They dethroned the reigning premiers, but Canterbury concede they will have to be much better than they were in beating Manly on Friday night if they are to fulfil their NRL premiership ambitions.

As tough, gruelling and tight as the 16-10 win over the Sea Eagles was, the Bulldogs performance was one riddled with errors – most of which went largely unpunished.

They dropped the ball with their first two touches, while two forward passes within their own half were part of a combined 11 errors for the match.

“It was very scrappy and we were lucky to get away with it,” said centre Josh Morris – one of the Bulldogs’ best.

“We’ll take it, but we know we’ve got a lot more to work on.”

They have two weeks to get it right after securing themselves a week off, and preliminary final berth likely to be held at their home ground, ANZ Stadium.

Coach Des Hasler said he wouldn’t change too much about his side’s preparation, but with Morris and Ben Barba both attending post-match interviews with ice strapped to various body parts, it’s clear the week off will be warmly welcomed.

Morris played a leading role in two of his sides’s three tries, both long range efforts for which the Bulldogs have become known for as he set up Jonathan Wright for the opener and then Barba early in the second half.

“It was a bit strange, I just kept running and all of a sudden found myself in the back field,” Morris said of Wright’s try, when Dean Whare showed the NSW Origin star a path down the sideline.

“It was good to get myself out in open space.

“Looking to my right and seeing Benny (for the second try-assist) – there’s no greater sight because you know that most times he’s going to get there.”

Barba said the Bulldogs remained confident in the lead-up to the game – even when the Sea Eagles were installed as premiership favourites despite Canterbury clinching the minor premiership.

“We never doubted ourselves – we knew they were going to be a tough match,” Barba said.

“Fair enough, we’re minor premiers, but when you’re travelling on a streak of seven straight (as Manly were) and you’re the reigning premiers, it’s hard not to talk them up.

“But we just focused on our job and got through the week as we did every other week.”