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We are now officially second . Have to be at our best next week . Manly play well at this time of the year and they have beaten us last year twice in a row . Need all out attack straight away ....
 
Manly beating Storm was a surprise, but it will not be the last upset this season.

We have a lot to work on, especially if a better version of Manly shows up.

Last few weeks we have been in control of the game and attacking down the opponents end, then a forward pass, penalty, dropped ball or a kick for a 7 tackle set has shifted momentum.

At the business end of the season, when on top, complete the set and make sure that, at a minimum, the opponents are coming off their line.

Each time that the momentum shifts we have been punished then we compound that with errors and it is hard to shift momentum back.

Nailing the last play against the Dragons was big, if we have more confidence in our ability to score, we are more likely to complete sets well and keep the opponents under the pump.

Cirro might need to tweak a few things. I still expect us to win, but we will need to be a lot better.
 
Why didn't we put a score on the Dragons?
They completed at 89%, 2 HIAs were suspect, and they got a couple of important penalties at crucial times.
They also surprised us by attacking on edges with good ball movement and structure.
Our left side attack and defence missed Xerri, who cleans up a lot of dangerous situations.
Galvin needs to work on his defence, and we need to work on combinations.
Being behind was a factor in putting Toups back on, which contributed to the hamstring injury. If we had a good lead, he probably stays on the bench.

Manly completed at 90% against the Storm, and they have a lot of dangerous attacking players in the backline.

Any side in the NRL that completes at 90% will be hard to beat.

The key to beating Manly is tightening up our defence and maintaining high completions and good discipline.

All 3 Dragons tries had some bad decisions and/or poor misses by us. Xerri and Sexton might have stopped one or 2 of them.

Galvin is a quick learner. With another off season, he will be a much better defender.

If we defend better, the opposition is tempted to force the attacking play, and that can affect their completions.

We needed to improve our attack, the gamble is getting Galvin up to speed in defence. Just about all games we play before the semis will be close to semi final intensity.

In the last 2 weeks teams might rest players if the top 4/8 is set.
 
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Hounddog said:
Why didn't we put a score on the Dragons?
They completed at 89%, 2 HIAs were suspect, and they got a couple of important penalties at crucial times.
They also surprised us by attacking on edges with good ball movement and structure.
Our left side attack and defence missed Xerri, who cleans up a lot of dangerous situations.
Galvin needs to work on his defence, and we need to work on combinations.
Being behind was a factor in putting Toups back on, which contributed to the hamstring injury. If we had a good lead, he probably stays on the bench.

Manly completed at 90% against the Storm, and they have a lot of dangerous attacking players in the backline.

Any side in the NRL that completes at 90% will be hard to beat.

The key to beating Manly is tightening up our defence and maintaining high completions and good discipline.

All 3 Dragons tries had some bad decisions and/or poor misses by us. Xerri and Sexton might have stopped one or 2 of them.

Galvin is a quick learner. With another off season, he will be a much better defender.

If we defend better, the opposition is tempted to force the attacking play, and that can affect their completions.

We needed to improve our attack, the gamble is getting Galvin up to speed in defence. Just about all games we play before the semis will be close to semi final intensity.

In the last 2 weeks teams might rest players if the top 4/8 is set.
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We unfortunately play a brand of footy that lends itself to tight contests where we believe our fitness and defensive cohesion will smother the opposition and we only need few points to win.

Its a good trait to have, but cant be the only trait. And that im afraid will be our downfall.

As much as i want to win the premiership this year, i don't think we have the overall game that can win 3 big games in September including GF. Dont think we have the spine to deliver.

We are in for a ride of emotions this finals series....
 
Marki said:
We unfortunately play a brand of footy that lends itself to tight contests where we believe our fitness and defensive cohesion will smother the opposition and we only need few points to win.

Its a good trait to have, but cant be the only trait. And that im afraid will be our downfall.

As much as i want to win the premiership this year, i don't think we have the overall game that can win 3 big games in September including GF. Dont think we have the spine to deliver.

We are in for a ride of emotions this finals series....
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We can win it, not this team, or the team earlier in the season, the team we hope to become this season.

The comp is wide open 4-8 teams can win it.

I'm not sure that Canberra or the Storm are more likely than Penrith, Broncos or even the Fins.

With the comp being so open, teams are finding extra motivation, because they know effort and execution can change results.

I am much happier with the spine with Galvin in the side, because without him we mostly just ran through a sequence of set plays and most of the threat was on the left.

With Hayward and Mann helping out we almost have the spine to win the comp, if our defence returns to the previous high standard.

I've noticed that Galvin gets good height on his bombs and generally places them well. Plus Galvin is a threat running the ball.

I'm glad that Hughes is probably coming back in. Next season I would have Hughes and Thompson as the starting props with Hayes or Todd at lock.

IMO a smaller pack costs us some punch and threat in attack and sometimes means that a bigger pack can roll though us.

High workrate players like King, Curran, Hayes, Mann and Hayward mean that if we get a majority of possession we can blow a bigger side away late.

Galvin is at least 50% of plan B, and Hughes is another 10%.
 
Our depth is better than any other sides.

If a first choice spine player gets injured we have a replacement, including a gamble on throwing Woods in at halfback or playing Hayward at half or 5/8.

Fullback is the hardest spot to cover.

If most other teams lose a first choice spine player that might be game over, especially if the guy is their best player.

I hope that doesn't happen, it would be good for full strength sides to contest the semis, because results would be hard to predict.

In a closely contested season like this, I'm expecting more twists and turns and surprises.

SOO slightly below par this season, but this is the best NRL season for a long time. I can't remember such an even comp, with a lot of games going down to the wire and some excellent plays winning games at the end.

I also think that even the teams at the bottom of the table have had a crack, far fewer white flags than a typical season.

Dogs winning the comp would be an excellent finish to a stellar season and would drive ratings through the roof. Very handy if negotiating media deals.
 
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We need to win the next four games to five ourselves the best chance of a minor premiership. Although I think we will have to go undefeated from here. We are a good chance to do this if our defence holds and our attack improves.

Manly game is important. Need to do whatever it takes to get the win. So much attacking threat. Galvin must ice his chances.

But all in all. I don’t think and NRL fan would have picked Canberra and Canterbury to be fighting out the minor premiership with seven rounds to go at the start of the year. We have overachieved. Ciraldo is a super coach.
 
I am not worried about the minor premiership, but I think a top 2 finish means playing all of our semis at home, provided that we win week 1.

Our fans will pack out the joint for a home semi and make a lot of noise, that will really help the team.

Manly will be tough, they have some good players, plenty of experience and plenty of motivation.

IMO both the Cows and Dragons played well, the Cows more so in defence and the Dragons were better in attack and completions. So both games are a good preparation for Manly.

What Manly add is the kicking game of DCE and some real class in the backline, particularly Hoppa, Turbo and Koula.

When our defence works well we slide across at speed and the opposition don't get a lot of room to move. We are more worried about speed and footwork, numbers in the frame help.

Against the Dragons there were some bigger gaps than normal at times, playing in Townsville would have been draining.

Working together in defence will be important.

I am not so worried about scoring against Manly, if we complete sets and stop them scoring, we will get enough opportunities.
 
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IMO the next time we play a really good 80 minute defensive side is against the Storm in round 25.

We need our attack humming in the last 3 games or we are no chance in 25 and 26. And probably no chance in the semis.

For the next 2-3 games, defence can be a big part of winning.

Improving the attack and completions just a little bit will help the defence.

Cirro really picked the best time to add Galvin to the starting side.
 
This game as mentioned in other posts will be one of the most important. If we get a win on Sunday it will path the way for the rest of the season . Both Garrick and Turbo will need to be checked constantly.
Can we win the Comp ? I think we could but have to be on ball 80 mins : Teams are gunning for us . 1995 could be an omen . Xerri to score a 7 tackle try on Sunday
 
I recommend the All Things Bulldogs YouTube channel.

Good feature on Matthew Barakat a young half in the lower grades.

That is where our future spine is coming from.

Like me, he rates Otukolo a hooker/ lock in reserve grade. Likely to be the replacement for Marhoney sharing hooker with Hayward.
 
Brisbane falling to Parra is great for us. Top four is looking very good. It’s such a shame the chickens didn’t knock over Melbourne. We need a win to push for that top two. We don’t want to start our finals campaign in Melbourne or Canberra.

Storm have a very tough run like us. They most likely drop two games. Both the Penrith and two Brisbane games as well as a game against us. Let’s hope they lose more than two.

Raider have got an easier run. But play Saints, Panther and Fins away, and woManly at home. Could drop any of those games.

If we go unbeaten until the Melbourne game we will be pushing for top two. This is one of the most exciting seasons I can remember.
 
Hounddog said:
Our game will be big. I wonder if Cirro is tempted to pick DSF and Hughes.
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I hope not. Lateral movement from those two is an issue defensively. We just need one big body for the first twenty to get through their two big props. Than run them around the rest of the game.

Great luck and chase with quick line speed and good wrestle.
 
Micko said:
I hope not. Lateral movement from those two is an issue defensively. We just need one big body for the first twenty to get through their two big props. Than run them around the rest of the game.

Great luck and chase with quick line speed and good wrestle.
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Looks like DSF played reserve grade.

He was listed in the 19 man squad hence my query.

We would only have 1 big guy on the field at any time. Occasionally bigger packs totally dominate us.

Newcastle fluking a win against Canberra would be great.
 
Logan Spinks trys in reserve grade.

Round 14 - 2, Round 16 - 1, Round 20 - 2, Round 21 - 2.

When reserve grade wins he often scores a try or 2,

He might be the Dogs version of Steve Menzies, or the second row version of Terry Lamb.

I can't remember the last second rower we had who backed up so well in the middle and had the speed to finish a try.
 
Hounddog said:
Logan Spinks trys in reserve grade.

Round 14 - 2, Round 16 - 1, Round 20 - 2, Round 21 - 2.

When reserve grade wins he often scores a try or 2,

He might be the Dogs version of Steve Menzies, or the second row version of Terry Lamb.

I can't remember the last second rower we had who backed up so well in the middle and had the speed to finish a try.
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Spinks looks like a great prospect from what I have seen. He will be playing first grade next year
 
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