Bulldogs Debate Page
- Thread starter Dman2025
- Start date
If you told me at the start of the year.
Hughes wouldn't play any of the first 5 games.
Kiraz would only play 1,
Kiks and Burto would only play 2.
I wouldn’t have expected 5 out of 5.
I did expect our depth to be better this season
First 10 rounds are some of the harder to win games outside of the semis. Teams are closer to full strength and every team has something to play for.
By the time we really need to use our depth, most other sides will need to use theirs. I would back our depth against all but the Storm and Broncos.
Hughes wouldn't play any of the first 5 games.
Kiraz would only play 1,
Kiks and Burto would only play 2.
I wouldn’t have expected 5 out of 5.
I did expect our depth to be better this season
First 10 rounds are some of the harder to win games outside of the semis. Teams are closer to full strength and every team has something to play for.
By the time we really need to use our depth, most other sides will need to use theirs. I would back our depth against all but the Storm and Broncos.
LFC
Vice Captain
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2024
- Replies
- 1,840
got to be nose bleed territory thats for sure lol......time will tell.
Best to enjoy it while it lasts.
Last season and the start of this season definitely a step forward.
But Storm and Broncos are probably the favourites, Sharks, Raiders and Warriors look good to me.
A few other teams could surprise, still early days, but I don't expect us to collapse in a heap. Teams will need to play well to beat us.
Looking ahead we are at least 50-50 against the Rabbits and the Broncos are a much tougher proposition.
We are going to lose a game sooner or later.
I can remember Dogs teams stretching back to 1973.
This is definitely the best drilled team I've seen, not the most talented. The most talented was 2002-2004.
1880-1996 a mixture of fitness, teamwork, skill and desire with enough talent, but not this drilled.
2002-2004 mostly talent and players like Shifty Sherwin steering the ship. Not always disciplined and methodical.
This is definitely the best drilled team I've seen, not the most talented. The most talented was 2002-2004.
1880-1996 a mixture of fitness, teamwork, skill and desire with enough talent, but not this drilled.
2002-2004 mostly talent and players like Shifty Sherwin steering the ship. Not always disciplined and methodical.
Yes I thought about the Panthers after I posted, not writing them off.
Bunnies I'll judge after we play them. Not underestimating Bennett he can make a lot of difference.
I was bullish on Manly, but recent injuries have dented my enthusiasm.
Paseka is a big loss, not sure when he is coming back.
Turbo hasn't so far been as robust as I had hoped.
Ben Turbo is IMO as much improved player, had a slow start to NRL but now solid and looking like more of a treat in attack.
I also don't know if there is a drama with DCE that will drag on Manly. I know that they didn't need the circus.
LFC
Vice Captain
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2024
- Replies
- 1,840
yer panthers will climb back, probably the rocket up the arse's they've needed.
Clearly will ride them on his back as he can as long as he keeps fit.
Bunnies will be hot and cold as in the recent past I feel, ol Ben isn't like he used to be after all the years of top players under his wing.
Dolphins have lost 4 and lets face it, it was his DNA there and I doubt they'll make the finals.
I could be completely wrong.
Hey you guys exceeded the cap back then I recall re 02 or abouts.
I tend to think the Entertainers days was pretty impressive compared to the latter.
Were typical Manly, seems circus comes to town many a times, show so much promise then implodes self inflicted.
The great days of Arko running a ship is nothing like the modern times despite some epic seasons.
Turbo needs a leading pack and with Paseka hurt - ruptured achilles he won't be back till way way end of season IF they risk him and too late.
I have never been happy having Seibold.
Seems alot of backroom unease re DCE and I'm not surprised, he's either got to stand up lead and recover for the acolades he does deserve or will be stained forever good and not.
Clearly will ride them on his back as he can as long as he keeps fit.
Bunnies will be hot and cold as in the recent past I feel, ol Ben isn't like he used to be after all the years of top players under his wing.
Dolphins have lost 4 and lets face it, it was his DNA there and I doubt they'll make the finals.
I could be completely wrong.
Hey you guys exceeded the cap back then I recall re 02 or abouts.
I tend to think the Entertainers days was pretty impressive compared to the latter.
Were typical Manly, seems circus comes to town many a times, show so much promise then implodes self inflicted.
The great days of Arko running a ship is nothing like the modern times despite some epic seasons.
Turbo needs a leading pack and with Paseka hurt - ruptured achilles he won't be back till way way end of season IF they risk him and too late.
I have never been happy having Seibold.
Seems alot of backroom unease re DCE and I'm not surprised, he's either got to stand up lead and recover for the acolades he does deserve or will be stained forever good and not.
Yeah the Dogs exceeded the cap in 2002, but if people look at the official squad it was fairly ordinary.
We had a lot of locally developed talent coming though.
I went and watched the Flegg side around 2000 a relatively unknown guy called Thurston was playing. Believe it or not, there was a lot of hype about another player and that guy never played NRL.
Dogs management was a shambles 1998-2018, salary cap was just one of our problems.
Guys like Mason, Asotasi, SBW, Sherwin, El Masri, Thurston, Steve Price, Utai, Jamie Feeney, and a few others were locally developed.
In spite of poor management, some aspects of club culture, player scouting and development hang on for a while. But the salary cap scandal was the beginning of the end.
As good as they were, we didn't really need to sign guys like Andrew Ryan, Braith Anasta etc...
A fewer years later in 2009 all of the good players were gone and the side was shambles....
Player culture, fitness and standards were all gone,
A few years later Des and Crusher killed off what remained of scouting and development.
2012 was a brief false dawn with a pretty well assembled side that went backwards.
Last season 2024 was the first time I thought that we were headed in the right direction and had the right coach and management since 1995.
We paid a high price for poor management, the 2004 premiership was more of a relief than a celebration. I'm celebrating the next one.
The team now is more like a real Dogs team 1973-1995. Flashy stars are not normally how we roll.
Rebuild for 2019 was a bit like the initial build in the 1970s. We have made great progress over the last 5 years. Rising up again is vindication and reward for hanging in during the tough times.
We had a lot of locally developed talent coming though.
I went and watched the Flegg side around 2000 a relatively unknown guy called Thurston was playing. Believe it or not, there was a lot of hype about another player and that guy never played NRL.
Dogs management was a shambles 1998-2018, salary cap was just one of our problems.
Guys like Mason, Asotasi, SBW, Sherwin, El Masri, Thurston, Steve Price, Utai, Jamie Feeney, and a few others were locally developed.
In spite of poor management, some aspects of club culture, player scouting and development hang on for a while. But the salary cap scandal was the beginning of the end.
As good as they were, we didn't really need to sign guys like Andrew Ryan, Braith Anasta etc...
A fewer years later in 2009 all of the good players were gone and the side was shambles....
Player culture, fitness and standards were all gone,
A few years later Des and Crusher killed off what remained of scouting and development.
2012 was a brief false dawn with a pretty well assembled side that went backwards.
Last season 2024 was the first time I thought that we were headed in the right direction and had the right coach and management since 1995.
We paid a high price for poor management, the 2004 premiership was more of a relief than a celebration. I'm celebrating the next one.
The team now is more like a real Dogs team 1973-1995. Flashy stars are not normally how we roll.
Rebuild for 2019 was a bit like the initial build in the 1970s. We have made great progress over the last 5 years. Rising up again is vindication and reward for hanging in during the tough times.
Last edited:
I thought that the Fins were pretty impressive both in attack and defence.
Penrith much improved Cleay's kicking at the start of the game was 10/10.
Not prepared to write the Panthers off yet, but a loss to the Roosters will be close to terminal.
For the Roosters against the Broncos, I think Hugo at halfback will be a big upgrade on Townsend.
Roosters might be able to muster the effort in attack and defence to trouble the Broncos.
If the Roosters lose to the Broncos and Panthers, that is more or less the end of them.
In spite of the slow start, Fins might finish top 4, Fleggler might be back, i hope he comes back in great shape, but misses the games against us,
Penrith much improved Cleay's kicking at the start of the game was 10/10.
Not prepared to write the Panthers off yet, but a loss to the Roosters will be close to terminal.
For the Roosters against the Broncos, I think Hugo at halfback will be a big upgrade on Townsend.
Roosters might be able to muster the effort in attack and defence to trouble the Broncos.
If the Roosters lose to the Broncos and Panthers, that is more or less the end of them.
In spite of the slow start, Fins might finish top 4, Fleggler might be back, i hope he comes back in great shape, but misses the games against us,
I am more confident that we can beat the Broncos now.
That game more or less played out as I expected, except the Roosters half Smith kept making dumb mistakes, including the intercept he threw for Cobbo.
Broncos made enough errors to even it up.
That game more or less played out as I expected, except the Roosters half Smith kept making dumb mistakes, including the intercept he threw for Cobbo.
Broncos made enough errors to even it up.
The comp is very hard to predict this season.
So far Storm, Sharks and Dogs are the only mostly consistent sides who are likely top 4.
If the Sharks lose this week then they are back in the chasing pack.
Most of the other sides might finish top 4, or might miss the 8.
If the Eels lose this week, we can probably rule them out.
Ditto for the Panthers if they lose next week.
Roosters/Panthers next week is big for both teams.
Parra / Raiders, Tigers/ Knights this week and Parra/ Tigers next week are big.
You can't win a comp in April, but you can reduce your chances of finishing top 8, and make top 4 close to impossible.
Roosters are my pick for a smokey, if they combine Walker and Hugo in the halves. That should give them an excellent kicking game.
So far Storm, Sharks and Dogs are the only mostly consistent sides who are likely top 4.
If the Sharks lose this week then they are back in the chasing pack.
Most of the other sides might finish top 4, or might miss the 8.
If the Eels lose this week, we can probably rule them out.
Ditto for the Panthers if they lose next week.
Roosters/Panthers next week is big for both teams.
Parra / Raiders, Tigers/ Knights this week and Parra/ Tigers next week are big.
You can't win a comp in April, but you can reduce your chances of finishing top 8, and make top 4 close to impossible.
Roosters are my pick for a smokey, if they combine Walker and Hugo in the halves. That should give them an excellent kicking game.
Last edited:
The one NRL coach that I don't rate and have never rated is O'Brien at Newcastle.
I don't like Ryles, but it is too early to say if he can or can't coach.
I don't like Flanno, but he can coach.
All of the other coaches are pretty capable IMO, sacking a coach doesn't always improve things.
Parra are going worse without Arthur and Gutho, but sometimes change is necessary if what you are doing has already peaked.
I don't like Ryles, but it is too early to say if he can or can't coach.
I don't like Flanno, but he can coach.
All of the other coaches are pretty capable IMO, sacking a coach doesn't always improve things.
Parra are going worse without Arthur and Gutho, but sometimes change is necessary if what you are doing has already peaked.