Watched the Dogs too (Agree with @Thatwasnthighref about their play).They use the same right side set up we did under SJ. Except Crichton is the target in the way Berry is not so much, Crichton is on fire, standing and offloading, flick passes, burning guys on the outside, winger races in corner.
On their left they stack big fast units like Kikau and Xerri who just hit the hole off a flat ball and good night. It will be very entertaining with our side playing quite similar in your face direct League. Pompey becomes pretty critical, almost unfair to ask anyone to do a Job on a behemoth like Crichton but that is what is needed. Grabbing him is one thing, stopping the fancy offloads and flick passes is another thing entirely.
Obviously the Dogs have a lot more speed out wide than us, but our best assets in our fast forwards and fast passing are not easy to plan against either. We will need to be really good.
I love that people kept saying the Dogs are going well, good on them, but they won't make the eight. And anyone backing them for the eight being laughed at. No ones laughing now, they certainly deserve it more than we do atm.
Obviously their defence is a lot heartier, no ones given them the horror hidings of recent seasons. Their form against top four sides shows they have a lot of potential:
Dogs beat Melbourne. The Storm revenge match saw the Storm scrape home by 2 points.
They beat the Roosters.
Last week they won over the top four Sharks (Cronulla only beat them by a try and a goal the first matchup this year).
Penrith only beat them by 6 their first meeting in 2024.
They are the definition of a dark horse.
