Bulldogs 6, Sharks 12
Halfback, fullback a headache for Ciraldo
If Cameron Ciraldo thinks Drew Hutchison is the answer to their halfback problem, he’s asking the wrong questions.
The former Roosters playmaker struggled in the first half with a poor defensive read to concede the opening try, bombing a Bulldogs four-pointer with a poor pass and giving a couple of his runners hospital passes as they were crunched by the grateful Sharks defence.
For all the millions spent on new recruits in the past few years, the Dogs still haven’t solved their highest priority – finding a halfback who can harness their talented stars.
Whether Ciraldo goes into Round 1 with Hutchison or ex-Titans playmaker Toby Sexton alongside Matt Burton, chances are the half will become the latest in a long line of playmakers who have been handed the role but have been chewed up and spat out of the kennel’s revolving doggy door.
Sexton only got 16 minutes of game time at the end when Burton was given a breather so he is highly unlikely to be given the keys to the team for their trip to Parramatta to kick off the season.
Fullback is Ciraldo’s other problem spot with former Rabbitohs utility Blake Taaffe making a string of fundamental errors at the back.
Stephen Crichton came to Canterbury from Penrith hoping to establish himself in his preferred position of fullback but after being selected for his club debut at centre, he was benched after 20 minutes.
He should have been running at fullback every training session in the pre-season and getting a chance to establish some on-field combinations from the back in this game but Ciraldo seemingly has other plans for their marquee signing.
As things currently stand, the Dogs are on course for another season of disappointment with not even a sniff of the playoffs in their nostrils.
For the Sharks, they played as you would expect their professional outfit to operate.
Even with Nicho Hynes in cotton wool for Round 1 after blowing off his summer cobwebs in the All-Stars game last week, they looked solid as always.
Second-rower Teig Wilton looked strong, touching down for the opening try, in his comeback from a knee injury which cut short his 2023 campaign.
They will be strong again this season but whether they can knock over the top dogs, not teams like the Bulldogs, will be the lingering question hovering over them until they prove otherwise.
“That was way too easy … paper thin,” said Fox Sports analyst Cooper Conk when Wilton sliced past Hutchison to draw first blood on the scoreboard.
Briton Nikora prevented Canterbury equalising on the half-hour mark with a diving cover tackle on ex-Sharks centre Bronson Xerri but was banished to the bin for holding on way too long afterwards.
The hosts eventually capitalised on their numerical advantage with Jacob Preston crashing over just before the break.
With both coaches emptying their bench to give extended squad members a taste of NRL action, the attack in particular was ragged for each team even though both sides muscled up in defence.
The winning try from a Bulldogs passing error with winger Chris Vea’ila sprinting away for an early birthday present the night before he turns 21.
Burton may have a judiciary drama to deal with after he was placed on report for a high shot in the second half – it goes without saying (or typing in this instance) that if he is suspended for Round 1, the downward Dogs will be at even longer odds to upset Parra.
Sharks forward Jesse Colquhoun could also be missing when they open their account away to the Warriors after limping off with a foot injury.
