Brissy Bulldog
Proud to be a Bulldog
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2004
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This article was in the Courier Mail today. I have highlighted the parts that relate to the Bulldogs.
It describes us as "a club on the slide"
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Courier Mail 17/3/06
The mighty have fallen
By Bernie Pramberg
Fans of the Bulldogs and Broncos are now used to losing, writes Bernie Pramberg
THE Broncos and Bulldogs have one thing in common -- they've lost that winning feeling. Neither club has won an NRL match since July. The Bulldogs, plummeting from 2004 premiers to one place above the cellar in 2005, had their last win on July 22 when they beat the Broncos 29-22 at Telstra Stadium.
A deafening explosion ignited by hooligans in the north-eastern grandstand 10 minutes before fulltime was more newsworthy than the win. That incident symbolised a litany of off-field controversies that have swamped the Bulldogs since the salary cap crisis in 2002 and Coffs Harbour rape allegations in 2004. A club in denial, infighting between former greats and speculation over the retention of players contributed to a slide, which is going to take a lot of stopping.
The Broncos' most recent win, that even their most fervent fans may struggle to recall, was on July 30 when they survived a controversial decision by the video referee for an uncon-vincing 24-18 victory against Canberra at Suncorp Stadium. In what has become a familiar scenario, Brisbane subsequently lost their last seven games of last season, just as they'd crashed to six straight defeats to end 2004.
The Broncos were free of the catastrophic off-field dramas that turned the Bulldogs into a soap opera, but tough questions needed to be asked. Like all footy clubs, there were contributing circumstances -- injuries, impact of the State of Origin series (ad nauseam), ageing playing staff and salary cap constraints.
There were reviews at Red Hill, with a cleanout of coaching staff the major result. Out went Gary Belcher, Kevin Walters, Glenn Lazarus and John Dixon (already signed to coach in Wales). The fallout guaranteed the 2006 Broncos and coach Wayne Bennett would come under unprecedented public and media scrutiny.
After mediocre pre-season trial form, last weekend's premiership opener against the Cowboys turned up the heat. That 36-4 loss, and the Clydesdales' 36-10 loss to the NQ Young Guns, also raised the temperature. Sure, Darren Lockyer was short of a gallop and Brent Tate, Tonie Carroll, Sam Thaiday and Barry Berrigan were out injured.
It's early days, but the Broncos' lack of pace in key positions, allied with a deficiency in depth, loom as major problems. Ironically, those areas were taken for granted as strengths of the club for so many years.
Brisbane has eight internationals on its books (so do the Bulldogs) and the form of seasoned campaigners Lockyer, props Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva and Carroll will be a major issue. Lockyer and Webcke are champions, and together with Carroll they have endured more wear and tear than most in recent years. Webcke, freed of the shackles of rep football last season, had a fine year. But Civoniceva too often looked one-dimensional and predictable.
Lockyer's defensive work and enthusiasm last week were questionable, and Bennett's steadfast refusal to consider him at fullback limits options. And why wasn't Brett Seymour introduced to last week's game earlier? The Broncos did not set the world on fire early last season, winning two of their opening four matches. They then won 10 straight to lead the competition before that all-too-familiar late slump.
Emerging players have never had a better chance to secure first grade spots. Neville Costigan, Sam Thaiday, Ben Hannant are very good forwards, with Steve Michaels and Leon Bott exciting out wide. It won't be easy for Brisbane, but the Bulldogs face a tougher battle.
To be fair, season-ending injuries to Sonny Bill Williams, Luke Patten, Trent Cutler, Hazem El Masri and Brent Sherwin weighed heavily on their miserable finish last year.
It describes us as "a club on the slide"
---------------------------------------------------------------
Courier Mail 17/3/06
The mighty have fallen
By Bernie Pramberg
Fans of the Bulldogs and Broncos are now used to losing, writes Bernie Pramberg
THE Broncos and Bulldogs have one thing in common -- they've lost that winning feeling. Neither club has won an NRL match since July. The Bulldogs, plummeting from 2004 premiers to one place above the cellar in 2005, had their last win on July 22 when they beat the Broncos 29-22 at Telstra Stadium.
A deafening explosion ignited by hooligans in the north-eastern grandstand 10 minutes before fulltime was more newsworthy than the win. That incident symbolised a litany of off-field controversies that have swamped the Bulldogs since the salary cap crisis in 2002 and Coffs Harbour rape allegations in 2004. A club in denial, infighting between former greats and speculation over the retention of players contributed to a slide, which is going to take a lot of stopping.
The Broncos' most recent win, that even their most fervent fans may struggle to recall, was on July 30 when they survived a controversial decision by the video referee for an uncon-vincing 24-18 victory against Canberra at Suncorp Stadium. In what has become a familiar scenario, Brisbane subsequently lost their last seven games of last season, just as they'd crashed to six straight defeats to end 2004.
The Broncos were free of the catastrophic off-field dramas that turned the Bulldogs into a soap opera, but tough questions needed to be asked. Like all footy clubs, there were contributing circumstances -- injuries, impact of the State of Origin series (ad nauseam), ageing playing staff and salary cap constraints.
There were reviews at Red Hill, with a cleanout of coaching staff the major result. Out went Gary Belcher, Kevin Walters, Glenn Lazarus and John Dixon (already signed to coach in Wales). The fallout guaranteed the 2006 Broncos and coach Wayne Bennett would come under unprecedented public and media scrutiny.
After mediocre pre-season trial form, last weekend's premiership opener against the Cowboys turned up the heat. That 36-4 loss, and the Clydesdales' 36-10 loss to the NQ Young Guns, also raised the temperature. Sure, Darren Lockyer was short of a gallop and Brent Tate, Tonie Carroll, Sam Thaiday and Barry Berrigan were out injured.
It's early days, but the Broncos' lack of pace in key positions, allied with a deficiency in depth, loom as major problems. Ironically, those areas were taken for granted as strengths of the club for so many years.
Brisbane has eight internationals on its books (so do the Bulldogs) and the form of seasoned campaigners Lockyer, props Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva and Carroll will be a major issue. Lockyer and Webcke are champions, and together with Carroll they have endured more wear and tear than most in recent years. Webcke, freed of the shackles of rep football last season, had a fine year. But Civoniceva too often looked one-dimensional and predictable.
Lockyer's defensive work and enthusiasm last week were questionable, and Bennett's steadfast refusal to consider him at fullback limits options. And why wasn't Brett Seymour introduced to last week's game earlier? The Broncos did not set the world on fire early last season, winning two of their opening four matches. They then won 10 straight to lead the competition before that all-too-familiar late slump.
Emerging players have never had a better chance to secure first grade spots. Neville Costigan, Sam Thaiday, Ben Hannant are very good forwards, with Steve Michaels and Leon Bott exciting out wide. It won't be easy for Brisbane, but the Bulldogs face a tougher battle.
To be fair, season-ending injuries to Sonny Bill Williams, Luke Patten, Trent Cutler, Hazem El Masri and Brent Sherwin weighed heavily on their miserable finish last year.
Thanks.
