Rugby league hasn't been much fun for the Bulldogs this season - but the smile was back on their faces.

The premiership front-runners maintained sole position at the top of the National Rugby League ladder with a 25-18 win over Brisbane at Telstra Stadium on another dramatic day for the code.

While the Bulldogs were surging over the top of the Broncos to maintain their two-point advantage at the top of the table, the Sydney Roosters kept the pressure on the NRL leaders with a 28-8 win over Canberra at Aussie Stadium in a match overshadowed by captain Brad Fittler's decision to announce he would retire at the end of the season.

There was also celebration across the Tasman as the New Zealand Warriors ended their two-game losing streak with a gripping 20-14 win over Melbourne at Ericsson Stadium.

But most attention was on Homebush Bay where first met second.

The Bulldogs' victory capped off a great week which started with their players being cleared over the Coffs Harbour sex scandal and ended with a try from rampaging back-rower Willie Mason.

"We had a lot of fun," captain Steve Price said.

"I haven't felt that all year. This week was a really good one in the way we prepared, we were pretty relaxed. We were really looking forward to the challenge.

"This afternoon it felt like we really enjoyed ourselves on the football field. That's what rugby league is all about."

At Aussie Stadium, Roosters centre Ryan Cross scored a first half double to help his side to victory over the Raiders.

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