Injury puts Josh Reynolds' final three games as a Bulldog in doubt as the Burgess twins respond to guide South Sydney to a 28-14 victory over Canterbury at ANZ Stadium.
Is it the end of Josh Reynolds?
In a Bulldogs jersey? The inspirational five-eighth left the field midway through the first half with a calf injury and was seen in the sheds with his hands on his head as the game continued.
It would be a sad way to finish a career at the club with a final home against the Sea Eagles next week.
Reynolds will have scans on the injury and isn't the only concern with departing forward Sam Kasiano leaving the paddock five minutes into the second half.
First half troubles continue for Bulldogs
Canterbury were on track for their seventh scoreless first half this season until a late penalty goal on half-time avoided the unwanted statistic.
The decision to go for two points bemused commentators and fans alike but when the Bulldogs went over immediately after the break it looked to be game on at 14-8.
However as the trend of the season has been for Des Hasler's side, the Bulldogs came up with errors after both scores in the second period to relieve any momentum created.
Johnston tops try-scoring list
Two more tries has taken Alex Johnston to the outright lead on the try-scorers list with Melbourne Storm flyers Suliasi Vunivalu (17) and Josh Addo-Carr (16) now behind him.
It has been a remarkable run of form for the Australian international who has switched between the wing and fullback position in 2017 after the loss of Greg Inglis earlier in the season.
Should he finish on top of the list, it would be the second time in his career after finishing as the leading scorer with 21 tries in the premiership-winning 2014 season.
Dry spell for Hopoate
The same try-scoring heroics of Johnston cannot be said for the Bulldogs No.1 Will Hopoate who is yet to get over the line after 15 games this season.
While the former Sea Eagle is churning out more metres in 2017 than ever before, it is hard to believe he faces the prospect of a nudie run.
Things looked promising with seven minutes to go when Marcelo Montoya sprinted down the touchline and kicked in for Hopoate, but the ball soon went to ground through Matt Frawley to leave the Bulldogs fullback stranded once again.
Burgess twins respond
They copped criticism earlier in the week for being "too big" but the Burgess twins in Tom and George responded with strong performances that wound back the clock.
It was arguably the pair's best games of the season against a Bulldogs forward pack lacking punch.
Tom finished with 139 metres from 11 carries in just 30 minutes, while George also cracked the 100-metre barrier in a 42-minute effort.
