News They are so weak’: Bulldogs’ ‘big deficiency’ laid bare as key selection battle slammed

[KiwiDog7]

it's not the media writing us off...it's about understanding why ciraldo makes strange team selections. please justify the selection of Hutch over Sexton?

I did already

 

[KiwiDog7]

Joseph O'Neill

He's the one

Mitchell Woods also going to be something special

 

[berries1935]

I do agree that Hutchinson isn’t the most creative half but if steers the team around well im happy to give it a go. I think the inclusion of Salmon and Curren will take pressure off the halves so hopefully it works

 

[Blueandwhiteblood1968]

The Bulldogs have been criticised for picking Drew Hutchison over specialist No.7 Toby Sexton at halfback amid fears they don’t have the halves or props to climb up the ladder in 2024.

Cameron Ciraldo has handed the key No.7 jersey to former Roosters veteran Hutchison over Sexton, while his starting props for Round 1 are Max King and Poasa Faamausili.

“Cameron Ciraldo backs Drew Hutchison over Toby Sexton, who misses out for Round 1,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.

This is no surprise. Hutchison trialled in that No.7 jersey, so we knew that he was going to get first crack.

“After the first trial against Melbourne, I thought the Bulldogs were looking really good. After the second trial against Cronulla I thought the opposite.

They had a strong team that first 20 minutes and the one position that still worried me is halfback.”

Paul Kent believes Hutchison has been picked to do a job for Ciraldo and not necessarily because he is a better halfback prospect than Sexton.

“I think Hutchison has been a little bit out of sorts at halfback,” Kent said.

“From my understanding Cameron Ciraldo has got him there because he just likes the way he points the team around.

“I think Sexton is going to be the better halfback eventually if he is not already there now. He seems to have more strings to his bow.

“I think Hutchison is basically there because he gets the team around the park.”

However, Anasta believes Hutchison makes the Bulldogs too predictable in attack and his style won’t bring out the best in Matt Burton or the Bulldogs’ strike outside backs.

“Let’s be honest they don’t have a luxury of riches in their halves,” Anasta said.

“I am going to put it out there. My concern is I think they have got two five-eighths playing in the halves.

“Matt Burton comes as a centre to play five-eighth. He is a really good five-eighth but he needs a genuine No.7 inside of him.

“He has now got an ageing five-eighth who is not fast, not that creative and doesn’t really take pressure off his back-rowers or players around him because he doesn’t run the ball that much.

“I know I am being pretty brutally honest, but as I watched that game against Cronulla because Hutchison is not a threat they just slid off.

“And the firepower that they had around them in Crichton and their new players and Kikau, they are now double teamed because they know that Hutchison is not going to run the ball or he isn’t a huge threat with ball in hand.

“If I am the Bulldogs I am going for a genuine No.7. Sexton, yes he hasn’t set the world on fire, but he has got speed, he is more creative and he is a No.7.

“He can unlock Burton more I believe than Hutchison. After the trials I was not convinced that Hutchison was definitely the man for the job, so why wouldn’t you go for a genuine No.7?

“I am a bit confused by it. I know they don’t have a luxury of riches in terms of their halves, but I would have gone with Sexton.”


Dave Riccio believes there is little difference between the two halfback options and Hutchison got the nod after a better pre-season on the training paddock.

“I think you are talking about a much of muchness for the standard of half that you are talking about,” Riccio said.

“They are in a similar boat. My understanding is Drew Hutchison has won this jersey on points on the back of his pre-season.

He has outpointed Sexton in bringing the team together. Secondly they have Jaeman Salmon at No.13 who will create more opportunities.”

However, Brent Read warned the Bulldogs need to land some front-rowers or it won’t matter who is steering the ship at halfback.

“I don’t think it matters who they play at halfback because they have got no middle forwards,” Read said.

“They are so weak through the middle of the field and they know it.

“They tried to get Sio Siua Taukeiaho. He got sent back because of a medical problem. Their middles are so weak.

“I don’t think it matters who plays halfback there. They are going to struggle.”

“But it does still matter if you are trying to make the top eight,” Anasta interjected.

I’m not saying they are going to make it, but I want to give them a chance.”

Read believes the Bulldogs need to make halfback and prop their priority positions to fill if they want to complete their rebuild and contend again after years of missing out on players in those positions.

“I don’t think they can make the top eight,” Read said.

“They are weak in the halves and the middle forwards. They are average. They are still rebuilding.

“They need to find a halfback. That is a massive issue for them. They won’t get one this year, but next year they need to find a halfback.

“They have had a go at a few blokes. They had a go at Mitchell Moses at one point. There was talk about Luke Brooks at one point. They need to land someone because it is a big deficiency.”

How many years do we have to hear rebuilding, so sick of hearing that term and yes I understand it takes time but it's also time for certain players who I won't name to show why their on big $$$ to actually earn what their on, ok we probably won't make the 8 but we still have a decent side to be competitive, bring on saturday!!

 

[King Gus]

Let’s just get behind the team and hopefully they will surprise us, if not , then we have other players to replace them with.

 

[ChesoBulldog]

Mitchell Woods also going to be something special

agreed but i think he's going to end up at fullback

 

[chihuahua dog]

The disrespect to King Maxwell

 

[Scoobs]

You could say this of a lot of halves. Seriously do fogarty, reynolds, illias, foran et al. have that much more unpredictability or flair than hutch? not in my opinion. What they do have is a big strong forward pack and a good game plan that plays to their, and the team's, strengths.
As a sidenote, Braith was fucken lucky to have shifty inside when he was starting out, all he had to do was use his athleticism. He was half the player once he moved on and had to play with less established halves.

 

[Steve Bos]

Bit over all the talk about our weak middles. It is what it is. So long as the middles hold up defensively we can be competitive. A lot of teams rely on their wingers and centres for yardage (Cronulla, St George) and we should do the same. Forwards can conserve their energy for defence.

 

[Papa Joe]

I think it's very plain to see what Ciraldo is doing with team selections.
CC came over a the defensive coach that created the all conquering Panthers defence, but yet we were last years worst defensive team. That would have hurt CC.
This year defence is the one area that we will have vast improvement & Hutcho is certainly the better defensive option.

 

[Grunthos]

It's the first game of the season, let's wait till at least round 5-6 like grown-ups before making any criticisms...

 

[Psycho Doggie]

Mitchell Woods also going to be something special

Really looking forward to seeing this kid come up through the ranks, hopefully he doesn't have any large setbacks.

 

[Eesma]

Hutcho makes sense. THEORETICALLY, we need someone to steer the ship and allow Burton to act as a strike weapon. Sexton looks more dangerous than Hutcho and provides more spark but he's also inexperienced. Burton SHOULD be the one providing the spark and making use of what, on paper, is an unbelievable left edge.

Note those words in caps because I'll believe it when I see it. It's still a better option than playing Sexton and just hoping he comes clutch, though.

 

[JackDog]

Plus Hutch is a bigger body and defensively stronger in the front line

Our biggest issue last year was defence lack thereof

His try line defence against the Peptides was awful, and most of his attack was stunted and full of self doubt.

Really hoping he just had an off day, this game is set up to be another flat track bullying from the Eels

 

[PeteHazz]

Bit over all the talk about our weak middles. It is what it is. So long as the middles hold up defensively we can be competitive. A lot of teams rely on their wingers and centres for yardage (Cronulla, St George) and we should do the same. Forwards can conserve their energy for defence.

Agreed. It's not the best pack, but it doesn't need to be. It just needs to be good enough. In this market, we were never going to assemble a world-beating pack. But we're building one, along with some fine young halves and spine players.

I don't see what more we could have done for middles this year. It's clear they started looking for ball-playing, speed and mobility once they'd assessed there weren't any big bodies available.

If they bring some dynamic play, real ruck speed, some good shape and use those excellent edges, the middles just have to survive. I've said it before, everyone said the 2014 (and 2005 for that matter) blues packs would get bashed. SOO is different, but playing to your strengths without kowtowing to people like read. It might not work, but I haven't written them off yet.

 

[Wahesh]

Love this - the luxury of the underdog tag to us.

No expectations, no disappointments.

Thank you media

 

[bradtalo]

Joseph O'Neill

He's the one

yes or Mitchell Woods

 

[Dingobat]

yes or Mitchell Woods

Yes or both

 

[KiwiDog7]

His try line defence against the Peptides was awful, and most of his attack was stunted and full of self doubt.

Really hoping he just had an off day, this game is set up to be another flat track bullying from the Eels

That try conceded was more lack of comms with his inside rather than his tackling technique

I think we all need to wait and see what he brings in a real game (not trial) before we go baying for his or any other players blood

 

[hoody06]

Andrew Johns could be our 7, and we'd still struggle. We need our pack to go way above and beyond all our expectations for us to be any chance of 8th spot. Hopefully, that's the case. They will determine our season.