Canterbury coach Des Hasler saluted his team’s response from last week’s disappointing NRL loss to Newcastle in Mackay as they humbled depleted reigning premiers Melbourne 39-0 at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
The Bulldogs ran in eight tries with the Storm held scoreless for the first time since the 2008 grand final as they struggled without State of Origin stars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Ryan Hoffman.
The win took Hasler’s side back into the top eight and improved their points differential thanks largely to a hat-trick of tries from Sam Perrett and an outstanding display from Josh Reynolds.
Reynolds was released from the NSW camp on Friday to play the game after Blues coach Laurie Daley reconfigured his bench to accommodate the loss of injured skipper Paul Gallen.
“The boys were disappointed after the Newcastle game in Mackay (losing 18-12) and wanted to make it right today and get back in the winners’ circle,” Hasler said.
“Both sides were without players but the Storm missed their big three. But we still had to get the result.
“The points help our for and against so it was good day all round.”
Hasler admitted it was a pleasant surprise to get Reynolds back for training on Saturday and praised the manner in which the 24-year-old bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on Wednesday’s Origin decider.
“He’s a positive kid Josh, he’s been part of it,” he said.
“He’s always optimistic and he’ll go back in as 18th man and who knows what’ll happen between now and Wednesday.
“He was alright when he rang me. He just loves playing football.”
However the two-time premiership-winning coach did concede Reynolds was lucky to not be sin-binned when he hauled down Justin O’Neill as he grubbered the ball towards the tryline early in the second half, with the officials opting to only award a penalty against him.
“It could have gone either way,” he said.
“He could have been sin-binned, or it could have been a penalty or a penalty try.”
Craig Bellamy refused to blame the absence of his Origin players for the heavy defeat but said Reynolds should have been sent to the sidelines for 10 minutes.
“We made it tough on ourselves all day,” he said.
“Our defence was poor and we kept giving the ball away in our half.
“But if that’s not a sin bin then I don’t know what is. But it’s not why we lost the game.
“At the end of the day it wasn’t going to change the result.”
Chris
Guest
The call was correct it foran hadn't spoke to the ref. Remember manly had the first shot at the win and missed the field goal
liatrevlis
Guest
Mmmm ok ya won on the back of a BS call from ennises apprentice , bogan now that hurt , just remember you couldn't by a carport on the peninsular for what yad pay for a 4 beddy out west , who's the bogan
Xnowmann
Guest
Sorry mate, stopped the chest beating after we beat you at bogan vale...can't handle th truth?..
Noel
Guest
Thought Des would have been a little more realistic . I didn't hear or read his comment , but sinking a leaderless rudderless ship isn't a lot to crow about .
Chris
Guest
The teams where even Melbourne have 4 players out, 3 big players Dogs had 3 (was ment to be 4), 2 huge players big Sam and Franky
Liatrevlis
Guest
Your the one beating ya chest , I'm just stating the obvious ,, can't handle the truth!! Sorry if I hurt your ego
Xnowmann
Guest
Your sarcasm is about as subtle as your reverse silvertail name... We can only play what is put in front of us. Great game from our boys.
Chris
Guest
The dogs where with 2 of there biggest players
Zaccaaa
Guest
Just shows melbourne are nothing without their 'big 3'. future looking down for the boys in purple
alfie
Guest
The Draw is a joke The two finalist from last year playing with out origin players madness
Liatrevlis
Guest
Yep perfect ,, just like beatn up a little brother aie , spare me that was not a contest that was a debacle , they have devalued what pays the bills at the NRL , a disgrace
The eye
Guest
Too unfair,doesn't make any sense on a number of levels but the NRL just throws it in the too hard basket. Big scoreline but Doggies still too scrappy at times,don't get Dessies persistence in using big boppers 2 off the ruck as distributors,attack seems to stall. Storms centres and wingers didnt turn up yesterday which was surprising.
Meesta Cool
Guest
How many players did storm have on the paddock last night? , most of the time it looked as though they were two short on each side, I have not seen such poor positional defensive play from a Storm side, since Meesta Bellamy took over. at any time last night, a kick to the wing or a long cut out pass would have resulted in a try,, My Storm boys were lucky that the score was not doubled!. -- But as one famous general once said "We shall return"...
Marldon
Guest
That was a ridiculous Origin stuffed up game that makes this whole competition a farce. A wonderful show piece game that should have had people on the edge of their seats and instead it is reduced to second billing against the Toyota cup game that went before it, When are we going to stop this Origin scheduling massacre of our National comp?
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
That was the perfect game for the Dogs to gain some confidence. Like a training run where everything goes right.