Shifted to right centre, Matt Burton grabbed a try-scoring double to help the ninth-placed Bulldogs to a 24-0 halftime lead at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dogs bit back at concerns over their attack with their highest score of the season, halfback Lachlan Galvin setting up two tries and scoring one to seal a comfortable win.
Canterbury's clearest path into finals is to win both their remaining games, hope North Queensland lose one of theirs and then leapfrog the Cowboys on for-and-against.
That scenario relies on the Bulldogs beating premiership heavyweights Penrith next week and the eighth-placed Cowboys losing to either Wests Tigers or Canberra, neither of whom will play finals in 2026.
But for now the Dogs remain a top-eight chance, some 12 weeks since languishing in the bottom four.
The win may have come at a cost as veteran Kurt Mann picked up a groin issue after winger Enari Tuala (knee) dropped out before kick-off.
Back-to-back wins had given the Dragons hope of avoiding a last-placed finish.
But to dodge the wooden spoon from here, they will need to win their last two games, hope Gold Coast lose all three of theirs and rely on a heavy for-and-against swing.
Some Red V blunders helped Canterbury to their big first-half lead.
Bronson Xerri scored an unlikely opener for the Bulldogs, nabbing a Galvin kick on the left edge while his winger Jonathan Sua was in the sin bin for a hip-drop tackle.
In the set after Burton's first try, Jaeman Salmon broke through two defenders and helped the Bulldogs roll up-field, where Jacob Preston crossed.
Burton had his double after a Dan Atkinson pass hit the deck and bounced up for Jacob Kiraz, who found his centre inside.
After halftime, Galvin pushed the margin to 30 points backing Xerri up for a try, before Dragons winger Mat Feagai scored twice while Burton was in the bin for a professional foul.
Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle suffered a suspected calf injury ahead of the Bulldogs' third try and was assisted from the field.
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