NRL 2018 season review: Brave Bulldogs fought a losing battle
ROSTER mismanagement of seasons past meant the Bulldogs had a tough task in 2018, but at no point did their attitude waver despite losing key players throughout the year.
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YOU can’t help but feel the Bulldogs were set up to fail in 2018.
Salary cap mismanagement of season’s past meant the current squad were fighting a losing battle.
The club was forced to shed stars Moses Mbye and Aaron Woods, while prized recruit Kieran Foran was forced into early retirement following 12 injury-riddled games with the club.
Dean Pay’s men didn’t lack heart, but the fact is the roster that finished the season didn’t have the quality to compete for a top eight position.
A late season surge kept the Bulldogs away from the dreaded wooden spoon, but the writing was on the wall well before the season began.
WHERE THEY FINISHED
12th
WHAT WENT WRONG?
The Bulldogs spine lacked any genuine attacking threat. Individually, Matt Frawley, Jeremy Marshall-King, Lachlan Lewis and Michael Lichaa are more than capable first-graders. Together, they form arguably the weakest playmaking unit in the competition.
The forward pack set a platform often enough to allow the backline time and space to create attacking opportunities in the opposition’s 20m, but the ball movement between the 6, 7 and 9 looked as if it was in slow motion.
Structured rugby league with block plays are in place to isolate defenders and force them into making tough decisions, Canterbury failed to achieve this.
The speed of the backline movement was too slow, meaning defenders were never drawn into the ruck, therefore creating numbers out wide.
Fullbacks Moses Mbye and Will Hopoate are talented ballplayers, but by the time they received the ball the defence was in position to nullify the threat.
WHAT WENT RIGHT
The attitude and effort of the players and staff was evident all season, and this alone deserves praise.
Mid-season the club were on the brink of collapsing on and off the paddock, but the most important factor was the 17 men running out each week, and rarely did they shrug away from their responsibilities.
Skipper Josh Jackson and prop David Klemmer lifted during a tough period for the club, putting in a string of tireless performance to lead the side.
The Dogs sat 15th after Round 15, but went on to win four of their final six games to salvage pride in the blue and white jersey.
The squad copped plenty of criticism throughout the season, but at the end of the day the roster was torn apart by external circumstances outside of the playing group’s control.
The players could control attitude and effort, and in that, they excelled.
STATS THAT SUM UP THE SEASON
Linebreaks (84): The Bulldogs broke the line less than any other team in the competition outside of Parramatta (75).
KEY MAIN AREA THEY NEED TO IMPROVE
Canterbury’s style of attack needs an overhaul. They’re persisting with repetitious block plays that has become problematic in more ways than one.
Firstly, this reliance on lead runners with ballplayers drifting out the back is gradually outdating.
More importantly, it’s a style not suited to the Bulldogs’ roster based on the above mentioned issues with the spine.
Think what Anthony Seibold has done with South Sydney, reviving the ‘play what’s in front of you’ style of rugby league.
The relevance to Canterbury is that Dean Pay doesn’t need to persist with the current style used by the majority of the competition, rather he needs to incorporate a style to suit his playing group.
It’s a tough task for the head coach to discover a suitable style, but the Bulldogs will suffer the same fate in 2019 if something isn’t drastically adjusted.
The speed at which young recruits Jack Cogger and Nick Meaney develop, along with the continued progression of Lachlan Lewis, could have a hefty impact on how the Bulldogs perform next season.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON
Despite riding a late season form surge, the Bulldogs entered their Round 24 clash with St George Illawarra on the brink of claiming the wooden spoon.
In the heart of enemy territory in Kogarah, the Bulldogs thrashed the Red V 38-0.
Enhancing the sweetness of the victory for fans was the continuing emergence of electric winger Reimis Smith. In the mould of Raider Jordan Rapana, Smith scored three sensational tries on his way to picking up his fourth consecutive player of the week award for the Bulldogs.
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LOWLIGHT OF THE SEASON
The Bulldogs’ attitude in the back half of the season was great, except for the Round 15 belting at the hands of the lowly Titans.
The Dogs were playing at their spiritual home ground of Belmore Oval on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Sadly, just 6874 fans turned up to watch their struggling side.
The fan’s boycott was justified, with the home side belted 32-10 by Gold Coast in their poorest performance of the season.
Players recalled seeing the few that did turn up leaving the ground well before the final hooter went, capping a truly low-point in a tough season.
BIG NAME RECRUITS
Jack Cogger (Knights), Nick Meaney (Knights), Christian Crichton (Panthers) Sauaso Sue (Tigers), Corey Harawira-Naera (Panthers)
BIG NAME LOSSES
Brett Morris (Roosters), Josh Morris (Sharks)
2019: BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO
Dean Pay finds a style of attack that works for the Bulldogs and their young spine begin to click.
The club are likely to struggle to be in contention for finals football, but hopefully they can provide an entertaining brand of rugby league that’s evaded paying fans in recent years.
2019: WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO
Dauntingly, Canterbury’s squad will likely deteriorate further in 2019 due to cap restraints and there isn’t too much talent coming through the immediate ranks.
The Dogs will likely start wooden spoon favourites and are a decent chance of finishing on the bottom of the ladder for the first time since 2008.
COACH SAFETY RATING
6/10. Dean Pay is in a tough position as he’s inherited a sinking ship as a first time NRL coach.
However you can’t help but feel he was the most well credentialed man for the job due to a lack of top class suitors willing to take the role with the cap situation at hand.
He’ll be at the helm in 2019, but it could be a tough season ahead for a man who deserves extended time to right the wrongs of administrators in years gone by.
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