The Canterbury Bulldogs face off against the St George Dragons tonight in the fifth plays eighth elimination final. Join The Roar from 5:50pm (AEST) for live scores and updates.
Both sides come into the match on a run of reasonable form, though neither team can be said to have really impressed over the past few weeks.
The Dragons managed a slender win last week, whilst the Bulldogs sit on a five from five record, winning several games over the last few weeks that they probably shouldn’t have.
Last week’s performance was a culmination of lack of form and several key players missing for the Bulldogs, although they still managed to find a result against the lowly Warriors.
The Bulldogs managed to put the New Zealand side away in the second half, though their unforced errors throughout the game were certainly a sign for concern.
The Dragons have also been in disappointing form. Their win against the Tigers last week was hardly convincing, showing just how vulnerable they are at the back against a side who has struggled for tries this season.
However, with the boot of Benji Marshall and the speed and experience of Josh Dugan at the back, the Dragons are a chance against the powerful Bulldogs today.
Brett Morris is set to return to the Dogs starting side after being rested for the finals last week. This, along with the strong forward line consisting of Greg Eastwood, Frank Pritchard and James Graham, will see the Bulldogs dominate possession and push hard for the full 80 minutes. They’ve got reinforcements too, with the big Sam Kasiano on the bench.
It’s hard to predict any other result than a Bulldogs win, though for the Dragons’ fans out there, the best way around the Dogs is most likely down the Sam Perrett/Tim Lafai flank. This flank has never looked as strong defensively as its opposite side, and may be the way through for the Dragons.
Prediction
The Bulldogs to win this one, though probably not as comfortably as they’d like.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It wasn't Eastwood.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That's all well and good but you're making that up based on your preferences not in the actual rules. Widdop hadn't been tackled. He would have been entitled to get up and run. Widdop's head got into an awful position but that wasn't Kasiano's fault...he didn't do anything illegal.
SpongeBob
Guest
Initial contact to the head #1. It's the same as the crusher tackle, except it wasn't done slowly he hammered onto him. It's no different to cannonballing into the knees - it's dangerous, there's tons of time to not do that, and there's little that will go right and a lot that could go wrong.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Neither Kasiano or Pritchard or Eastwood will or deserve to be suspended. Widdop dived and Pritchards feet and Pritchard went over the top of him. The Kasiano hit was perfectly legal. It was horrible how Widdops neck was pressed forward and then snapped back but that wasn't Kasiano's fault. What exactly was it that Kasiano did wrong? The Eastwood tackle was and always has been perfectly legal. Just bad luck that Benji was injured.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
So what you're saying is that he was in a voluntary tackle position and it should've been a Bulldogs penalty as voluntarily being tackled is against the rules? I'm glad we agree.
BLUENWHITE
Guest
Wow, all of a sudden we are suspending people for legal tackles that injury a person, wow. Derp at it best here.
Samael
Guest
Chickens vs Dogs loser goes home, Hope they beat the crap out of each other. One of them aint going anywhere. Excellent. Cant wait to hear all the excuses.
SpongeBob
Guest
Don't worry, I agree. I watched the replay and it was shockingly brutal - and that's from someone who's watched a ton of videos where people die, not as if I've never seen anything PG+. That was a sickening shot, the highlights didn't show the aftermath but I'm amazed he kept playing. The way his neck went into his chest, wow. 120kg straight onto the head, far out. I'm AMAZED that Eastwood was on report and not Kasiano. Eastwood basically was clumsy and fell on him without too much impact. Kasiano had tons of time and still hammered him. It's a crusher tackle times 10.
SpongeBob
Guest
Widdop is laying on the ground facing the posts (so head first). Plowing in dead straight means contact with his head. 120kg of player at speed, straight into his head. Gee, can't foresee any problem here. Of course, his head gets snapped and his neck violently snaps into his chest as he's hammered. He was in a total surrender position, all Kasiano had to do was put his pinkie on him and it was a tackle. Instead he went for the "big play" and smashed into him. Totally reckless.
Doug Graves
Guest
LOL
Muzz
Guest
lol. That's gold!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
After the MRC concluded that turning sideways somehow constituted a shoulder charge, I'm not totally sure it's worth hearing any explanation from them mate.. bit like trying to understand a woman claiming to be "fine".
Muzz
Guest
Better the MRC explains it to you.Alex Good luck as i wish the Bulldogs have their best available on the park and may the best team win.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Eastwood or Pritchard being suspended (for respectively tackling a guy and falling over) would be utterly farcical, though based on other suspensions such as Willie Mason getting suspended for being run into, I suppose it's to be expected. Kasiano.. well there may be some merit, though it'd be soft to put it mildly, it's a collision sport and if a player is trying to get up with another bearing down on them then there's going to be head high contact because the player getting up is leading with their head, what's the tackler to do, let him up?
Muzz
Guest
They're both finished for the season and you can potentially add Eastwood to the list after ending Marshall's season.
Steve
Guest
Agree....Bill Harraigan on triple M reckoned he would have sent him off. If either of them play again this year I'll be very surprised.
Gappy
Guest
I thin Maloney kick was worse
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Supposedly, by all accounts he's gone even if they made the GF.
Benny
Guest
Is Hodkinson definitely out next week?
SpongeBob
Guest
Just watched the replay, oh my god how was Kasiano not sent off? (don't worry I know, officials have no spine). Had tons of time and yet plowed straight into Widdops head. Under no scenario would that ever have ended well. Wow that was bad to watch.