It's far removed from a crisis meeting, but the Bulldogs' senior leaders have challenged Canterbury's squad to swiftly solve the impossible jigsaw which has become the side's season before they plunge into a mid-season malaise.
Desperately searching for a shred of consistency in a topsy-turvy season thus far, the Bulldogs' most experienced players have taken it upon themselves to fix the club's baffling start to their campaign – without having the riot act read by coach Des Hasler.
But the fact is Hasler's side has become very un-Hasler like. Ruthlessly efficient one week, maddeningly mediocre the next.
Hot and cold Dogs: Josh Morris says the team is seeking answers to their inconsistent play. Photo: Mark Metcalfe
A win over their traditional bogy side the Gold Coast Titans, as expected, will mean the Bulldogs will have alternated wins and losses for the past six weeks. Enough to preserve a spot in the top eight – and also enough to send their fans batty.
Puzzling losses to the Raiders and Warriors have been sprinkled in with impressive wins over the Rabbitohs and Storm. So why the yin and yang at Belmore?
"One week we're on, the next we're not," centre Josh Morris said. "It's probably more mental. We have to start respecting every team and thinking they're the best side in the comp. We have probably been guilty of thinking it is going to happen and the side comes out fired up, puts a score on us and we have to try to chase it down.
"As a senior players group we have spoken about that to the players and having that mental focus about preparing well. You can't blame just one player. We have to die as a team together.
"We have had a couple of meetings and a couple of discussions about it. It's just about trying to get everyone on the same page and get that mental reasoning behind it so we make sure no one is going into a game thinking it is going to be easy."
The Titans will be anything but pushovers for the Bulldogs, who snapped a four-game losing sequence against Gold Coast last year. Most thought the Titans would be wooden spoon candidates this season. The first seven rounds suggests they will be anything but.
And the Bulldogs' representative back-rower Josh Jackson hopes Neil Henry's men don't make the hosts resort to open displays of frustration, such as Josh Reynolds flinging the ball at teammate Michael Lichaa in the dying embers of the loss to the Warriors.
"It is really frustrating," Jackson said. "I guess we saw a bit of that on the field the other night. It's not a quick fix – it's going to take some time – but I think everyone knows the direction we're all headed and everyone is on board.
"It's [about] preparation, attitude and game sense on the field as well."
The Bulldogs' own fortunes in the next month could have a huge bearing on the representative claims of both Morris and Jackson – as well as five-eighth Josh Reynolds. While a couple look to retain their State of Origin jumpers, Reynolds will be looking to regain his.
But Morris refuses to buy into the selection debate, preferring to dodge the speculation NSW coach Laurie Daley is eyeing a shake-up in his outside backs for the series opener.
"To be honest I am not even thinking about it at all," Morris said. "If your team is playing well you're going to be considered there. I really care about this team and I want to see us do well. That is my sole focus."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/canterbury-bulldogs/canterburybankstown-bulldogs-leadership-group-searching-for-answers-to-rollercoaster-start-to-year-20160420-goaqhc.html#ixzz46LznL4Ri
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Desperately searching for a shred of consistency in a topsy-turvy season thus far, the Bulldogs' most experienced players have taken it upon themselves to fix the club's baffling start to their campaign – without having the riot act read by coach Des Hasler.
But the fact is Hasler's side has become very un-Hasler like. Ruthlessly efficient one week, maddeningly mediocre the next.
Hot and cold Dogs: Josh Morris says the team is seeking answers to their inconsistent play. Photo: Mark Metcalfe
A win over their traditional bogy side the Gold Coast Titans, as expected, will mean the Bulldogs will have alternated wins and losses for the past six weeks. Enough to preserve a spot in the top eight – and also enough to send their fans batty.
Puzzling losses to the Raiders and Warriors have been sprinkled in with impressive wins over the Rabbitohs and Storm. So why the yin and yang at Belmore?
"One week we're on, the next we're not," centre Josh Morris said. "It's probably more mental. We have to start respecting every team and thinking they're the best side in the comp. We have probably been guilty of thinking it is going to happen and the side comes out fired up, puts a score on us and we have to try to chase it down.
"As a senior players group we have spoken about that to the players and having that mental focus about preparing well. You can't blame just one player. We have to die as a team together.
"We have had a couple of meetings and a couple of discussions about it. It's just about trying to get everyone on the same page and get that mental reasoning behind it so we make sure no one is going into a game thinking it is going to be easy."
The Titans will be anything but pushovers for the Bulldogs, who snapped a four-game losing sequence against Gold Coast last year. Most thought the Titans would be wooden spoon candidates this season. The first seven rounds suggests they will be anything but.
And the Bulldogs' representative back-rower Josh Jackson hopes Neil Henry's men don't make the hosts resort to open displays of frustration, such as Josh Reynolds flinging the ball at teammate Michael Lichaa in the dying embers of the loss to the Warriors.
"It is really frustrating," Jackson said. "I guess we saw a bit of that on the field the other night. It's not a quick fix – it's going to take some time – but I think everyone knows the direction we're all headed and everyone is on board.
"It's [about] preparation, attitude and game sense on the field as well."
The Bulldogs' own fortunes in the next month could have a huge bearing on the representative claims of both Morris and Jackson – as well as five-eighth Josh Reynolds. While a couple look to retain their State of Origin jumpers, Reynolds will be looking to regain his.
But Morris refuses to buy into the selection debate, preferring to dodge the speculation NSW coach Laurie Daley is eyeing a shake-up in his outside backs for the series opener.
"To be honest I am not even thinking about it at all," Morris said. "If your team is playing well you're going to be considered there. I really care about this team and I want to see us do well. That is my sole focus."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/canterbury-bulldogs/canterburybankstown-bulldogs-leadership-group-searching-for-answers-to-rollercoaster-start-to-year-20160420-goaqhc.html#ixzz46LznL4Ri
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
