Des Hasler celebrated his 350th game as coach but someone forgot to invite Canterbury to the party, with the Bulldogs crashing to their equal-heaviest defeat under their boss on Sunday.
A listless Bulldogs were wiped out 38-0 by a relentless Penrith side at ANZ Stadium, extending their losing streak to four and re-igniting questions over their premiership ambitions.
“I don’t think we got through our first set and our discipline as far as penalties are concerned in the wrong part of the field position is also a lot to be desired,” Hasler said after the loss.
“Unfortunately, coupled with that, I thought some of our options, some really bad poor defensive lapses, particularly some one on one tackles which is unlike us.”
While the Bulldogs were invisible, the Panthers were everywhere and their mid-season resurgence is now in full swing after extending their winning streak to three.
A month after dropping to second last spot, the Panthers turned in arguably their most impressive effort of the season to inject new life into their premiership tilt.
Replacement hooker Mitch Rein scored twice in his first appearance of the season, while skipper Matt Moylan made a strong first impression at five-eighth.
Winger Josh Mansour also made a successful return from a knee reconstruction, racking up a game-high 195 metres and adding a try on fulltime for good measure.
Penrith coach Anthony Griffin praised the performance of his captain post-game, singling out a defensive play in the second set of the match when he forced an error from Kerrod Holland.
“I thought his first play of the game defensively set the tone for the team,” he said.
“For the day we had a focus about coming here and being able to do a job for 80 minutes defensively. For the team to see their captain fly out of the line like that and get an error in the first set, that set the tone.”
For the Bulldogs, who crashed to their fourth straight defeat, their frustrations reached a flashpoint in the second half when Craig Garvey was sin-binned for punching.
In front of a crowd of 11,232, the Panthers led 16-0 at halftime and then ruthlessly piled on the points through Waqa Blake, Nathan Cleary, Rein and Mansour in the second half.
The Bulldogs, who were without captain James Graham and Brett Morris, simply had no answer for the Panthers’ speed at the ruck, which resulted in a 9-1 linebreak count.
By halftime, the Panthers held a three-try lead on the back of a dominant performance in the middle of the field, Mansour racking up 142 metres alone in the first period.
They were helped by an ill-disciplined Bulldogs outfit that completed just over half their sets compared to the Panthers’ 20 of 21, and missed 21 tackles to Penrith’s seven.
Corey Harawira-Naera came up with first points from close range, followed in similar fashion by Rein from dummy-half, before Moylan made it 16-0 on the break.
Jimmmy
Guest
I tipped em to make the four Albo. They were making me look foolish for a while there. Mansour back , Moylan to 6 , both big positives for the Panthers. Gee Mansour is good. I said elsewhere he should be paid a props wage plus a wingers wage as a top up.
Albo
Guest
Whilst the Dogs were certainly very poor yesterday, the Panthers seem at last to be getting into stride now with 3 wins on the trot, a shut out and record result against the Dogs, and a much improved effort by their forwards yesterday. Merrin was outstanding whilst back--rowers Yeo and Harawira -Nira continue their high and consistent standard. Mitch Rein had a good Panthers debut with two tries and not trying to overplay his hand, and Moylan continues to create plenty of opportunities now at 6 . He will get better in the 6 role in coming matches and whilst he was lost a few times yesterday, he still had too much class not to have an impact with a couple of line breaks, a try and try assist. His fullback replacement Dylan Edwards was safe as a bank and will prove a danger in attack as the year progresses. The return of Mansour was above all expectations for his first game in 7 months and his metre eating , a try and a try assist showed he is going to be a vital weapon again in the rest of the Panthers campaign.
Sava
Guest
They were once known as the" Berries",well they have certainly lost their Canter,and there is a recall of bad berries on at the moment and Des has a few he would like to get rid of.The game reminded me of Game 1 State of Origin. Penrith were just good,and as Qld have a problem with selection, so has Des Hasler,although to me a couple of the Dogs forwards are out of condition.Yet there are a few willing goers there they just need moulding together. But Penrith at last, looked the Favorites they started the year as being. Sava
Rob
Guest
Sorry to say but it comes down to the fact that the Dogs have no halves that can actually run the game and the only person that can kick, Frawley, doesn't get to kick enough. Coupled with the fact they let Damien Cook go while keeping Garvey and Lichaa was a big mistake..... Moses Mbye who was singled out by Steve Mortimer as a player the Dogs had to resign has done nothing note worthy since his retention and playing in the halves. His kicking game and game management are average at best. His breakout year was playing in the centres where his simple goal was to run the ball and defend which he did with flying colours and off the back of those performances was more than enough to lift him to play well in any position they put him in. Bottom line, he is not a half. Possible dummy half but I would like to see him back in the centres or even fullback although I don't know how good he is under pressure with high balls. Reynolds the better half was let go. His passion and commitment reminds me of Baa Lamb but for the money the Tigers offered you are not resigning him for that much....... The mistake was signing Moses for $700,000 a season so looking at those figures Reynolds would warrant bigger dollars since he is better but compared to other halves on the market you aren't paying top dollar for Reynolds. Having said that I would of happily paid Reynolds $700,000 as being heart and soul of club. Hasler has to make do with Halves that can't manage or kick. they are both ball runners and the fact he was gotten the dogs to the finals, including the grand final twice, is a feat in itself. As for the Woods situation, it would appear that Melbourne is going to almost as much for Kasiano as for Woods. Mind you Kasiano was set to get $700,000 from the Dogs next year. Woods plays more minutes, has more stamina, tackles better can offload, albeit not as good as Kasiano, but I know who I would take every day of the week. If we lose Klemmer, Tolman, Graham, Jackson, or Elliott as further fallout for Woods coming to the Dogs, then I would be real upset. As far as I'm oncerned Kasiano and Eastwood have had their time and haven't improved much with the Dogs while the other players mentioned have come on in leaps and bounds or stayed consistant in the case of Tolman. This season is now gone for the Dogs. All the media circus on contracts and here say on who is going to have to make way has crippled the dogs and while it should be no excuse as these players are being paid big money, and rightly so, it is still a profession and like us average paid people have to turn up and work hard so should they otherwise get out or be dropped. Lichaa should have been dropped ages ago. can't pass quick enough and accurate if his life depended on it... While Brenko Lee has been great for the attack his defence has been questionable. Twice the Roosters beat us down his side. Where was the lesson learnt from the first go round.... And why is Mbye still trying to run the game? Frawley did not kick once that I noticed against the Cowboys while Mbye stuffed just about every kick that game. Finally Frawley did with the result of a try and a forced dropout shortly after.... Never watched the game yesterday bt knew we would fail as some have pointed out already but The Barry in Particular, against the Broncos we gave them maximum and we had a hard fought win. However it's not consistant enough. /end rant...... frustrated Dogs supporter
The Barry
Roar Guru
That was disgraceful. The Dogs showed in the Broncos game that when they're at maximum intensity they can compete with anyone but those efforts are so far apart and the gulf between best and worst is massive. Their attack looks clueless. They don't create space at any stage. They run their plays way too deep and so far from the defensive line that the opponent can simply re-align. There's no threat. They never force their opponents to scramble. Kicking game was awful. Effort in defence poor. It looks like being a long second half to the season.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
The Dogs are hard to watch. I sometimes wonder whether Souths and the Dogs share the one brain. Neither adapt. They stick with their same unfruitful plays. Unrealised promise.
Your kidding
Guest
What a shocker. Wonder if many of the attendees asked for their money back?
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
Don't know how Matt Johns concludes that the signing of Foran makes the Dogs a top 4 side in 2018 though - This up and in defence doesn't work nor does the out the back out the back passing game in attack as the defence is all over it like a cheap suit. The Dogs re-signed Hasler but should be showing him the door at seasons end as if that's the game plan he has going forward it is not going to reap results. Way too predicable
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Something's rotten in the Dog's state of Denmark.Judging by their efforts and the result, lucky the crowd was only 11,000 to suffer the torture inflicted. How the mighty have fallen.Gee even the Warriors hardly world beaters, at least are putting in some effort. Disharmony in the camp? Des run out of ideas? Players not putting ups a full cleanup needed? The Mortimers and Hughes and Doc Peponis must be shaking their heads collectively in disbelief. Then again this mob lets one of their best players and a local to boot, leave to the Tigers,is it any wonder
Tim
Guest
Their second zero this year & it's only round 13 !