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After a week of criticism and speculation about coach Trent Barrett's position at the head of the club, the Bulldogs just manage to beat the Roosters 16-12.
Earlier, the Warriors beat the Raiders 21-20 to in a scrappy affair, while in Saturday's final game, the Cowboys thumped Parramatta 35-4 in Darwin.
But Canterbury laid claim to the biggest upset of the day with a sorely needed win over the Roosters.
The Bulldogs just barely managed to stave off an eighth straight loss, beating the Roosters for their first victory since round one.
It came after what Canterbury coach Trent Barrett described as "a long week", during which his position came under intense scrutiny after coaching director Phil Gould took over a training session.
"In terms of just getting a win, we needed it badly," Barrett told Fox Sports.
It appeared they may have lost it when Roosters winger Joseph Suaalii was awarded a try out wide for what would have been a game-tying try with three-and-a-half minutes left, but the bunker, while looking for an obstruction, found Suaalii's right foot brushed the sideline before he grounded the ball.
Barrett admitted his side almost "bottled it" late in the game, perhaps unfamiliar with playing as front-runners, but was clearly relieved to break a winless run that dated back to a 6-4 win over the Cowboys in their season opener on March 13.
"We needed it. I didn't care how we got it," Barrett said.
Barrett spent the game down on the sideline, with TV cameras regularly showing Gould high above in the box, and both would have been happy with the way their side started.
Josh Addo-Carr scooted over from dummy half in the 14th minute, then went 85 metres on an athletic intercept after 20 minutes to establish a 10-0 lead.
Suaalii struck back for the Roosters just before half-time, with fullback James Tedesco continuing the momentum just after the break, but the Bulldogs kept their noses in front with a 54th-minute try to Jayden Okunbor.
The Roosters set up a thrilling finish when Kevin Naiqama batted a cross-field kick down for Sitili Tupouniua to score with six minutes left, but the Bulldogs showed fight to hold on for the win, although it could have been a different result if Suaalii wore a smaller boot.
"You never fault their effort," Barrett said.
"I don't like it when the club gets criticised, which we have all week, we have for a while now. You never fault this team's effort. We're in every game.
"I'm just really happy for the players first and foremost. [But] for everyone in the club — the water boys, the backroom staff, the admin — it affects everyone.
"That was a massive win for us."
Cowboys stun Eels in Darwin
North Queensland routed Parramatta 35-4 in Darwin to move above them to third on the NRL ladder.
Three tries in the final five minutes put the icing on North Queensland's six-try night, with winger Kyle Feldt nabbing a hat-trick and the returning Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow playing a pivotal role in his 15-minute return from injury.
The Hammer registered 138 run metres in his cameo off the bench as Tom Dearden grabbed a try after a barnstorming run from Jason Taumalolo in the 77th minute.
Tabuai-Fidow then linked up with the man in his fullback jumper, some interplay with Scott Drinkwater bagging him a try in his fist game since round four.
The favour was returned in the final minute as the Cowboys shifted right from the kick-off and Tabuai-Fidow streaked down the sideline.
Drinkwater then kicked for himself with no-one at home to dive on the loose ball and cap off the best 80 minutes of North Queensland's season.
Feldt bagged his hat-trick early in the second half after crossing twice in the opening stanza as the Cowboys ran riot, in a game in which they had just 36 per cent of the territory.
Shaun Johnson golden-point field goal caps Warriors' second-half comeback
Canberra have lost their fifth straight game, letting another half-time lead slip and eventually losing in extra time against the Warriors.
The Raiders led 20-12 after 40 minutes thanks to tries to Matthew Timoko, Hudson Young and Jack Wighton, but saw it evaporate in sloppy game, with the Warriors just outlasting them.
A 64th-minute Euan Aitken try got the Warriors within striking distance, and Reece Walsh's last-minute penalty levelled the scores, before Shaun Johnson stepped up with a field goal to win the game in golden point.
It is the second time this season that prodigal son Johnson has won a game for the Warriors with his boot, kicking the match-winner in overtime three weeks ago against North Queensland.
But Saturday's win was a huge turnaround from the Warriors' last start, a 70-10 loss to Melbourne.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart will be livid after watching his side give up eight-point leads on three occasions, the last time after interchange forward Corey Horsburgh was placed on report for a contentious high tackle on Matt Lodge in the 80th minute.
Lodge and Canberra prop Joseph Tapine were also reported in a niggly affair, while Raiders front-rower Josh Papalii may also come under scrutiny from the match review committee for an alleged eye gouge on Ben Murdoch-Masila.