Broncodroid
Juniors
- Messages
- 2,313
No stepping back
By IAIN PAYTEN
The Daily Telegraph
September 28, 2004
THE Bulldogs have vowed to meet fire with fire if the Roosters spark an early confrontation in Sunday's grand final.
In the best of grand final week traditions, Dogs players Braith Anasta and Willie Mason yesterday gave firm assurances to the Bondi Junction club a repeat of strong-arm tactics used against the Cowboys will not be tolerated.
A clash in the third minute of the preliminary final at Telstra Stadium, which saw Luke Ricketson charged with striking yesterday, saw fired-up Roosters swarm into a melee with the Cowboys.
Among many skirmishes, North Queensland halfback Nathan Fien ended up with loose teeth and fullback Matt Bowen was slugged by centre Justin Hodges.
Anasta declared his side would not be intimidated in the opening exchanges.
"If they put s... on us we are not going to back off. You can't let teams get over you," he said.
Mason said he believed the grand final would be clean but added there were no shortage of Bulldogs ready to defend teammates if trouble flared up.
"The Roosters don't usually play that sort of game and I don't think they will play it with us, but if they want to no one is going to shirk their job," Mason said.
"We are not intimidated by anyone. Nobody in this side will back down an inch."
In a game marred with unsavoury episodes, North Queensland were dismayed the confidence of strike weapon Bowen had been damaged after his clash with Hodges.
Bowen involved himself in the fight and was not an innocent victim, but concern about possible targeting of Bulldogs rookies was not being entertained yesterday.
"That's all part of the game. Our young blokes handle themselves real well," said Anasta.
"Our team is a very close-knit team and if anyone wants to put anything on, I am sure our team will stick up for each other."
The Dogs were in high spirits going through a regular boxing session yesterday at North Cronulla surf club.
Three reserve Bulldogs forwards trained with the squad; Jamie Feeney, Dennis Scott and Hutch Maiava.
Second-rower Andrew Ryan, the man tipped to captain the Dogs should Price be ruled out, said a replacement had not yet been discussed however.
"I guess we can take a fair bit of confidence out of that we did play without him [against Penrith], but in saying that he's a great player and he's one of the form front- rowers in the comp," Ryan said.
Roy Asotasi would likely step into the starting side, although Folkes' concern is lack of match fitness for the bench man. Scott has not played for six weeks with a foot injury. Feeney and Maiava have been idle since the Dogs' Premier League side was outed two weeks ago.
Another option could be to include Johnathan Thurston in the 17 and move Braith Anasta into the forward pack.
Anasta said his fractured sternum had stood up well to Saturday's highly physical encounter with Penrith.
"It feels really good. It got a couple of solid hits and obviously it was a bit sore, but I have come out OK," he said.
The Bulldogs watched the Roosters' tight win over the Cowboys and fear the tricolours' capacity to improve, said Anasta.
"They are playing good footy, but they can play a lot better. That is the valuable thing for them," he said.
Ryan dismissed the lack of grand final experience in the Dogs side, compared to the 16 Roosters who have played in three consecutive appearances.
"A fair few of the guys haven't played semis before either. They just take each week as it comes and they're not too worried about it which is good," the 2001 grand Parramatta grand finalist said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had to post this article as when I read Willie Mason was the Canterbury player carrying on with this, I had to laugh. This is the same Willie Mason who backed down to Cowboys five-eight David Myles recently. This is the same Willie Mason who is the Bulldogs answer to Justin Hodges...lot of talk no action.
Mason is a brilliant young player. This season is arguably his best since entering the top grade. But there is one thing (apart from immaturity) that Mason suffers from and that is Big Man Syndrome. What's that I hear some ask ?
BMS, is when an individual of size thinks he is 'King of the jungle' so to speak for the only reason being he is bigger than everyone around him. Mason, like Hodges, is full of hot air when it comes to the throw back days where guys wouldn't talk about what they were going to do, they just did it.
Mason, please, save yourself some embarassment and keep to the 'all business' style you have adopted since your low life act during S.O.O. which one young fan in particular will always remember and for all the wrong reasons.
If this was coming from Mark O'Meley, it carries some weight, coming through you or Braith makes me cringe with embarassment.
By IAIN PAYTEN
The Daily Telegraph
September 28, 2004
THE Bulldogs have vowed to meet fire with fire if the Roosters spark an early confrontation in Sunday's grand final.
In the best of grand final week traditions, Dogs players Braith Anasta and Willie Mason yesterday gave firm assurances to the Bondi Junction club a repeat of strong-arm tactics used against the Cowboys will not be tolerated.
A clash in the third minute of the preliminary final at Telstra Stadium, which saw Luke Ricketson charged with striking yesterday, saw fired-up Roosters swarm into a melee with the Cowboys.
Among many skirmishes, North Queensland halfback Nathan Fien ended up with loose teeth and fullback Matt Bowen was slugged by centre Justin Hodges.
Anasta declared his side would not be intimidated in the opening exchanges.
"If they put s... on us we are not going to back off. You can't let teams get over you," he said.
Mason said he believed the grand final would be clean but added there were no shortage of Bulldogs ready to defend teammates if trouble flared up.
"The Roosters don't usually play that sort of game and I don't think they will play it with us, but if they want to no one is going to shirk their job," Mason said.
"We are not intimidated by anyone. Nobody in this side will back down an inch."
In a game marred with unsavoury episodes, North Queensland were dismayed the confidence of strike weapon Bowen had been damaged after his clash with Hodges.
Bowen involved himself in the fight and was not an innocent victim, but concern about possible targeting of Bulldogs rookies was not being entertained yesterday.
"That's all part of the game. Our young blokes handle themselves real well," said Anasta.
"Our team is a very close-knit team and if anyone wants to put anything on, I am sure our team will stick up for each other."
The Dogs were in high spirits going through a regular boxing session yesterday at North Cronulla surf club.
Three reserve Bulldogs forwards trained with the squad; Jamie Feeney, Dennis Scott and Hutch Maiava.
Second-rower Andrew Ryan, the man tipped to captain the Dogs should Price be ruled out, said a replacement had not yet been discussed however.
"I guess we can take a fair bit of confidence out of that we did play without him [against Penrith], but in saying that he's a great player and he's one of the form front- rowers in the comp," Ryan said.
Roy Asotasi would likely step into the starting side, although Folkes' concern is lack of match fitness for the bench man. Scott has not played for six weeks with a foot injury. Feeney and Maiava have been idle since the Dogs' Premier League side was outed two weeks ago.
Another option could be to include Johnathan Thurston in the 17 and move Braith Anasta into the forward pack.
Anasta said his fractured sternum had stood up well to Saturday's highly physical encounter with Penrith.
"It feels really good. It got a couple of solid hits and obviously it was a bit sore, but I have come out OK," he said.
The Bulldogs watched the Roosters' tight win over the Cowboys and fear the tricolours' capacity to improve, said Anasta.
"They are playing good footy, but they can play a lot better. That is the valuable thing for them," he said.
Ryan dismissed the lack of grand final experience in the Dogs side, compared to the 16 Roosters who have played in three consecutive appearances.
"A fair few of the guys haven't played semis before either. They just take each week as it comes and they're not too worried about it which is good," the 2001 grand Parramatta grand finalist said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had to post this article as when I read Willie Mason was the Canterbury player carrying on with this, I had to laugh. This is the same Willie Mason who backed down to Cowboys five-eight David Myles recently. This is the same Willie Mason who is the Bulldogs answer to Justin Hodges...lot of talk no action.
Mason is a brilliant young player. This season is arguably his best since entering the top grade. But there is one thing (apart from immaturity) that Mason suffers from and that is Big Man Syndrome. What's that I hear some ask ?
BMS, is when an individual of size thinks he is 'King of the jungle' so to speak for the only reason being he is bigger than everyone around him. Mason, like Hodges, is full of hot air when it comes to the throw back days where guys wouldn't talk about what they were going to do, they just did it.
Mason, please, save yourself some embarassment and keep to the 'all business' style you have adopted since your low life act during S.O.O. which one young fan in particular will always remember and for all the wrong reasons.
If this was coming from Mark O'Meley, it carries some weight, coming through you or Braith makes me cringe with embarassment.
