Bulldogs v Dragons: Round 14 preview
Author
NRL.com
Timestamp
Tue 5 Jun 2018, 10:08 AM
They have opposite records and sit at different ends of the NRL ladder, but clashes between the Bulldogs and Dragons are usually fiery affairs regardless of how they are progressing through the season.
The Doggies are virtually out of finals contention with a 3-9 record, while the Dragons are in much better shape at 9-3. Both teams are last-start losers, with Canterbury going down to the Tigers in yet another game they were winning and the Dragons walloped 28-2 by the Panthers.
It's a nothing-to-lose game for the Dogs but it's nothing of the sort for their opponents, who have shown signs of slippage over the past few weeks. Add that to the fact they have four players backing up from Origin duty and the Dragons are definitely vulnerable against a side that traditionally has given them a hard time.
Strange as it may seem, this Monday night encounter could go either way.
Key match-up: Snubbed for the Origin series opener, Bulldogs prop Aaron Woods might be a bit more fired up than usual against Paul Vaughan – the man who effectively took his spot in the NSW side. Woods almost certainly won't be with the Dogs next year (possibly not even all of this season) and should make every post a winner in what little time he has left with the club.
For the Bulldogs to win: Woods, fellow prop Dave Klemmer and hard-nosed back-rower Josh Jackson have to set an aggressive tone and demand that their younger teammates follow their lead. But more than anything, the Bulldogs must stop squandering handy scoring opportunities and start putting some tries on the board.
For the Dragons to win: There's every chance Ben Hunt (cork) will be rested even if he gets through Origin unscathed, which means coach Paul McGregor would need a stop-gap halfback. The Dragons have looked a little tired in recent weeks and need to re-focus on the processes that earned them eight wins in their first 10 games.
And another thing: There's probably people around the Wollongong suburb of Dapto who remember a footballing larrikin nicknamed 'Mary' who liked a beer and a laugh with his mates. They probably thought he'd never make it in the big time, but Paul 'Mary' McGregor brings up his 100th game as coach on Monday and has proven himself as a fine leader of men.
Match: Bulldogs vs Dragons
4:00pm
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v St George Illawarra Dragons, Monday 4pm at ANZ Stadium
Head-to-head: Played 34; Bulldogs 23 wins, Dragons 11 wins
Matches at venue: Played 19; Bulldogs 13 wins, Dragons 6 wins
2017 result: Bulldogs won 16-2 at ANZ Stadium in round 14; Bulldogs won 26-20 at ANZ Stadium in round 26
Points per game: Bulldogs 15.3;Dragons 25.1
Points conceded per game: Bulldogs 19.8; Dragons 16
Televised: Live on Fox League
Steve Turner's prediction: The Dragons will be hoping all their Origin players come through injury free because they have been an enormous part of their early season success. It's going to be a testing period for Paul McGregor's men who have set the bar so high to date. The Bulldogs have won 11 of their past 12 matches against the Dragons and that's good enough for to suggest they will make it win number 12. TIP: Bulldogs by 6
