Canterbury captain James Graham has promised a more resilient effort from his side in Monday’s NRL clash with St George Illawarra.
The Bulldogs forward was forced to endure nine minutes of questions about the club’s current woes on Wednesday, which include having won just five of 13 games this year to sit 14th.
It is the first time the Bulldogs have been outside the top eight at the midway point of the season since Des Hasler arrived at the club.
After their 38-0 drubbing at the hands of Penrith on Sunday, Graham promised fans they would see something different this weekend as he (neck), Josh Reynolds (ankle) and Brett Morris (knee) return from injuries.
“I can guarantee that you’ve got a committed playing group and committed staff that are going to do all they can to try and get the win,” Graham said.
“We don’t want to give St George Illawarra any more motivation, but we’ll be turning up – don’t worry about that.”
Canterbury’s recent woes have sparked the threat of a boycott from fans for upcoming home games – beginning with Monday at ANZ Stadium.
The Bulldogs fans are among the harshest critics in the NRL, and it is the second time they have reached boiling point this season, following the 36-0 flogging from Manly in round four.
Graham said he didn’t understand how a proposed boycott would help anyone’s cause.
“I can’t really see what that would really achieve,” Graham said.
“We share their disappointment.
“They care and are very passionate and have a level of expectation.”
Graham also used the flogging from Manly as evidence as to why his team would bounce back against the Dragons on Monday, before their first bye.
The Bulldogs won their next three games after the Manly loss, as they appeared a reinvigorated team throughout the month of April.
And he was hopeful the team would be able to learn from the Panthers loss in much the same way..
“If I knew (what was causing the problem) I’d tell the playing group before it happened,” Graham said.
“I think what we need to do from games like Sunday is learn from it.
“Like we learned from Manly. Maybe that message got lost over time, sometimes messages get lost and you don’t realise it.”
Chop
Roar Guru
They used to be one of the best, the infighting has caused the best operator they had to quit. If they had the clubs best interest at heart instead of their own the whole board would've resigned and kept the CEO
KingCowboy
Guest
Ha ha nice work Bulldog fans, way to support your team. I remember me and my mates used to "hate" Tim Sheen's as a coach but we still used to turn up to support the team. Dogs are one of the best run teams in the NRL but their supporters are still finding to complain about. The Dogs have been to two GF's in the decade and been final contenders pretty much every year.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
Why have the Roosters fans boycotted their home games? They've been traveling nicely.
E
Guest
Because Graham, us fans know that Hasler is the problem and we want the board to do something about it!!!!!!! Hasler built this roster and CLEARLY some of you are not up to 1st grade standard. Holland has absolutely no place in first grade as a winger, 4 hitups for a whole 14 metres!!!! We have no halves Our forwards get in the way and that's plain down to haslers tactics We die on the fifth tackle, too scared to give away a RISK of a 7 tackle set. 2nd worst attack in the league and that's only because Tgiers have played a game less. Newcastle have played a game less and THEY HAVE A BETTER ATTACK THAN US!!! Hasler out!, But I know that the board has been promised Foran so they won't act on Hasler until at least the end of 2018. 2018 Hasler will have his foran but in my mind all it's going to prove is how much of a FRAUD hasler is. He's no supercoach, we've endured this rubbish structure for 4 or 5 seasons
Your kidding
Guest
Why would you waste your money?