Josh Jackson happy to play ugly if Bulldogs get results

For Wayne Bennett and most people watching, Canterbury v South Sydney was as entertaining as an election special. But Bulldogs skipper Josh Jackson couldn’t care less.

The Dogs’ game plan might not run with referees. Image: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

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Canterbury captain Josh Jackson is standing by his side’s “ugly” football and fans can expect much of the same if that’s what it takes against North Queensland on Friday.

The tactics in the Bulldogs’ 14-6 Good Friday loss to South Sydney led to Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett suggesting the referees’ reluctance to blow the whistle for holding down in ruck is stifling attacking teams.

Unlike Bennett, Jackson managed to see the positive in his side’s approach to smothering the ruck to gain an advantage.

The Bulldogs aren’t out there to win friends. Image: Picture: Brett Costello

“We gave the ball up and spent most of the game, it felt like, defending our try line and that’s probably why people thought it was ugly, because it was,” Jackson said.

“I don’t think there were any points scored from the 30 minute mark onward, so from the perspective of someone watching it probably felt like that it was ugly.

“But for us as a team and for me it’s a pleasing thing. I’m happy with the way we defended our try line. As a player that’s unbelievable, particularly against a team like South Sydney. “They spent a lot of time on our try line and we just kept turning them away.”

The Dogs’ game plan might not run with referees. Image: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Jackson said the Bulldogs’ would take the same approach this week against the Cowboys and against any team where slowing the play-the-ball would work in their favour.

“All teams in the competition try to win as much time on the ground on the try line,” he said.

“We’ve got to move on with the way rugby league has been played. That’s a flat and fast sort of style of footy. We want to compete and if a team is good enough on the day to beat us then we want to make them earn that win.”

In team news, fullback Nick Meaney has been named to line-up against the Cowboys after he suffered a deep laceration to the middle finger on his left hand against Souths, but will require painkilling injections to play.

“It was exposed down to the bone, there was so much blood. I didn’t want to look at it,” Meaney said.

“I caught the ball and put my hand to support my landing when I hit the ground. One of the Burgess boys foot just came over on the top, they might have had metal studs on, and somehow that finger has copped it and it sliced right through it.

“It’s in a position where you can’t really hide it because it’s right on the impact zone when you catch a ball or tackle someone. I’ll have to get another needle to play.”

Originally published as Josh Jackson happy to play ugly if Bulldogs get results