When will the real Canterbury stand up?
How is it the Bulldogs can blow away premiership favourites Penrith, then 10 days later get completely out-enthused 38-20 against a depleted Parramatta side at CommBank Stadium.
The Bulldogs faithful turned up on another brilliant Sydney autumn afternoon, anticipating a proper hammering of their arch-rivals.
The Dogs players received a louder cheer than the home side when they ran on to CommBank Stadium.
Let’s knock this mob over quickly, get showered, then turn our focus to next Friday and the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
But it became clear by the first few sets the Dogs were not going to have it all their way – and the home side came to play.
Winger Marcelo Montoya had a forgettable start to the game, ironing out Josh Addo-Carr well before he caught a high kick. Montoya then showed Addo-Carr the sideline, only for the ‘Foxx’ to accept the invite and blow past his opposite with ease to score.
Josh Curran was moved to the centres after Enari Tuala broke down with a hamstring injury during the captain’s run, and also had a couple of moments he would have wanted over. He spilled the ball midway through the second half, then failed to catch a Mitch Moses kick that allowed Eels’ forward Dylan Walker to score.
The Dogs had great success against the Panthers when Lachie Galvin and Jacob Preston teamed up on the right edge. They tried to do likewise against the Eels, but came up short, including before half-time when the pair spotted space, only for the final pass to go behind Connor Tracey.
When asked if his players were still dining out on their win against Penrith, coach Cameron Ciraldo said: “I’d like to think not, but that’s certainly what it looked like.”
The Dogs have the roster to go all the way. They bombed out in the semi-finals last year, and will still fancy themselves to be there deep in September.
But it would be comforting for Ciraldo – and the thousands who left Parramatta disappointed, and early – if there was less of a gap between their best performances and their worst.
Until they reduce the gap, how can you take this mob seriously?
“I’d have to get a psychology degree to figure that one out, but our best is good enough to challenge anyone,” Ciraldo said.
“Our worst is a long way off that. We want to be consistent and playing close to our best every week. Today was far from it, and we need to figure out why.”
Stephen Crichton was named in an extended squad last week in what would have been a miraculous return from an AC joint injury.
The courageous captain was barking orders and encouraging players during the warm-up, and will be a huge addition if he returns against the Broncos this Friday. They missed his calmness and direction against the blue and golds.
Five-day turnarounds are a nightmare for any team, let alone one that involves stopping the premiers at Queensland’s ‘cauldron’, but that is what now awaits the Dogs.
“Who cares how long the turnaround is,” Ciraldo said.
“If we turn up with the right mindset, we’ll give ourselves a chance. If we turn up with that crap, we’ll get what we deserve.”
Bronson Xerri reached out for a brilliant late try, and his flick pass and ability to draw two defenders set up Jacob Kiraz for the first try of the game.
Galvin had a mixed bag, rifling a pass that went low and in front of Curran, then a few sets later popping up on the left side of the field to finish a classy try. Matt Burton was placed on report for a high shot on Luca Moretti.
Kiraz hobbled off with a knee injury early in the second half, while star off-season recruit Leo Thompson was solid during both stints in his first game for the club.
Good on the Eels. The same fans who jeered their own team a week earlier can bounce into work on Monday with a spring in their step. A heavy loss would have had them in the spoon conversation. They are too good for that.
The Dogs are good. They just need to believe it.
