JUNKYARD DOGS
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Des Hasler has taken the leash off Moses Mbye and Josh Reynolds. Now watch them run.
The maligned Bulldogs playmakers have given the strongest hint yet they will run opponents into the ground this year with speed rather than subtlety, as Hasler unlocks the shackles on Canterbury's blunted attack for 2017.
"Des has implemented a game plan that is more suited to us," Mbye said before the Bulldogs' season opener against the Storm at Belmore on Friday night. "We're very excited about that.
"Josh and I both consider ourselves more runners than ball-players, and it's definitely given us more opportunity to take that on, and the ball's in our court now.
"I wouldn't say we were heavily restricted last year. We turned over a lot of ball, and the more sets you have the more ball you have in your hand. It hindered our ability to get the ball in our hands because we turned it over too much and were defending all the time."
A similar sentiment was expressed by hooker Michael Lichaa, who said he would challenge opposition defences more this year rather than shovelling the ball to his imposing forward pack.
It should pave the way for a more fluent Bulldogs attack, which was panned widely as the club limped out of the finals in the first week last season.
Asked whether Hasler's new blueprint would be ready to roll out against the grand finalists, Mbye said: "Bloody oath. It's competition time. This week is for keeps, for two points, and everyone wants to play their best and take two points home.
"Previous game plans we've had have suited us as well. It might have taken a little bit out of context last year how we went and didn't finish the way we would have liked to have finished. We've been pretty heavily scrutinised over that, but that's what this club brings. There's quality players between these walls and that's what it brings.
"Last year [my form] was OK, but these days OK is just not good enough. I need to improve obviously, and that's what I've been working on here over the summer."
Mbye, who injured an elbow in a trial win against Melbourne in Hobart last month, and Reynolds' pledge to take on opposition defences more is likely to see a clash of styles with the guile of Melbourne's Cooper Cronk and Cameron Munster, who has made the switch to five-eighth in 2017.
"Cronk is probably the best halfback in the competition," Mbye said. "His right-hand man, Cameron Smith, is probably one of the best players in the game, and Cameron Munster is going to be a future star as well. It's going to be a big challenge for us and we welcome the challenge."
The Bulldogs battered Melbourne in their return to Belmore in 2015, but have struggled at their spiritual home since, losing to the Sharks, Raiders and Cowboys.
A summer renovation of the playing surface will allay fears the suburban ground will turn into a bog for the visit of the Storm, with torrential rain predicted for Sydney in the lead-up to the clash.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...s-mbye-and-josh-reynolds-20170301-gunt4t.html
The maligned Bulldogs playmakers have given the strongest hint yet they will run opponents into the ground this year with speed rather than subtlety, as Hasler unlocks the shackles on Canterbury's blunted attack for 2017.
"Des has implemented a game plan that is more suited to us," Mbye said before the Bulldogs' season opener against the Storm at Belmore on Friday night. "We're very excited about that.
"Josh and I both consider ourselves more runners than ball-players, and it's definitely given us more opportunity to take that on, and the ball's in our court now.
"I wouldn't say we were heavily restricted last year. We turned over a lot of ball, and the more sets you have the more ball you have in your hand. It hindered our ability to get the ball in our hands because we turned it over too much and were defending all the time."
A similar sentiment was expressed by hooker Michael Lichaa, who said he would challenge opposition defences more this year rather than shovelling the ball to his imposing forward pack.
It should pave the way for a more fluent Bulldogs attack, which was panned widely as the club limped out of the finals in the first week last season.
Asked whether Hasler's new blueprint would be ready to roll out against the grand finalists, Mbye said: "Bloody oath. It's competition time. This week is for keeps, for two points, and everyone wants to play their best and take two points home.
"Previous game plans we've had have suited us as well. It might have taken a little bit out of context last year how we went and didn't finish the way we would have liked to have finished. We've been pretty heavily scrutinised over that, but that's what this club brings. There's quality players between these walls and that's what it brings.
"Last year [my form] was OK, but these days OK is just not good enough. I need to improve obviously, and that's what I've been working on here over the summer."
Mbye, who injured an elbow in a trial win against Melbourne in Hobart last month, and Reynolds' pledge to take on opposition defences more is likely to see a clash of styles with the guile of Melbourne's Cooper Cronk and Cameron Munster, who has made the switch to five-eighth in 2017.
"Cronk is probably the best halfback in the competition," Mbye said. "His right-hand man, Cameron Smith, is probably one of the best players in the game, and Cameron Munster is going to be a future star as well. It's going to be a big challenge for us and we welcome the challenge."
The Bulldogs battered Melbourne in their return to Belmore in 2015, but have struggled at their spiritual home since, losing to the Sharks, Raiders and Cowboys.
A summer renovation of the playing surface will allay fears the suburban ground will turn into a bog for the visit of the Storm, with torrential rain predicted for Sydney in the lead-up to the clash.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...s-mbye-and-josh-reynolds-20170301-gunt4t.html
