Dragons 30 Bulldogs 0

WHO needs Sonny Bill Williams when you've got Josh Morris? OK, the Bulldogs don't have him yet, but they will.

St George Illawarra winger Morris, one of the Bulldogs' marquee signings for next year, scored a first-half hat-trick to compound Canterbury's woes following the weekend departure of Williams to France, but at the same time give them a glimmer of hope. In weeks like this, you have to look to the future, and Morris is that.

No doubt Morris was looking forward to playing outside Williams and, playing on the right side, would no doubt have plucked a flick or two from the second-rower. On last night's form, he would have finished them off with ease.

In front of 7802 people, one of the lowest crowds of the season in one of the lowest weeks for the game in some time, Morris scored his three tries - to record his first hat-trick in the NRL - in just 26 minutes to end the contest well before the half-time break.

Morris's first came after just five minutes; Bulldogs winger Heka Nanai lost possession under pressure from France-bound Mark Gasnier, and Morris followed through. After 12 minutes he beat Daniel Holdsworth for pace and then powered over fullback Brent Crisp for a try that was, in truth, as much prop Jason Ryles's as it was Slippery's son. Ryles's charge and offload on the previous play was superb.

Matt Cooper spoiled the fun when he scored after 20 minutes, but Morris was far from finished, leaping above Nanai from Hornby's kick to score his third.

The result was largely predictable. You don't need to be Einstein to work out the Bulldogs will struggle without Williams. You don't even need to be a dumb front-rower. They lacked everything Williams brings: power, pace and punch. But out with the old, in with the new. Ben Barba, the Bulldogs' next big thing, even at just 175cm and 83kg, made his debut, even though by the time he entered proceedings his side was 20-0 down. And sure enough, his first big play was a missed tackle, on Brett Morris. Josh's twin scored after 32 minutes to put the game out of the Dogs' reach by half-time, 26-0. But he'll be back.

Former Bulldogs great Terry Lamb, who flew to Brisbane to scout Barba before he signed and continued his association by presenting him with his jersey before kick-off, said: "He's the most talented player I've seen play football. Steve Mortimer and Ewan McGrady were natural footballers. He's a natural footballer." And what did he tell Barba? "Very simple," Lamb said. "Congratulations, and be very proud to wear a Canterbury jersey."

To add to the Bulldogs' woes, they lost centre Tim Winitana after just five minutes to a suspected cracked rib. And they may be without John Kite, who was placed on report with seven minutes remaining after appearing to strike Simon Woolford with his boot.

Woolford's reaction - appearing to drop his knees - may also be studied closely by the match review committee, even if it was not reported.

It was a bad night for the Bulldogs, but they remain upbeat. Even though there's no Sonny Bill, there's Mozzy Bill. That's what Brad Morrin was calling himself before kick-off, after being called into the side following Williams's departure. He was promising flick-passes and big hits. As the result proved, there is only one Williams.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 30 (J Morris 3 M Cooper B Morris J Soward tries J Soward 3 goals) bt BULLDOGS 0 at ANZ Stadium. Referee: S Hampstead. Crowd: 7,802.