilience in the final minutes. “The resilience they showed on the try-line there to keep turning them away was outstanding,” Jackson told nswrl.com.au, highlighting the performance of Jack Underhill, the prop who received the Player of the Match award.

The game started intensely with both sides showing strong defense, but the Bulldogs capitalized on an early opportunity when Siteni Taukamo of the Sharks was sin-binned for a high tackle on Jonathan Sua. This allowed Canterbury to strike first with William Afualo crossing the try line, followed by another try from Cassius Tia after a 40/20 kick, leaving the Bulldogs with a 14-0 lead at halftime.

Cronulla mounted a spirited comeback in the second half, spearheaded by Taj Ford, who was instrumental in narrowing the score. Ford’s individual efforts set up two crucial tries, the last of which saw Kristian Dixon score, reducing the deficit to two points. Despite sustained pressure and multiple scoring opportunities, the Sharks were unable to overcome the Bulldogs’ defense.

Sharks coach Andrew Dallalana commended his team’s fighting spirit despite the loss, acknowledging the Bulldogs’ ability to maintain pressure during critical moments. “It’s a credit to the Bulldogs the way they stuck at it,” he remarked, noting the Sharks’ challenging path to the final which included three sudden-death matches.

Assisting Jackson were football luminaries Josh Reynolds and Mark O'Meley, both contributing to the team’s strategic efforts throughout the season. Jackson also praised the extended Bulldogs squad, who, although did not play, contributed significantly through morale and support.