Canterbury Bulldogs head coach Cameron Ciraldo believes that the team’s issues heading into the NRL finals can be fixed with simple adjustments, not complex solutions. Despite being known for their solid defense throughout the season, the Bulldogs suffered a heavy defeat, conceding 44 points to the North Queensland Cowboys in the final round. This loss followed a previous defeat, leaving them with two straight losses going into the finals. Their next opponent will be the Manly Sea Eagles, a team they lost to in Round 26.
Ciraldo highlighted the importance of maintaining possession as a key factor in the Bulldogs’ recent struggles. He pointed out that in the past three games, his team has allowed their opponents to dominate possession during the first 20 to 30 minutes, which has put them under considerable pressure, especially against larger teams. Ciraldo noted that the Bulldogs, not being as physically big as some of their opponents, cannot afford to give up that much possession if they want to stay competitive. Throughout the season, the Bulldogs had managed to keep games close by getting equal possession and earning field position through their grit and determination, but they failed to do so in their recent losses.
Ciraldo emphasized that the solution is straightforward: they need to fix their possession and field position issues to give themselves a fighting chance in the finals. He reassured fans that these adjustments aren’t overly complicated, and if they can get back to what they were doing earlier in the season, they will be competitive.
However, the Bulldogs’ record against top-eight teams is concerning. Aside from their victories over the Newcastle Knights, Dolphins, and Canberra Raiders, they have only managed two wins against other top-eight teams. One of those victories came against the Sydney Roosters, who were a man down after Dominic Young was sent off before halftime, and the other was a narrow golden-point win over the Cronulla Sharks. Despite this, Ciraldo remains optimistic, stating that the Bulldogs are not in the finals just to make up the numbers. He believes that if the team can execute their system effectively, they will have a chance to win their upcoming match.
Injuries have also been a challenge for the Bulldogs in recent weeks. Key players Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr were absent due to injury during the loss to the Cowboys, while Kurt Mann, Bronson Xerri, and Jeral Skelton were also out. Burton and Addo-Carr are expected to return for the finals, which will provide a boost, especially in attack. Ciraldo acknowledged that while the return of these players will help, it won’t solve all of the team’s problems. He admitted that their attack had been disjointed, which in turn put added pressure on their defense during the Cowboys game.
In summary, Ciraldo is confident that the Bulldogs can bounce back with better possession and execution in the finals, though they face challenges against top teams and need to overcome recent injuries.
