Bulldogs Face Tough Challenges
Cameron Ciraldo, the coach of the Canterbury Bulldogs, believes his team has found themselves in a difficult situation and is looking for ways to turn things around. After a recent loss to North Queensland, which marked their third consecutive defeat, Ciraldo acknowledged the need for self-reflection.
“We probably have to put the shovel down ourselves first,” Ciraldo said following the match. The Bulldogs have only managed one win in their last six games, and the loss to North Queensland has intensified the pressure on the team’s spine.
This time last year, the Bulldogs were at the top of the ladder, but they are now far behind the pace. Their attacking performance has been lackluster, with their only two tries coming from a kick and a solo run by Lachlan Galvin.
The Bulldogs currently have the worst attack in the NRL, excluding the bottom-placed St George Illawarra. The chemistry between halfback Galvin and Matt Burton has not been effective, and since Galvin’s mid-season move from the Wests Tigers, the team has a 40% win rate over 22 games.
“We’re a bit down on confidence with our attack at the moment, and that happens at different times,” Ciraldo explained. “There’s a lot of commentary about that, so we need to make sure we’re listening to the voices within our four walls, and not anyone else.”
Despite having long periods of possession, the Bulldogs struggled to convert their chances. They had 43 play-the-balls in North Queensland’s 20m zone but failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
For 60 minutes, the Bulldogs were within one score of the Cowboys, but they lacked the extra gear needed in the final stages of the game. The Cowboys scored 16 points in the last 20 minutes, securing their sixth win in seven games and exposing some defensive weaknesses that left Ciraldo frustrated.
“Changes might help, and we’ll definitely look at that, but it’s not going to be the solution,” he said. “We need to get everyone playing closer to their potential individually, and that will help us as a team. But we’ve also got to stop having those moments in the last 20 minutes where we don’t stay present and we stop competing.”
“… if we put the shovel down ourselves, that might help.”
The Bulldogs will be missing key players Kurt Mann (concussion) and Jake Turpin (biceps) for their upcoming match against the Dolphins in Brisbane next Thursday. This adds to the challenges the team faces as they try to regain their form and improve their standing in the league.
