News They are so weak’: Bulldogs’ ‘big deficiency’ laid bare as key selection battle slammed

[The DoggFather]

Keyword. Trials.

Exactly. Not being negative but Storm only had 2 FGers and Sharts had no Hynes.

BUT

Fk will I be happy if the leaking points has really slowed down to a trickle this season.

 

[The DoggFather]

PS fkn lol at these media c***s dribbling the same bullshit about something the whole league world knows and try to pass it off as "fresh" news.

Every **** knows we have no middles and no halfback.

Get the fuck over it you diseased rhinoceros dicks.

 

[BlackDawg]

Sexbomb every day of the week...hutch is a fucking snail. Surely we can do a brisbane and have a tony carol type defend next to sexyboy rather than having a dude that can never be a line threat.

 

[Dogs4EVA-1]

It us really concerning that Ciraldo already is making strange selection decisions…how can anyone justify Hutchinson over Sexton?

exactly.. its ridiculous, Hutcho is too predictable and has zero pace, as Braith said he is no threat to run at all.. I would have gone with SexBomb and seen how he went.. when the Eels flog us by 60+ hopefully then Ciro rings the changes at 7 for round 2.. also not sure about Kiraz at centre either.. and don't get me started on Taffe.. he is average and too small..

 

[Dogs4EVA-1]

Joseph O'Neill

He's the one

Yep him or BBO i'll be watching closely in NSW Cup early on...

 

[Harry Oz]

Both Hutchison and Sexton have their pluses and minuses.
My hunch is Hutchison getting the nod was partly because the first 6 rounds are so tough.
Ciraldo is happy to get into arm wrestles over the next 6 rounds, like in the two trials. He mainly needs to avoid blowouts to settle the new side. Hutchison is there for the extra 10 kilos he provides in defence.
The 2024 rebuild is starting with a focus on defense.
Let's see where we're at after Round 6 before looking for a creative half who is a target in defence.

 

[D0GMATIC]

PS fkn lol at these media c***s dribbling the same bullshit about something the whole league world knows and try to pass it off as "fresh" news.

Every **** knows we have no middles and no halfback.

Get the fuck over it you diseased rhinoceros dicks.

It's not that we have "no" middles, we have middles that are unproven. Sexton is a decent young 7, Fucked if I know why we haven't started with him

 

[Cook]

People used to criticise Ben Ikin, that **** is a super genius compared to anasta.

Ikin is a massive footy nerd. He knows the game inside out, from all levels.

 

[Cook]

We're so weak in the middle, yet we only let in 3 tries and had the best defence in the trials.

Good point, one an intercept or lost ball runaway. Another some bullshit freaky halftime play

 

[EXPLORER]

"PACK"? So what's so bad about Kikau, Preston, Mahony, Curran, Salmon, Mann, ? A pack does have 2nd rowers and locks and hookers and ours are not that bad..

Why do you guys say "PACK", when you mean PROPS?


Always a Bulldog

Absolutely true,
When we say pack, we refer to the entire forward pack.
And prop forwards are a big part of the pack.
As a whole our pack is lacking due to the quality of our props.
We do have some good players in our pack.
But our pack as a whole will let us down week in week put.
Thus no time or space for our spine
Thus no good ball to out outside men.
Our entire team will struggle on the back of out pack lacking in key areas.
Hope that helps you understand

 

[D0GMATIC]

Ikin is a massive footy nerd. He knows the game inside out, from all levels.

If Kent didn't come back, I doubt I'd watch 360, Tallis and anasta are a terrible combination. Kent says a lot of things I agree with and more importantly he holds the nrlol accountable,without carrying on like crawley, rothfield or the other 2 bullet heads

 

[Cook]

If Kent didn't come back, I doubt I'd watch 360, Tallis and anasta are a terrible combination. Kent says a lot of things I agree with and more importantly he holds the nrlol accountable,without carrying on like crawley, rothfield or the other 2 bullet heads

Same, he has a very good rugby league brain. Hopefully he just calms it down a bit, instead of being an arrogant prick. He usually chops up rothfield though which is good.

 

[justdogs]

The Bulldogs have been criticised for picking Drew Hutchison over specialist No.7 Toby Sexton at halfback amid fears they don’t have the halves or props to climb up the ladder in 2024.

Cameron Ciraldo has handed the key No.7 jersey to former Roosters veteran Hutchison over Sexton, while his starting props for Round 1 are Max King and Poasa Faamausili.

“Cameron Ciraldo backs Drew Hutchison over Toby Sexton, who misses out for Round 1,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.

This is no surprise. Hutchison trialled in that No.7 jersey, so we knew that he was going to get first crack.

“After the first trial against Melbourne, I thought the Bulldogs were looking really good. After the second trial against Cronulla I thought the opposite.

They had a strong team that first 20 minutes and the one position that still worried me is halfback.”

Paul Kent believes Hutchison has been picked to do a job for Ciraldo and not necessarily because he is a better halfback prospect than Sexton.

“I think Hutchison has been a little bit out of sorts at halfback,” Kent said.

“From my understanding Cameron Ciraldo has got him there because he just likes the way he points the team around.

“I think Sexton is going to be the better halfback eventually if he is not already there now. He seems to have more strings to his bow.

“I think Hutchison is basically there because he gets the team around the park.”

However, Anasta believes Hutchison makes the Bulldogs too predictable in attack and his style won’t bring out the best in Matt Burton or the Bulldogs’ strike outside backs.

“Let’s be honest they don’t have a luxury of riches in their halves,” Anasta said.

“I am going to put it out there. My concern is I think they have got two five-eighths playing in the halves.

“Matt Burton comes as a centre to play five-eighth. He is a really good five-eighth but he needs a genuine No.7 inside of him.

“He has now got an ageing five-eighth who is not fast, not that creative and doesn’t really take pressure off his back-rowers or players around him because he doesn’t run the ball that much.

“I know I am being pretty brutally honest, but as I watched that game against Cronulla because Hutchison is not a threat they just slid off.

“And the firepower that they had around them in Crichton and their new players and Kikau, they are now double teamed because they know that Hutchison is not going to run the ball or he isn’t a huge threat with ball in hand.

“If I am the Bulldogs I am going for a genuine No.7. Sexton, yes he hasn’t set the world on fire, but he has got speed, he is more creative and he is a No.7.

“He can unlock Burton more I believe than Hutchison. After the trials I was not convinced that Hutchison was definitely the man for the job, so why wouldn’t you go for a genuine No.7?

“I am a bit confused by it. I know they don’t have a luxury of riches in terms of their halves, but I would have gone with Sexton.”


Dave Riccio believes there is little difference between the two halfback options and Hutchison got the nod after a better pre-season on the training paddock.

“I think you are talking about a much of muchness for the standard of half that you are talking about,” Riccio said.

“They are in a similar boat. My understanding is Drew Hutchison has won this jersey on points on the back of his pre-season.

He has outpointed Sexton in bringing the team together. Secondly they have Jaeman Salmon at No.13 who will create more opportunities.”

However, Brent Read warned the Bulldogs need to land some front-rowers or it won’t matter who is steering the ship at halfback.

“I don’t think it matters who they play at halfback because they have got no middle forwards,” Read said.

“They are so weak through the middle of the field and they know it.

“They tried to get Sio Siua Taukeiaho. He got sent back because of a medical problem. Their middles are so weak.

“I don’t think it matters who plays halfback there. They are going to struggle.”

“But it does still matter if you are trying to make the top eight,” Anasta interjected.

I’m not saying they are going to make it, but I want to give them a chance.”

Read believes the Bulldogs need to make halfback and prop their priority positions to fill if they want to complete their rebuild and contend again after years of missing out on players in those positions.

“I don’t think they can make the top eight,” Read said.

“They are weak in the halves and the middle forwards. They are average. They are still rebuilding.

“They need to find a halfback. That is a massive issue for them. They won’t get one this year, but next year they need to find a halfback.

“They have had a go at a few blokes. They had a go at Mitchell Moses at one point. There was talk about Luke Brooks at one point. They need to land someone because it is a big deficiency.”

I think Cero needs to stay home at training and give a call on Tuesday morning to couple journos and TK to pick up the team, FFS people let the coach do his job

 

[ChesoBulldog]

Yep him or BBO i'll be watching closely in NSW Cup early on...

ship has sailed on bbo imo

he is nothing but nsw cup depth tbh

 

[DinkumDog]

Andrew Johns could be our 7, and we'd still struggle.

Likely, given he turns 50 this year .

 

[D- voice]

[Q

The Bulldogs have been criticised for picking Drew Hutchison over specialist No.7 Toby Sexton at halfback amid fears they don’t have the halves or props to climb up the ladder in 2024.

Cameron Ciraldo has handed the key No.7 jersey to former Roosters veteran Hutchison over Sexton, while his starting props for Round 1 are Max King and Poasa Faamausili.

“Cameron Ciraldo backs Drew Hutchison over Toby Sexton, who misses out for Round 1,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.

This is no surprise. Hutchison trialled in that No.7 jersey, so we knew that he was going to get first crack.

“After the first trial against Melbourne, I thought the Bulldogs were looking really good. After the second trial against Cronulla I thought the opposite.

They had a strong team that first 20 minutes and the one position that still worried me is halfback.”

Paul Kent believes Hutchison has been picked to do a job for Ciraldo and not necessarily because he is a better halfback prospect than Sexton.

“I think Hutchison has been a little bit out of sorts at halfback,” Kent said.

“From my understanding Cameron Ciraldo has got him there because he just likes the way he points the team around.

“I think Sexton is going to be the better halfback eventually if he is not already there now. He seems to have more strings to his bow.

“I think Hutchison is basically there because he gets the team around the park.”

However, Anasta believes Hutchison makes the Bulldogs too predictable in attack and his style won’t bring out the best in Matt Burton or the Bulldogs’ strike outside backs.

“Let’s be honest they don’t have a luxury of riches in their halves,” Anasta said.

“I am going to put it out there. My concern is I think they have got two five-eighths playing in the halves.

“Matt Burton comes as a centre to play five-eighth. He is a really good five-eighth but he needs a genuine No.7 inside of him.

“He has now got an ageing five-eighth who is not fast, not that creative and doesn’t really take pressure off his back-rowers or players around him because he doesn’t run the ball that much.

“I know I am being pretty brutally honest, but as I watched that game against Cronulla because Hutchison is not a threat they just slid off.

“And the firepower that they had around them in Crichton and their new players and Kikau, they are now double teamed because they know that Hutchison is not going to run the ball or he isn’t a huge threat with ball in hand.

“If I am the Bulldogs I am going for a genuine No.7. Sexton, yes he hasn’t set the world on fire, but he has got speed, he is more creative and he is a No.7.

“He can unlock Burton more I believe than Hutchison. After the trials I was not convinced that Hutchison was definitely the man for the job, so why wouldn’t you go for a genuine No.7?

“I am a bit confused by it. I know they don’t have a luxury of riches in terms of their halves, but I would have gone with Sexton.”


Dave Riccio believes there is little difference between the two halfback options and Hutchison got the nod after a better pre-season on the training paddock.

“I think you are talking about a much of muchness for the standard of half that you are talking about,” Riccio said.

“They are in a similar boat. My understanding is Drew Hutchison has won this jersey on points on the back of his pre-season.

He has outpointed Sexton in bringing the team together. Secondly they have Jaeman Salmon at No.13 who will create more opportunities.”

However, Brent Read warned the Bulldogs need to land some front-rowers or it won’t matter who is steering the ship at halfback.

“I don’t think it matters who they play at halfback because they have got no middle forwards,” Read said.

“They are so weak through the middle of the field and they know it.

“They tried to get Sio Siua Taukeiaho. He got sent back because of a medical problem. Their middles are so weak.

“I don’t think it matters who plays halfback there. They are going to struggle.”

“But it does still matter if you are trying to make the top eight,” Anasta interjected.

I’m not saying they are going to make it, but I want to give them a chance.”

Read believes the Bulldogs need to make halfback and prop their priority positions to fill if they want to complete their rebuild and contend again after years of missing out on players in those positions.

“I don’t think they can make the top eight,” Read said.

“They are weak in the halves and the middle forwards. They are average. They are still rebuilding.

“They need to find a halfback. That is a massive issue for them. They won’t get one this year, but next year they need to find a halfback.

“They have had a go at a few blokes. They had a go at Mitchell Moses at one point. There was talk about Luke Brooks at one point. They need to land someone because it is a big deficiency.”

It's a double edged sword !!!
Here is why:
Hutchison isn't the perfect 7 but a leader a captain's material who could benefit the team.
Sexton is a better halfback, IMO is more likely to free up Burton, but how will he handle pressure ?
IMO both players and the team would benefit immensely from a better service from dummy half.
Playing Sexton in the 7 will clear 2 issues,
* Is he good enough for 1st grade.
* Is Burton a five eight or should he move to the centre,
Could the solution be 4 Burton 6 Hutchison 7 Sexton, all in their natural positions.
These questions needs to be quickly answered, club can't wait till season's end !!!

 

[djdeep4172]

[Q

It's a double edged sword !!!
Here is why:
Hutchison isn't the perfect 7 but a leader a captain's material who could benefit the team.
Sexton is a better halfback, IMO is more likely to free up Burton, but how will he handle pressure ?
IMO both players and the team would benefit immensely from a better service from dummy half.
Playing Sexton in the 7 will clear 2 issues,
* Is he good enough for 1st grade.
* Is Burton a five eight or should he move to the centre,
Could the solution be 4 Burton 6 Hutchison 7 Sexton, all in their natural positions.
These questions marks needs to be quickly answered, club can't wait till season's end !!!

What I can see happening Hutchison will absolutely offer zero in attack, putting all the pressure on Burton, who will be easily targeted, therefore, shutting out the backs.
Let’s see who can coach better.
The Kennel, or Cameron ciraldo

I have no doubt, the team will be much better defensively, but we can’t compensate that to make our attack regress. We have some of the best backs we need to take more risks.

 

[D0GMATIC]

Same, he has a very good rugby league brain. Hopefully he just calms it down a bit, instead of being an arrogant prick. He usually chops up rothfield though which is good.

I don't he is arrogant, he is opionated for sure. And his opinions are generally right

 

[stevesonthebay]

That could be the key to why Hutch has been chosen because Parra have a great back row combo and any weakness in defense will be exposed. But it may be that against another side Sexton would be more suitable. Thats the good thing about having a few halves we can experiment.

Remember no positions have really been settled apart from say King, Preston, Kikau, the Fox and Mahoney. Its still trial and error with experimenting which combo works best.

 

[D- voice]

What I can see happening Hutchison will absolutely offer zero in attack, putting all the pressure on Burton, who will be easily targeted, therefore, shutting out the backs.
Let’s see who can coach better.
The Kennel, or Cameron ciraldo

I have no doubt, the team will be much better defensively, but we can’t compensate that to make our attack regress. We have some of the best backs we need to take more risks.

Like I said we need the questions to be answered and the only way to is to select a halfback inside Burton !!!
I would have Hutchison at 14.