The Bulldogs have been waiting two long years to play semi-final football and they don't plan to hold back when they meet the NZ Warriors next week.

The Dogs secured third spot on the National Rugby League table with an unconvincing 28-14 victory over Cronulla at Toyota Park on Saturday, scoring four tries to three in dour fashion.

But the win was marred by several Bulldogs supporters throwing drink bottles at Cronulla fullback David Peachey after he had scored a 43rd minute try, with referee Steve Clark forced to call security to the in-goal area and several Dogs players having to calm the crowd.

The Bulldogs missed the 2002 finals because of the well-publicised salary cap scandal and are keen to make an impact this time, starting with the NZ Warriors next Saturday at the Sydney Showground.

But they looked rusty, losing to Canberra last week and lacked ball control against a committed Sharks outfit led superbly by captain Brett Kimmorley, who did his best to impress Kangaroo selectors with a dominant display.

"I sort of expected a game like that," said Dogs fullback Luke Patten, who scored the opening try and pulled off a superb cover tackle to deny speedster Matthew Rieck a four-pointer before halftime.

"They had nothing to lose and they threw it around a fair bit. The last couple of weeks, even though we're trying to take it one game at a time I think we've been thinking of the semis."

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