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From LeagueHQ (SMH)
BULLDOGS coach Kevin Moore believes his side's premiership campaign is still on track and that they will ''bounce back'' - despite an insipid performance without their veteran No.7 Brett Kimmorley.
Moore's men had been favourites to win the minor premiership and claim the J.J. Giltinan Shield but capitulated in the face of a Wests Tigers onslaught at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Moore said last night that Kimmorley's composure was missed but insisted it was not the reason for the Dogs' capitulation. ''The way the game went I don't think Brett would have made a huge amount of difference,'' Moore said. ''He certainly would have had a more positive affect on our composure. There were times where we were maybe a chance of getting ourselves back into the flow of the game and we probably took some poor opportunities. That is a lesson learnt - that you have got to maintain your composure and maintain your patience … trying to flick miracle balls on play two or three to get yourself back into the game is rarely the way to go.''
Moore insisted the loss wasn't a setback. ''In the overall picture I don't think it is,'' he said. ''It was certainly disappointing. We just got off to a terrible start, playing a team that had nothing to lose. I think the way the game went we just played into their hands a little bit. You can't win football games when you don't touch the ball for eight minutes. We've won 18 out of 24 games this year so we've been very consistent. Every time we've performed sub-standardly we've always bounced back for next week, so that's what I expect.''
Moore did say that Daniel Holdsworth's role as Bulldogs halfback will be reviewed.
''Daniel throughout the season has performed really well for us - when we've played good footy,'' Moore said. ''Tonight, nothing went our way. Certainly Daniel wasn't the reason [for the defeat].''
Missing out on the minor premiership would not weigh heavily on his team's mind, insisted Moore. ''I always said that it is just a by-product of your season.''
Kimmorley is expected to be out for up to a month after he suffered three fractures to his right cheekbone. But the halfback, who has had two titanium plates inserted his face, believes he could get back on the field within a fortnight.
Meanwhile, a lifting tackle from Bulldogs centre Josh Morris and fullback Luke Patten on Keith Galloway could come under scrutiny by the match review panel and further disrupt the Canterbury club's finals campaign.
''If anything, I thought Galloway maybe was playing for the penalty and dived at the ground a little bit,'' Moore said. ''I didn't think there was much in it at all. Very tame one.''
Bulldogs fans also came under the spotlight when a bottle was thrown on to the field just after Benji Marshall crossed for a try in the 52nd minute.
Seven Tigers had pain-killing injections to play last night and captain Robbie Farah is anticipating better things in 2010. ''I think there's a different feeling after this year,'' Farah said. ''I can't wait for next year. I'm optimistic that, even though we have missed the eight, we've taken a step in the right direction this year, and we're a better side than where we finished.''
