Both team’s strength match up against their opponent’s biggest weakness. Madge showed the template for beating the Bulldogs. One (or 2 if the rushing defence allows)passes wide of the ruck before turning the ball to a runner cutting back at a 45 degree angle. This targets the space around Mahoney. And guess who are perfectly placed to execute this game plan? Hudson Young on the left and Nicholson on the right. Tapine and Strange can do the job as well.
Chad Townsend mentioned in a podcast last years that the Cowboys targeted the space to the left of Steven Crichton and had some success doing that. The following week in the finals Manly scored 2 tries by attacking that area with planned moves. Canberra should get Fogarty to drift across field, dummy to the first inside runner, then pass to Hudson Young or Strange cutting back at an angle.
Then we get to the Bulldogs’ strength which is Kikau and Xerri on the left. This targets the defensive combo of Timoko and Savage which has struggled in recent weeks.It’s a work in progress but Ricky will have to fix it before the finals. I expect it to be raining Burton bombs as Weekes has struggled in this area this year. The Bulldogs will remember a game against Manly a few years back where Weekes dropped a bomb playing fullback for Manly costing his team victory right on full time. He needs to watch how Gutho turns side on and gets his body between the chaser and the ball. Running towards the ball taking a leap without turning your body is high risk. An AFL player or coach needs to help him with his technique.
The Bulldogs have the 2 biggest nigglers in the game in Crichton and Mahoney. And the Raiders have their share of players with short fuses. Ricky will have to make sure his players don’t take the bait. The Bulldogs also have good divers in Crichton and Burton. Crichton especially is very convincing when he chases a bomb and makes a beeline to an opponent before collapsing to the ground. And let’s face it it’s not to hard to fool your average NRL referee, who probably thinks those Nigerian Prince emails asking for money are real.
Prediction: Bulldogs by 2.
MOTM :Kikau
Kikau/Xerri/Chiraz tryscorers
Sin Bin : Cory Horsburgh