The Bulldogs are flying on top of the table as the only undefeated team after beating the Knights 20-0 with ease in another clinical display of their ruthless defence.
To hold a team with Kalyn Ponga in it to nil shows how good Cameron Ciraldo’s team is off the ball and if they can continue to improve their attack, they are a real darkhorse for the title.
Matty Johns believes the Bulldogs have built their whole game around their rushing defence and opposition teams can’t go with them in that department.
“That is a strong win 20-0,” Johns said on Sunday Night with Matty Johns.
“That opening set shows they are dictating the terms of the contest with their rushing defence.
“It was a game you would look at and say, it wasn’t an ugly game, it wasn’t a pretty game, it was exactly the type of game the Dogs want to play.
“Five wins and a bye it is a great start to the season.”
Nathan Hindmarsh believes holding a side with Kalyn Ponga in it to zero points is a massive effort for any team.
“They were very physical early on and they were brutal in that first set, but they didn’t change over the course of the game,” Hindmarsh said.
“To keep a side like the Knights with Kalyn Ponga in it to nil, I think they will take a lot out of that.
“To keep any side to nil in the NRL is a massive achievement. They are nice and tight in the middle. I think we have seen a few teams who are loose around the posts area and leaking a few easy tries, but the Dogs seem to compress a little bit harder and back themselves to hold them out.”
Bryan Fletcher believes the Bulldogs are serious premiership contenders and are still to welcome back two of their best players.
“They are humming along,” Fletcher said.
“They just control the ruck so well. Obviously Ciraldo has come form Penrith and there is a lot of similarities to how Penrith defend from the inside.
“They are just getting better and better every week and what are they going to be like in a month when they get Kikau and Burton back, who are their guns on that left side.
“They are a massive chance of taking out this premiership.”
Johns marvelled at the Bulldogs maintaining their Dogs of War mantle, despite carrying a smaller pack to when they were winning multiple titles in the 80s.
“The Dogs of War in the 80s were a big pack of forwards, but these blokes are just as physical, but they are very different, they are a smaller pack,” Johns said.
“If you have a big pack these days the modern game and the speed of the rucks, you are going to get blown away, but I think the Bulldogs are almost the prototype of a forward pack.
“They are shorter, fast moving, everyone has got speed and footwork and can use the football a little bit. They look terrific.”
Fletcher paid tribute to Phil Goul’s foresight to see where the game was evolving and investing in the right type of players.
“Remember two or three years ago when they signed all those utilities and everyone was saying, they are going to be too small,” Fletcher said.
“But obviously Gus knew what he was doing because they are very mobile.”
