Looking on the bright side

[Moedogg]

We probably needed that loss before the finals to identify where we are when teams pick up the intensity which is similar to finals football. That was a good reality check for us and allows Ciraldo to make adjustments before the finals. Sharks probably won't drop 2 games anyway so we probably weren't going to make the top 4.

 

[KiwiDog7]

We probably needed that loss before the finals to identify where we are when teams pick up the intensity which is similar to finals football. That was a good reality check for us and allows Ciraldo to make adjustments before the finals. Sharks probably won't drop 2 games anyway so we probably weren't going to make the top 4.

Yeah, even the Storm didn’t want to enter the finals on a long win streak

Seriously though some massive overreaction from the fan base

We will make the right adjustments and win next week to secure 5th, people really underestimate Critta influence and leadership on the paddock.

Our pack have been punching way above their weight and pay scale all season and surely are allowed one down game/effort?
Lots of people on here have been made fools when they put shit on the team and players only for the boys and Ciro to get us a dub the following week

 

[wendog33]

Agree. We had a set back to where we all thought we could be.

Nevertheless we have achieved so much this year and exceeded all our expectations with this roster we have now.

It was clear where we need to improve our selections and roster. That will no doubt happen next year and hopefully next week Ciro comes up with some adjustments and the guys execute those plans. It is based on every player doing their very best every play. We didn't see that this week, for what maybe several reasons, that have been discussed here already eg fatigue, mind on his new club and lack of intensity and concentration. This problem with handling has not been remedied either.

Main thing is that this improvement this year is real. We can see it in every game and it's backed up by sound management by Gus and Ciro and its now totally implanted back into our DNA once again.

They might be off for various reasons and they'll never get consistent treatment by refs but they'll never give up.

 

[TOTTO]

Said it before, the game against the Cowboys next week will be telling of how we will go in the finals.

 

[D.O.W.]

Yeah, even the Storm didn’t want to enter the finals on a long win streak

Seriously though some massive overreaction from the fan base

We will make the right adjustments and win next week to secure 5th, people really underestimate Critta influence and leadership on the paddock.

Our pack have been punching way above their weight and pay scale all season and surely are allowed on down game/effort?
Lots of people on here have been made fools when they put shit on the team and players only for the boys and Ciro to get us a dub the following week

Great post, the Kennel has its fair share of the good and the bad, the good is awesome, everyone goes all in, our fanbase is the best at celebrating the highs… but the freaks come out when we lose, some epic stupid sh!t.

Waiting for the thread “our pack is too small” but 14 times this year, the pack was just fine. We have what we have and to be 5th with this squad is remarkable, we should be super proud.

 

[KiwiDog7]

Great post, the Kennel has its fair share of the good and the bad, the good is awesome, everyone goes all in, our fanbase is the best at celebrating the highs… but the freaks come out when we lose, some epic stupid sh!t.

Waiting for the thread “our pack is too small” but 14 times this year, the pack was just fine. We have what we have and to be 5th with this squad is remarkable, we should be super proud.

100% bro well said

 

[Psycho Doggie]

I don't believe this "loss we needed to have" stuff. If we were a bit stronger, a bit more experienced, we still win that game. To be a top 2 team we need to win those games, and I want us to get to top 2, like it was in the 80s, us and Parra (though this time the other team is probably going to be Strom, Penriff, or Chooks).

Having said that, we are probably pretty close to a top 6 team, and we were clearly fatigued and off our game last night. Time will tell if the season has finally taken it out of us, and we've done our dash, or if it was more to do with the last 4-5 weeks of lots of travel, close games, and a great string of 5 wins. Given our 2nd half, and the way we kept on turning up, and were 1 proper effort from Skelton away from cutting the scoreline to as little as 6 points in the dying seconds, I'm thinking the latter.

We have earned our spot on the back of a massive 5 wins leading up to this loss, and one loss doesn't take credit away from what the team managed to do in those weeks.

 

[Chris Harding]

We've done a lot of travelling the last fortnight, and have faced desperate teams throwing monster forwards at us.

At some point most teams have a lapse. Manly were on song last night, yet were beaten by the Tigers the previous match.

Over the decades I've followed the Berries/Bulldogs I have seen games where nothing was working for us and the other side could do no wrong.

The ball can be cruel, as can simple things like a player injury, or a bad call at a crucial time. Then, there are days when all that happens in 80 minutes and it's like a wall of bad play and bad luck.

What the Dogs have to do is go back to basics on Monday, and get back the hunger.

The Cowboys will be feeling confident, and will bring that attitude with them next Saturday. The team know that the crowd will be huge and wanting a big win after last night. If they are the real deal, they will have learned from Manly what finals football is really like, and adjust to it.

As far as I am concerned, we have over exceeded by making the finals. From now on I don't care. We will be better for next year, and hungrier from round one.

And just remember that, after a disappointing first half, we held them to 10 all in the second half, with everything going against us and DCE on song.
Not bad considering.

 

[1967]

As much as I hate seeing them lose …. I was also hating the darling’s of the Nrl tag, that we‘ve just been winning because we’re favoured because we pull big crowds, after Critta not being binned the media pushed that tag even harder, they were all saying it and opposition fans licked it up and started saying that was the only reason we were winning..

The team will get a lot out of the loss and come out firing next week, I feel they may have been flat being back home after all the traveling ..

But I’m also hoping that loss in front of a huge Bulldogs crowd demyths the “Nrl Darlings crap .. with all the hard work this team and the coaching staff have put in they deserve to be respected for that, not some tag some media dick came up with …

 

[DinkumDog]

people really underestimate Critta influence and leadership on the paddock.

Very noticeable last night. Our right edge was poor both in attack and defence. Manly scored at least two soft tries on their left where Critta would’ve had the defence organised. You can usually hear him barking orders which was noticeably absent last night. Mann also a big loss defensively. But yeah, an off night in an otherwise impressive season. Let’s see how we go against the Cows before getting the pitchforks out.

 

[silva]

Some of manly tries were far too easy but we can fix those defensive reads easily. Manly weren’t that good our defence was just shit

 

[M4cca]

Look no further than manlys performance against the tigers last week for proof things can be turned around very quickly

 

[CrittaMagic69]

There is no bright side because Ciraldo has shown his hand and will continue to sabotage the team for his son.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Yeah, even the Storm didn’t want to enter the finals on a long win streak

Seriously though some massive overreaction from the fan base

We will make the right adjustments and win next week to secure 5th, people really underestimate Critta influence and leadership on the paddock.

Our pack have been punching way above their weight and pay scale all season and surely are allowed one down game/effort?
Lots of people on here have been made fools when they put shit on the team and players only for the boys and Ciro to get us a dub the following week

L

 

[GA45]

There is no bright side because Ciraldo has shown his hand and will continue to sabotage the team for his son.

Take a breath and get on your push bike and cycle to BSG with that ‘Salmon out’ sign. Will do you the world of good.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Take a breath and get on your push bike and cycle to BSG with that ‘Salmon out’ sign. Will do you the world of good.

Ciraldo might beat me up

 

[Pottz]

We've done a lot of travelling the last fortnight, and have faced desperate teams throwing monster forwards at us.

At some point most teams have a lapse. Manly were on song last night, yet were beaten by the Tigers the previous match.

Over the decades I've followed the Berries/Bulldogs I have seen games where nothing was working for us and the other side could do no wrong.

The ball can be cruel, as can simple things like a player injury, or a bad call at a crucial time. Then, there are days when all that happens in 80 minutes and it's like a wall of bad play and bad luck.

What the Dogs have to do is go back to basics on Monday, and get back the hunger.

The Cowboys will be feeling confident, and will bring that attitude with them next Saturday. The team know that the crowd will be huge and wanting a big win after last night. If they are the real deal, they will have learned from Manly what finals football is really like, and adjust to it.

As far as I am concerned, we have over exceeded by making the finals. From now on I don't care. We will be better for next year, and hungrier from round one.

And just remember that, after a disappointing first half, we held them to 10 all in the second half, with everything going against us and DCE on song.
Not bad considering.

Good post.

Speaking of DCE, he might be intensely hard to like but man he is a good player. He’s 35 and looks like he could keep playing top level for years. 300 odd games over 14 seasons will teach you some stuff I suppose.

 

[Shnissss]

Said it before, the game against the Cowboys next week will be telling of how we will go in the finals.

I wouldn’t use next weeks game as a measure for how we go in the finals. Boys will really be pushed this week. Intensity up at training prepping for the finals. I hope we don’t turn up too flat

 

[Dognacious]

The loss doesnt matter at all. After penrith won by a decent margin our top 4 hopes were very unlikely anyway. The only thing the loss opened up was possibility we miss a home final if manly win next week and we dont. We will beat cows at accor with critta back.

 

[Bob dog]

Who dat big fooker who creamed Kurtis, buy that honky today