GrogDog
bad attitude
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http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...heir-bite-for-nrl-finals-20160905-gr99bd.html
Canterbury captain James Graham has played down concerns about the Bulldogs' form leading into Sunday's elimination final against Penrith at Allianz Stadium, insisting Des Hasler's side can lift when it matters most.
The Bulldogs have lost three matches in a row to qualify seventh and must beat the Panthers without the services of fullback Will Hopoate, who will be missing for religious reasons, if they are to keep their premiership hopes alive.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...eir-bite-for-nrl-finals-20160905-gr99bd.html#
"No one is going to read about that after. No one is going to care too much about that after. It is here, we're playing Penrith, let's see where it goes. We have to believe in ourselves. There is no point dwelling on last Friday, on the two Thursdays before that because it has been and gone. It is pointless. I know this is cliched. It is a new competition."
Graham said his team approached the finals with lofty expectations despite having not won for a month.
"We're a big club with big responsibilities. That comes with the territory. It's the nature of the beast," Graham said. "Canterbury are a huge, huge Sydney club with a massive following. That all comes with it. You're always under pressure to perform and succeed.
"There is no escaping it, whether it's through media channels of people in the street. You only have to look back at the times we have made grand finals to see what a difference it makes, to see the outpouring of support. That in a sense shows how much the game means to people and how many people it does affect. It comes with the territory and you wouldn't have it any other way."
Dogs are barking: Skipper James Graham has dismissed the Bulldogs' poor form leading into the NRL finals series. Photo: Getty Images
As for Hopoate, who negotiated a contract with Canterbury that permits him to sit out games on Sundays due to his Mormon faith, the Bulldogs are confident they can perform with him.
The fullback will only entertain the thought of reversing his position on Sunday football if Canterbury manage to string together three successive wins and qualify for the grand final.
"Will has been outstanding for us this year," Graham said. "He is a really important part of our team. We had a month in the middle of the year where we got some practice playing without him.
"I am fully confident in the lads that are going to take the field. I stand right next to Will, I stand by his side. His faith defines who he is, it really does. I don't think I would want Will on the field with something like this hanging in his head. He is not playing, that is a fact."
So Hoppa is now starting to "only entertain the thought of reversing his position on Sunday football if Canterbury manage to string together three successive wins and qualify for the grand final." Gee who could have seen that religious hypocrisy coming. I would be very pissed as a fan if he sat out until GF day then took someone's spot!
Canterbury captain James Graham has played down concerns about the Bulldogs' form leading into Sunday's elimination final against Penrith at Allianz Stadium, insisting Des Hasler's side can lift when it matters most.
The Bulldogs have lost three matches in a row to qualify seventh and must beat the Panthers without the services of fullback Will Hopoate, who will be missing for religious reasons, if they are to keep their premiership hopes alive.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rug...eir-bite-for-nrl-finals-20160905-gr99bd.html#
"No one is going to read about that after. No one is going to care too much about that after. It is here, we're playing Penrith, let's see where it goes. We have to believe in ourselves. There is no point dwelling on last Friday, on the two Thursdays before that because it has been and gone. It is pointless. I know this is cliched. It is a new competition."
Graham said his team approached the finals with lofty expectations despite having not won for a month.
"We're a big club with big responsibilities. That comes with the territory. It's the nature of the beast," Graham said. "Canterbury are a huge, huge Sydney club with a massive following. That all comes with it. You're always under pressure to perform and succeed.
"There is no escaping it, whether it's through media channels of people in the street. You only have to look back at the times we have made grand finals to see what a difference it makes, to see the outpouring of support. That in a sense shows how much the game means to people and how many people it does affect. It comes with the territory and you wouldn't have it any other way."
Dogs are barking: Skipper James Graham has dismissed the Bulldogs' poor form leading into the NRL finals series. Photo: Getty Images
As for Hopoate, who negotiated a contract with Canterbury that permits him to sit out games on Sundays due to his Mormon faith, the Bulldogs are confident they can perform with him.
The fullback will only entertain the thought of reversing his position on Sunday football if Canterbury manage to string together three successive wins and qualify for the grand final.
"Will has been outstanding for us this year," Graham said. "He is a really important part of our team. We had a month in the middle of the year where we got some practice playing without him.
"I am fully confident in the lads that are going to take the field. I stand right next to Will, I stand by his side. His faith defines who he is, it really does. I don't think I would want Will on the field with something like this hanging in his head. He is not playing, that is a fact."
So Hoppa is now starting to "only entertain the thought of reversing his position on Sunday football if Canterbury manage to string together three successive wins and qualify for the grand final." Gee who could have seen that religious hypocrisy coming. I would be very pissed as a fan if he sat out until GF day then took someone's spot!
