Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs

The win was also important because it came heading into a weekend with no NRL, allowing the players to rest up any niggles with the benefit of coming off a win – while the Raiders will be left to stew on their below-par efforts for a fortnight before they get the chance to make amends.

The Belmore outfit held a two-point lead before Brenko Lee was sent to the sin-bin in the 68th minute for a professional foul that would later allow the Wests Tigers to take control and storm home.

Both teams struggled for ideas in attack but the spark from Reynolds was the difference, repeatedly causing the Rabbitohs' flimsy left-edge defence all manner of problems.

The affable Bega product has earned his first-ever run on start after a series of spirited efforts off the bench to start 2017. 

The Bulldogs put in a horrible performance in Round 4, losing 36-0 to the Manly Sea Eagles – making 12 errors and missing 29 tackles in the process. 

It has left Canterbury reeling in 13th position with just one win for the season, but Brisbane are expecting an improved showing when the two meet at ANZ Stadium. 

Injury has cruelled the former Australian winger in recent seasons for his new club with complications from knee surgery restricting the 30-year-old to only 11 games in 2016.

It took nine rounds for the Tricolours to register two wins in 2016, but last year's strugglers have already equalled that mark a fortnight into the new season. 

The halves pairing of Luke Keary and Mitchell Pearce picked up from where they left off on the Gold Coast with the duo playing a part in almost all of their side's five tries. 

There were plenty of positive signs for the Bulldogs who started and finished the game on fire despite being ravaged by injuries throughout the contest.  

 The Bulldogs were criticised at times in 2016 for not being able to create enough points or execute with ball in hand despite their big forward pack generally providing a solid platform.  

The Bulldogs were bundled out of the finals series in week one after finishing the regular season in seventh position with the effectiveness of their halves pairing roundly criticised as they struggled to break opposition defences open.