The Bulldogs got their bark back on Sunday, a 40-20 NRL win over New Zealand Warriors ending a three-game losing streak and easing pressure on coach Steve Folkes.

In a week in which rumours surfaced of player disharmony and that Folkes and chief executive Malcolm Noad were facing the sack, the Bulldogs responded in the best possible way with a victory that lifts them to 11th and just one win outside the top eight.

Man of the match Sonny Bill Williams played his best game of the year scoring two tries and being a constant menace in attack with four offloads, but the Dogs took their time putting the Warriors away after they were handed a one-man advantage after five minutes.

Referee Sean Hampstead had no hesitation in sending off Warriors winger Michael Crockett for a high tackle on Cameron Phelps which knocked the Bulldog unconscious and he was carried off Mt Smart Stadium on a stretcher.

The Dogs scored three tries in nine minutes late in the game to seal victory, their first after losses to North Queensland (26-16), Cronulla (30-20) and Melbourne (38-14).

"We have all been busting our backsides for a while to win," said a relieved Folkes.

"I have said quite a few times that the three games we have played we have not been too far off the money.

"Tonight we probably played better for longer, so it is a positive step for us."

Gold Coast moved back into the top eight at the expense of Canberra with their 28-8 victory over the Raiders at Carrara Stadium on Sunday.

The Titans led 28-0 at halftime but had the cue in the rack for the second half as the match turned ugly with unspectacular football.

But Titans coach John Cartwright beamed at the fact his side had already beaten many preseason predictions.

"I think a lot of people said at the start we'd be lucky to win five games so it's nice to get six up so early in the season," said Cartwright.

Melbourne reclaimed top spot on the NRL table on Saturday night with their 26-10 win over South Sydney at Olympic Park.

Greg Inglis broke his 2007 NRL tryscoring drought with a spectacular leap and finger-tip catch near fulltime to score as Storm coach Craig Bellamy showed the first signs his five-eighth experiment with the young flyer could be coming to an end.

"It depends on the circumstances and we'll just take each week as it comes and work it out from there," said Bellamy.

North Queensland winger Ty Williams scored two late tries as the Cowboys got out of jail with a 26-24 comeback win over Cronulla in Townsville.

But the Sharks loss won't dampen the NSW Origin prospects of Brett Kimmorley, Paul Gallen and two-try utility Greg Bird.

"I think (Johnathan) Thurston kept us in the game and so did (Matt) Bowen but Kimmorley made it awfully hard," said Cowboys and NSW coach Graham Murray.

"(Kimmorley) did his (NSW) chances no harm."

Newcastle put their tough week in the past with a 22-18 win over Sydney Roosters at Gosford also on Saturday.

On Friday, St George Illawarra kept coach Nathan Brown's job alive for another week with a 11-4 triumph over reigning premier Brisbane who now remain equal last with the Roosters.

Manly suffered just their second loss of 2007 with a 22-16 defeat from Penrith which saw them drop to second below Melbourne on the NRL table.

Five-eighth Travis Burns missed the clash with pneumonia and after four days in hospital is hopeful of being discharged on Monday.

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