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Moore's spray turns mutts into the hounds of hell
www.leaguehq.com.au
A SERIES of one-on-one ''sprays'' by Canterbury coach Kevin Moore was the catalyst for the Bulldogs getting their season back on course with a 46-point humiliation of the Sydney Roosters yesterday.
Blown away at Wollongong last week by a rampant St George Illawarra, the winless Bulldogs looked an entirely different side on a scorching afternoon, on the right side of a 12-try rout that left the Roosters, praised for their early-season efforts, hot, bothered and thoroughly crestfallen.
The scorers' list was almost too long for the ANZ Stadium big screen. Thankfully for its operators, Josh Morris grabbed four tries himself, making him the leading tryscorer in the NRL with six, one ahead of his brother Brett. Ben Barba, in another lively performance off the bench, managed three despite playing barely half an hour and Jamal Idris and Steve Turner both scored doubles.
The catchphrase was individual accountability. Moore, who conceded his side lacked intensity at training in the first two weeks of the competition, had taken each player aside in the lead-up to demand improvement.
''Kevvy gave every individual a bit of a spray for different things,'' Bulldogs halfback Brett Kimmorley told the Herald. ''He probably just re-assessed what some players could have been doing better. He's gone individually to probably most guys this week and asked us different things and we responded. He did give it to us. Kevvy does it in quieter ways than other coaches.
''Some coaches are pretty loud and upfront about it. He's quietly spoken … Because he doesn't yell and scream I think it's better.''
Kimmorley said a rousing pre-game speech from Bulldogs great Peter Tunks, who made the jersey presentation, also provided encouragement for the frenetic opening.
The Dogs led 22-0 after only 25 minutes; by the half-hour, Morris already had a treble. The Roosters fought back briefly, and at one point early in the second half trailed just 30-14. But Moore's ruthless team quickly regained the momentum and the flood gates re-opened.
''This week we turned the heat up individually on everyone,'' Moore said. ''I think our intensity in training was possibly lacking in those first couple of weeks. This week, the boys all aimed up. It shows there is a fair bit of spirit in the side. While under maybe a fair bit of pressure from outside, we didn't lose any faith.''
The sign of the Bulldogs' renewed attitude was there in the opening seconds. Before a hand had even been laid on anyone, and Roosters captain Braith Anasta having booted the first kick-off dead, there was a stink. Who else should be in the thick of it but Michael Ennis?
The Bulldogs hooker, returning from a one-match suspension, was clearly jumping out of his skin and found himself in the face of Roosters lock Nate Myles as they jogged back to halfway. So how did it start?
''I couldn't imagine Mick saying anything,'' said Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan to a roar of laughter at the post-game press conference. Ennis insisted he was not in the menacing role this time. Not that he was exactly upset by the scuffle.
''I just got in his way off the kick-off,'' Ennis said of Myles. ''They obviously wanted to start well, the Roosters, so a penalty off the kick-off might have upset them a bit but there was nothing said. I was just in his road. It was good to get the game off to a nice, intense start.''
From that start, they hardly relented. Morris, Barba, Idris and Turner reaped much of the rewards but there were standout performances everywhere: Ben Roberts responded to criticism with a superb display; new arrival Blake Green was outstanding at lock; Kimmorley and Ennis were creative sparks; and Ben Hannant led from the front with an impressive 166 metres gained.
The prop, criticised by some fans for revealing he would eventually like to move his family to the Gold Coast, said he was delighted with the reception from Canterbury supporters.
''They were fantastic tonight. Every time I came off, I got a big cheer,'' Hannant said. ''That's the great thing about this club. They understand my situation. They've been very supportive, the club, my teammates, the fans.''
The only bad news for the Bulldogs was another injury to utility Dene Halatau. Making his club debut after an ankle injury, the former Wests Tiger sustained suspected medial ligament knee damage and will have scans today.
www.leaguehq.com.au
A SERIES of one-on-one ''sprays'' by Canterbury coach Kevin Moore was the catalyst for the Bulldogs getting their season back on course with a 46-point humiliation of the Sydney Roosters yesterday.
Blown away at Wollongong last week by a rampant St George Illawarra, the winless Bulldogs looked an entirely different side on a scorching afternoon, on the right side of a 12-try rout that left the Roosters, praised for their early-season efforts, hot, bothered and thoroughly crestfallen.
The scorers' list was almost too long for the ANZ Stadium big screen. Thankfully for its operators, Josh Morris grabbed four tries himself, making him the leading tryscorer in the NRL with six, one ahead of his brother Brett. Ben Barba, in another lively performance off the bench, managed three despite playing barely half an hour and Jamal Idris and Steve Turner both scored doubles.
The catchphrase was individual accountability. Moore, who conceded his side lacked intensity at training in the first two weeks of the competition, had taken each player aside in the lead-up to demand improvement.
''Kevvy gave every individual a bit of a spray for different things,'' Bulldogs halfback Brett Kimmorley told the Herald. ''He probably just re-assessed what some players could have been doing better. He's gone individually to probably most guys this week and asked us different things and we responded. He did give it to us. Kevvy does it in quieter ways than other coaches.
''Some coaches are pretty loud and upfront about it. He's quietly spoken … Because he doesn't yell and scream I think it's better.''
Kimmorley said a rousing pre-game speech from Bulldogs great Peter Tunks, who made the jersey presentation, also provided encouragement for the frenetic opening.
The Dogs led 22-0 after only 25 minutes; by the half-hour, Morris already had a treble. The Roosters fought back briefly, and at one point early in the second half trailed just 30-14. But Moore's ruthless team quickly regained the momentum and the flood gates re-opened.
''This week we turned the heat up individually on everyone,'' Moore said. ''I think our intensity in training was possibly lacking in those first couple of weeks. This week, the boys all aimed up. It shows there is a fair bit of spirit in the side. While under maybe a fair bit of pressure from outside, we didn't lose any faith.''
The sign of the Bulldogs' renewed attitude was there in the opening seconds. Before a hand had even been laid on anyone, and Roosters captain Braith Anasta having booted the first kick-off dead, there was a stink. Who else should be in the thick of it but Michael Ennis?
The Bulldogs hooker, returning from a one-match suspension, was clearly jumping out of his skin and found himself in the face of Roosters lock Nate Myles as they jogged back to halfway. So how did it start?
''I couldn't imagine Mick saying anything,'' said Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan to a roar of laughter at the post-game press conference. Ennis insisted he was not in the menacing role this time. Not that he was exactly upset by the scuffle.
''I just got in his way off the kick-off,'' Ennis said of Myles. ''They obviously wanted to start well, the Roosters, so a penalty off the kick-off might have upset them a bit but there was nothing said. I was just in his road. It was good to get the game off to a nice, intense start.''
From that start, they hardly relented. Morris, Barba, Idris and Turner reaped much of the rewards but there were standout performances everywhere: Ben Roberts responded to criticism with a superb display; new arrival Blake Green was outstanding at lock; Kimmorley and Ennis were creative sparks; and Ben Hannant led from the front with an impressive 166 metres gained.
The prop, criticised by some fans for revealing he would eventually like to move his family to the Gold Coast, said he was delighted with the reception from Canterbury supporters.
''They were fantastic tonight. Every time I came off, I got a big cheer,'' Hannant said. ''That's the great thing about this club. They understand my situation. They've been very supportive, the club, my teammates, the fans.''
The only bad news for the Bulldogs was another injury to utility Dene Halatau. Making his club debut after an ankle injury, the former Wests Tiger sustained suspected medial ligament knee damage and will have scans today.
