For the Bulldogs, it was relief.

For Parramatta, it was plain embarrassing.

After being forced to deal with an allegation of gang rape for the past three weeks, the Bulldogs opened their NRL season with a 48-14 thrashing of a hapless Eels outfit at a sandy Telstra Stadium.

The game was over by halftime when the 'Dogs had streaked to a 36-0 lead following converted tries to former Eel Willie Tonga (12m), Braith Anasta (18m), Luke Patten (20m), Johnathan Thurston (24m), Sonny Bill Williams (32m) and Roy Asotasi (37m).

Hazem El Masri displayed his usual sharpness with the boot, converting all eight tries scored by his embattled team in front of 42,717 people.

Gun centre Williams was the star of the show - the 18-year-old made several telling busts in the first half and scored a try himself off a superb Brent Sherwin pass.

Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes said he was pleased with the efforts of three players making their first grade debut for the club - Tonga, Williams and Hutch Maiava, who scored a late try.

Parramatta's policy of recruiting big forwards in the off-season has not paid dividends judging by their woeful performance.

And Folkes said talk that the Eels had a monster pack was "a myth".

"I wouldn't imagine their run-on pack would've been any heavier than ours," said Folkes.

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