The Bulldogs and Dragons are the success stories of the season. There’s one reason why

Sometimes in rugby league, you can’t beat experience – and the three teams who have been the big improvers this year have it in spades.

The success of the Bulldogs and Dragons so far this year has injected a new life into the competition. Both are traditional and powerful clubs with huge fan bases who have had to put up with a lack of results for far too long.

On the Bulldogs, I had no idea Stephen Crichton’s influence could be so big in his first year at the club. He’s been the buy of the season by the length of the Flemington straight. Talking to players at the club, they absolutely love him. He’s turned into a sensational leader.

But the building blocks for this turnaround started before Crichton got to the club. The work Phil Gould has done in the front office has been phenomenal. That experience has helped turn the club around. Coach Cameron Ciraldo might only be young in terms of being an NRL head coach, but he knows what winning looks like through years of learning his craft with the Panthers.

One guy I want to mention is Travis Touma, the strength and conditioning guru who has the team working harder and looking fitter than almost any other in the competition. Don’t underestimate the role he’s played in the Bulldogs’ revival.

The same can be said for the Dragons, whose players look far fitter than what they have in previous years. You can see how the big boys have changed their body shapes and when they get it right, they’re a fit and powerful team, as we saw against the Storm last weekend in what was the upset of the season.

The Bulldogs and Dragons are the success stories of the season.Credit: Getty Images

But I think most of the credit has to go to coach Shane Flanagan. A lot of people thought he had the type of experience to start dragging the Dragons up the ladder, but I don’t think anyone thought it would be this immediate. He knows how to prepare a team and get them to win. His influence has been huge.

They’re a really dangerous team when they get it right, and I think their big forwards can get the better of the lightweight and more mobile Canterbury pack at Kogarah on Saturday. It should be a belter.

Lastly, Des Hasler is another coach who knows what winning looks like and the Titans’ revival in the second half of the year has been another of the stories of the season. I think they’ve given themselves too much to do to make the finals this year, but with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and AJ Brimson back next year, I’ve got no doubt they’ll be playing finals in 2025.

You can see they’re starting to know their style of play and there would be barely a team that is faster out wide.

The big plus for Hasler is he looks like he’s got his spine settled now, with Keano Kini at fullback a great addition to Kieran Foran and Jayden Campbell in the halves.

I just don’t know where the points will come from for the Sharks with Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall out of Friday night’s match Titans-Sharks match. I think the Titans will keep their impressive run going on the Gold Coast.

Player managers need some managing

Something is not right in NRL recruitment at the moment.

In the past week, we’ve seen the best young front-rower at the last-placed club sign for the team coming first, and then a young hot talent who’s a local junior at another club battling to avoid the wooden spoon decides to leave for the three-time defending premiers down the road.

Stefano Utoikamanu taking on the Cowboys.Credit: NRL Photos

It must be hard for fans of the Tigers and Eels to know Stefano Utoikamanu and Blaize Talagi will up and leave at the end of the season.

You can make a case that Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva leaving the Panthers for the Tigers next year shows the salary cap is working, but my concern is that player managers are having far too much influence .

The NRL needs to step in. They have to wrangle the power away from player managers, and a good way to start would be by preventing them from having both coaches and players on their books. That’s a no-brainer to me.

I’m not sure whether a draft works in a sport like rugby league which is so tribal, or making player contracts public, so that everyone knows the state of play, but the Utoikamanu and Talagi affairs show not everything is right.

Thanks for everything, Shaun Johnson

Earlier this week, I got onto YouTube and spent some time watching highlights of Shaun Johnson. He scored tries you would never imagine seeing from a halfback. He was one of the most naturally talented and blessed players we’ve seen for a long time. He had it all.

There’s no doubt a generation of kids has been inspired to pick up a rugby league ball because of Shaun Johnson, just like I’m sure Benji Marshall would have inspired him. The key to their success is they both came from a touch footy background. They then transferred those skills into rugby league.

Any young playmaker I come across these days I always tell them the importance of playing touch or OzTag so they can learn their craft without the fear of getting smashed.

Shaun has been a fantastic player and a great person. I wish him all the best.

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