He got presented with a Matador barbecue from Bunnings for his achievement .Congrats brooks
after all those years from hell and abuse you copped from tiger “fans” you’ve finally made it
If the season could be over, that would be grand.
Why would he want to blow up an empty suburban stadium?If Putin wants to send an ICBM our way, Brookvale Oval around 4:30 pm today would be a perfect target.
Whatever the result today Bulldogs supporters should be doing cartwheels over their performance on the field this year. Ciraldo deserves a statue outside Belmore oval for turning the perennial cellar dwellers into a finals contender within 2 years of his tenure. From the worst defensive team to one of the best .
Today is an interesting match up. Three weeks ago the Bulldogs were being heralded as a grand final chance. So what’s changed ? Fatigue from their recent schedule and a rumoured virus sweeping through their camp were probable contributing factors. Maybe the cumulative effects of the high intensity of their play and the relatively small size of their forwards have combined to derail their season?
Chad Townsend said after last weeks match that the Cowboys had decided to target the space between Sexton and Crichton after pummelling them up the middle . Luki had a field day. A quick look at the match showed Crichton being beaten on his right shoulder when he moved left to “help” Sexton thus presenting a hole for Luki on his right .He was also beaten on his left to concede a try . In the latter Sexton was at marker and Mahoney had filled thr hole next to Crichton.
Skelton is an interesting selection. A damaging runner with good speed and evasive skills bound for the Tigers went missing in action against Manly a couple of weeks ago and gets his chance for retribution. Manly will need to present a straight line to him on kick returns and stop him before he winds up. He has a good left foot step and likes beating defenders on their outside. Like all big units he is slow to turn and he can be flakey under the high ball. He was hooked by Ciraldo for the latter in the second half of a match earlier this year.
For the Bulldogs to have any chance Kikau needs to have a big game. He has been sailing close to the wind lately almost like he’s daring the ref to sin bin him. I suppose the Bulldogs need some sort of intimidation factor. I expect the Bulldogs to run all day at Garrick. He is a top shelf winger but a bog average centre . His defence was stretched to its absolute limit last time these teams met and it held on by the skin of its teeth. Both Koula and DCE can sometimes rush out of the defensive line and concede points . DCE did this last week against the Sharks. Also Olakauatu missed his assignment last week , the third time he has missed an opponent one on one in the red zone leading directly to a try.
Koula is finally reaching match fitness and it will be interesting to see how he goes, He looks much more comfortable as a right centre rather than left. Manly would be better served with Garrick on the right wing and Koula at right centre but it would be pure folly to change at this stage. Anyway Hopoate has a mortgage on one wing spot and Talau is a class finisher. Hopefully Manly don’t persist with Tom Turbo bashing the ball up in the teeth of the ruck on the 5th. As I mentioned in a previous post this is akin to driving your Ferrari repeatedly into a brick wall.
Last time these two teams met DCE did virtually all the kicking. Brooks’ low trajectory clearing kicks have charge down written all over them. Kikau will be licking his lips if Brooks gets his hands on the ball on the last in Manly territory.
Having said all that I think the Bulldogs will be up for this. Manly’s sometimes unstructured attack can trouble any team. Hopefully Atkinson and Klein stay out of it and let the players decide . There’s no need for a set restart within 2 minutes of the start of the game to “set the tone”. More likely “.to justify your existence”
Okay I’ll keep my posts short and to the point . My analysis of Souths’ season :Could I get an executive summary please?