djdeep4172
Kennel Enthusiast
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2014
- Messages
- 3,697
- Reaction score
- 6,975
The Bulldogs have bagged just their third win of the season — and etched themselves into the history books — with a 38-nil demolition of the Tigers.
It was the biggest win by a last-placed team in the last round in premiership history.
The Dogs got off to a flyer after scoring two tries in three minutes to take an early lead.
Departing fullback Nick Meaney beat two Tigers players to cross the line before Jake Averillo — who returned from a foot injury — score off a Tigers error.
The Tigers’ poor start got even worse with young gun Tommy Talau going off with what looked to be a serious knee injury. He was taken from the field on a medicab and it was later confirmed that he had suffered a suspected ACL injury.
Canterbury-Bankstown extended their lead through Meaney who slipped through for his second of the afternoon.
Not even a half-time chat from coach Michael Maguire could fire up the Tigers and Jack Hetherginton crossed to extend the Dogs’ lead in the opening minute of the second half.
The Doggies doubled down minutes later with Jayden Okunbor crossing in the corner.
The Tigers’ woes worsened with Luciano Leilua and Shawn Blore sent to the sin bin and while they were down to 11 men the Dogs laid on three more tries to seal the win.
Canterbury are running harder, they are definitely tackling harder, and they’re attacking with more enterprise as well,” Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said.
Heading into this game, the Bulldogs had been outscored by Manly winger Reuben Garrick. That should put into perspective just how little they have to offer in attack.
And yet they laid on three unanswered tries in the first half.
Departing Bulldogs fullback Nick Meaney basically carried Luke Brooks and Michael Chee-Kam over the line, sparking Fox League analyst Greg Alexander to call the Tigers’ defence “passive,” while sideline commentator Corey Parker said the Tigers had been “dreadful” and defensively were “not turning up.”
“The Tigers’ defence was so passive, they just sat back - both Chee-kam and Brooks - to wait to see what Nick Meaney was going to do,” Alexander said.
“They need to get off their line, they’re not going to win games if they’re like that defensively.”
Meaney got a second four-pointer and again Alexander took aim at the Tigers’ “passive defence” and questioned what coach Michael Maguire does now.
“My god what does (Maguire) say? What does he say to this team and where do they go from here? If the Dogs continue with what’s happened in the opening minutes, where do they go in the off-season?”
Well, it might start with Maguire, according to Braith Anasta.
“The Wests Tigers have been poor again,” he said.
“Huge pressure on their team, huge pressure on Michael Maguire... under the pump before this game, speculation about his job and where to next? This can’t help that situation.”
OUTSTANDING’ BIG DOG NAILS NEW ROLE
It took 40 games, but Jack Hetherington finally scored his first NRL try and it couldn’t have come any easier.
Two Tigers players collided while trying to go for the ball - and completely missed it. The ball ended up in Hetherington’s hands and he coasted over for a four-pointer.
It was a well-deserved reward for the fiery front-rower though. He was shifted to the second row before kick-off, which seemed like an odd call by coach Trent Barrett at first, but ended up being a light bulb moment.
Hetherington can run and has plenty of speed - something we saw glimpses of against the Tigers.
So when he crossed for his try, Hetherington was lauded by Fox League commentator Andrew Voss and analyst Greg Alexander.
“He’s a malign player at times but he thoroughly deserves that try, he’s been outstanding today for Canterbury,” Voss said.
“He has (been outstanding) playing on an edge,” Alexander added.
“He’s a great athlete, Jack, there wouldn’t be a quicker forward in the game than Jack Hetherington. He can run and on the edge it could suit him in attack.”
The 25-year-old finished up his night with: 122 running metres, two tackle busts and one line break to go with his try.
It was the biggest win by a last-placed team in the last round in premiership history.
The Dogs got off to a flyer after scoring two tries in three minutes to take an early lead.
Departing fullback Nick Meaney beat two Tigers players to cross the line before Jake Averillo — who returned from a foot injury — score off a Tigers error.
The Tigers’ poor start got even worse with young gun Tommy Talau going off with what looked to be a serious knee injury. He was taken from the field on a medicab and it was later confirmed that he had suffered a suspected ACL injury.
Canterbury-Bankstown extended their lead through Meaney who slipped through for his second of the afternoon.
Not even a half-time chat from coach Michael Maguire could fire up the Tigers and Jack Hetherginton crossed to extend the Dogs’ lead in the opening minute of the second half.
The Doggies doubled down minutes later with Jayden Okunbor crossing in the corner.
The Tigers’ woes worsened with Luciano Leilua and Shawn Blore sent to the sin bin and while they were down to 11 men the Dogs laid on three more tries to seal the win.
Canterbury are running harder, they are definitely tackling harder, and they’re attacking with more enterprise as well,” Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said.
Heading into this game, the Bulldogs had been outscored by Manly winger Reuben Garrick. That should put into perspective just how little they have to offer in attack.
And yet they laid on three unanswered tries in the first half.
Departing Bulldogs fullback Nick Meaney basically carried Luke Brooks and Michael Chee-Kam over the line, sparking Fox League analyst Greg Alexander to call the Tigers’ defence “passive,” while sideline commentator Corey Parker said the Tigers had been “dreadful” and defensively were “not turning up.”
“The Tigers’ defence was so passive, they just sat back - both Chee-kam and Brooks - to wait to see what Nick Meaney was going to do,” Alexander said.
“They need to get off their line, they’re not going to win games if they’re like that defensively.”
Meaney got a second four-pointer and again Alexander took aim at the Tigers’ “passive defence” and questioned what coach Michael Maguire does now.
“My god what does (Maguire) say? What does he say to this team and where do they go from here? If the Dogs continue with what’s happened in the opening minutes, where do they go in the off-season?”
Well, it might start with Maguire, according to Braith Anasta.
“The Wests Tigers have been poor again,” he said.
“Huge pressure on their team, huge pressure on Michael Maguire... under the pump before this game, speculation about his job and where to next? This can’t help that situation.”
OUTSTANDING’ BIG DOG NAILS NEW ROLE
It took 40 games, but Jack Hetherington finally scored his first NRL try and it couldn’t have come any easier.
Two Tigers players collided while trying to go for the ball - and completely missed it. The ball ended up in Hetherington’s hands and he coasted over for a four-pointer.
It was a well-deserved reward for the fiery front-rower though. He was shifted to the second row before kick-off, which seemed like an odd call by coach Trent Barrett at first, but ended up being a light bulb moment.
Hetherington can run and has plenty of speed - something we saw glimpses of against the Tigers.
So when he crossed for his try, Hetherington was lauded by Fox League commentator Andrew Voss and analyst Greg Alexander.
“He’s a malign player at times but he thoroughly deserves that try, he’s been outstanding today for Canterbury,” Voss said.
“He has (been outstanding) playing on an edge,” Alexander added.
“He’s a great athlete, Jack, there wouldn’t be a quicker forward in the game than Jack Hetherington. He can run and on the edge it could suit him in attack.”
The 25-year-old finished up his night with: 122 running metres, two tackle busts and one line break to go with his try.