The Bulldogs have beaten a woeful Knights side 24-10 on the back of a superb hat-trick to Jacob Kiraz and the brilliant combination of Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr.

A hat-trick to Kiraz set up the win with Addo-Carr and Burton on fire with two try assists each.

The Bulldogs got off to a flyer with Josh Addo-Carr denied a try for a forward pass, before Braidon Burns set up Kiraz in the other corner with some brilliant hands.

Addo-Carr produced a brilliant cross-field kick as Kiraz finished off a superb team try to grab a double.

Simi Sasagi set up Enari Tuala, who strolled over to get the Knights back in the contest.

Burton produced a brilliant cross-field kick for Addo-Carr, who put the ball on a platter for Aaron Schoupp to dive over for the Bulldogs’ third try of the afternoon.

Phoenix Crossland was penalised for a lifting tackle on Jake Averillo, allowing Burton to extend the lead to 18-4 at halftime.

Kiraz came up with a brilliant finish to score his hat-trick just after halftime to put the Bulldogs well in control.

Dominic Young scored to give the Knights a sniff of a comeback, but it was too little too late.

Here are the key takeaways from the match.

KIRAZ STUNS WITH BRILLIANT HAT-TRICK

Jacob Kiraz announced himself as a star of the future with a brilliant hat-trick to lead the Bulldogs to their fourth win in six games.

Kiraz, a former Knight who asked for a release in the pre-season to Canterbury-Bankstown after struggling for game time, scored a double in three minutes in the first half after some enterprising play from the Bulldogs.

Corey Parker and Greg Alexander lauded the Bulldogs’ skilful play and Kiraz’ brilliant finishing in a superb day out for the visitors.

“Kiraz got a first half double,” Parker said.

“Wonderful hands from Braidon Burns for his first.”

“It has been very enjoyable to watch from the Bulldogs,” Alexander said.

“All their tries have had moments of brilliance.

“The Braidon Burns flick pass for Kiraz’s first try. The Addo-Carr kick. Matt Burton’s kick.

“They have been good to watch and every set there is something happening with the Bulldogs, whether it is an offload, a shift of the ball, a clever kick, pass or hard run, they have been entertaining.”

Kiraz’ third try saw him dive outside the field of play to dot down with inches to spare in a scintillating finish.

“Kiraz hat-trick I think he got there,” Brenton Speed said.

“Airborne hovering above the sideline and putting it down one-handed to complete a hat-trick to savour for the 20-year-old.

“He has doubled his try tally in the space of 46 minutes. Jacob Kiraz from three tries to six.”

Alexander marvelled at Kiraz’s special finish, which capped off a superb show of skill from the Bulldogs winger and his inside man.

“Wow, that is good,” Alexander said.

“Fantastic stuff and the skill level from Braidon Burns and Jacob Kiraz.

“They haven’t played too many games together, but Kiraz knows what Burns is about and is ready for anything.

“That pick-up off his toes to keep the play going.”

Kiraz finished with 214 run metres, seven tackle busts, three offloads, three linebreaks and three tries in a day out for the youngster.

BURTON AND FOXX COMBINATION ON FIRE FOR GREAT ENTERTAINERS

The Bulldogs’ season renaissance continued on the back of the brilliant partnership of Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr.

The two combined on several occasions as the Bulldogs continued to entertain with some scintillating rugby league.

Corey Parker lauded the brilliance of Burton and Addo-Carr in setting up the win.

“The kick form Burton was allowed to bounce and Josh Jackson kept the ball alive to Addo-Carr, who came up with a superb little kick across field for Kiraz to get his double,” Parker said after one of the tries of the year.

“The kicking game of Burton was superb with a kick-pass to his one and only on the left-hand side, Addo-Carr.

“He passed back inside to Aaron Schoupp.

“Burton is just finding his role and the Bulldogs as a team are finding their role.

“You are excited for every set with the Bulldogs because you just don’t know what is going to come, whether it is a kick or offload and their ability to get second phase play and create instability in the defensive line.”

Cooper Cronk was full of praise for the Bulldogs’ new found spark in attack led by Burton and Addo-Carr.

“It was a dominant first half from the Bulldogs,” Cronk said.

“They dominated field position and possession.

“The Bulldogs’ three tries were so entertaining.

“Addo-Carr and Matt Burton had two try assists each. They have just been on fire.”

Braith Anasta believes the Bulldogs are playing like some of the best teams in the club’s history in attack and Burton and Addo-Carr are driving the standards for the rest of the team.

“You talk about the entertainers and people have been talking about the Bulldogs and reliving yesteryear,” Anasta said.

“They have won four out of their last six games, but it is the way they are winning and the way they are playing.

“A lot of it is off the back of Burton and his relationship with Addo-Carr.

“It has been special and again today they have been enormous.”

Cronk believes the Bulldogs are one of the most entertaining teams in the NRL as they continued their rise up the ladder.

“It is must watch footy whenever the Bulldogs play,” Cronk said.

“The kicking game of Burton. He has done it a couple of times.

“He arrived in Origin II and really lit up the competition with that left boot.

“The back three of the Newcastle Knights were under pressure all game and honestly the rest of the competition are.

“Every time Matt Burton plays for the Bulldogs he comes up with plays.

“The connection he has with his main man Addo-Carr is superb.

“Addo-Carr is normally a try-scorer and he set up two tries.

“Matt Burton is just pinpoint. He has long kicks and short kicks and he is very accurate.”

KNIGHTS CARNAGE AFTER EIGHTH LOSS IN NINE HOME GAMES

The Knights are in the midst of a horror form slump at home with their loss to the Bulldogs their eighth in their last nine games at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Greg Alexander warned there would be carnage if the Bulldogs ran away with it in front of the Newcastle crowd after such a horror year.

“It has been a tough year for Adam O’Brien in the box,” Alexander said.

“Particularly at McDonald Jones Stadium.

“If the Bulldogs go on to win this big I think there will be carnage up here in Newcastle.”

The Knights continued their woeful defensive record, which is the worst in the NRL in 2022.

“One win in the last eight home games,” Brenton Speed added.

“Their defensive record is the worst in the competition at 27.7 points per game conceded.”

On the other side of the ball Newcastle were nbot much better with Alexander and Cronk blasting the Knights’ woeful attack, after they failed to score despite a mountain of second half possession.

“There is not much to be said for the Knights attack despite the amount of football they had in good field position,” Alexander said.

“They really haven’t looked like scoring.”

“Newcastle had 37 tackles in the 20 metre zone trying to score points,” Cronk said.

“The Knights looked pretty ordinary in attack.”

MATCH PREVIEW

All eyes will be on Matt Burton and Dane Gagai as the Knights host the Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.

It will be the first time the pair come up against each other since their fiery biff in the Origin decider.

While both the Knights and Bulldogs are out of finals contention, they still have plenty to play for.

The Knights made a late change with Jake Clifford replacing Adam Clune at halfback.

The Bulldogs have finally found their mojo under interim coach Mick Potter and win would see them drift two points away from the Warriors and Knights — and even further away from the dreaded wooden spoon.

On the other side of the coin, the Knights are desperate to end a dire run where they’ve only won one of their last five games.

But if the Knights are to escape with the win they’ll have to do it without star fullback Kalyn Ponga, who is sidelined indefinitely due to a head knock.

Tex Hoy replaces him in the No.1 jersey in just one of the few changes to the backline. Dominic Young’s return from a rib injury was confirmed when the squad was trimmed 24 hours out from kick-off, while Edrick Lee was scratched with Simi Sasagi replacing him on the wing.

There’s been changes up front too with Lachlan Fitzgibbon out this week due to a shoulder injury. He’s replaced by Brodie Jones in the run-on side with Mat Croker joining the bench.

For the Bulldogs, fullback Jake Averillo returns from Covid-19, forcing Declan Casey to the reserves.

Meanwhile, Tevita Pangai Junior was promoted to the start pack to replace the suspended Corey Waddell, Josh Jackson moves to lock with Raymond Faitala-Mariner out and Jackson Topine receives a well-deserved call up on an edge.

The Dogs will also debut up and coming second-rower Harrison Edwards off the bench.