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If you were searching for a definitive list of everything that could go wrong with a rugby league club, the Bulldogs would be an excellent show-and-tell exemplar.
The board battles of the last 12 months, sacked coaches and legal disputes, salary cap issues and the loss of hero-worshipped club legends have alienated and disillusioned fans.
The 2018 season was pencilled in as a year of redemption, a return to the culture of years past and a time to rebuild. So far it has proven anything but. A scrappy win against the Panthers in Round 3 and a professional performance against the out of form Cowboys in Round 6 have been the only two successes for the blue and whites so far. Their run of losses has now stretched to three since that time.
Thursday night was far from an embarrassment, as has been the case in most of their matches to this point, yet once again the boys from Belmore came away with nothing.
The most disappointing things from a spectator’s point of view were the divots of turf taken out of the playing surface at Suncorp each time a player attempted to change direction.
It was in appalling condition and obvious as soon as Corey Oates took a simple pass and crossed the line unmarked for the second try of the match. As he stumbled and stubbed his toe, he produced one of many holes that saw the surface begin to resemble a fairway as opposed to a firm and fast Queensland football field.
The Broncos were sound with their sets of six and played a controlled game based on completions, and the Bulldogs were the polar opposite. Knock-ons at dummy-half, loose off-loads and ill-discipline had coach Dean Pay performing bizarre dance moves in the box.
However, somehow, after 40 minutes the Dogs led, mainly off the back of some luck via a Darius Boyd error. Boyd had a poor night, and a late first-half try saw the Dogs clear 14-6.
(Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
Predictably the Broncos came on strongly in the second period and levelled things up at 14-14 before another clumsy error at the back saw them fall behind once again. The resilient Broncos fought back and levelled at 20-20 with minutes remaining.
In the final moments a high Broncos kick was pushed dead by the Dogs, but Moses Mbye was adjudged to have impeded a chaser, was sin-binned and the penalty goal sealed the deal for Brisbane.
The Canterbury faithful were in full conspiracy mode before the game, citing referee Bernard Sutton’s record against them in matches and also noting his seemingly ‘friendly’ relationship with the Broncos. Now they were seething.
A dubious call on an apparent knock-on, a few piggyback penalties and a mighty good dressing down of acting captain David Klemmer had the fans accosting social media in fury.
Knowing the Bulldogs area well, I am certain there are a couple of ripper coffee shops along Leylands Parade in Belmore where the Dogs fans and Sutton could sit down together and smoke the peace pipe.
After all, it is only footy and the right thing to do.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
The twilight Friday match at McDonald Jones Stadium saw two top-eight sides compete to remain in a finals position. The hunter was warming up for the other huge match this weekend, with the A-League grand final to be played tonight at the same venue.
The Rabbitohs went to Newcastle to further their reputation as a growing force, and further it they did – they put the Knights to the sword to the tune of 36-18. The Bunnies jumped the Knights early and skipped out to a 12-point lead before the Knights rallied and eventually pulled things back to enter the sheds at half-time trailing 16-12.
The second half was something of a procession as Souths laid on three tries and continued their assault on the Knights through the middle of the ruck. Tries to Dane Gagai, Damien Cook and Greg Inglis cemented the win, and the cardinal and myrtle are looking more and more like the real deal in 2018.
Personally, the match will always be remembered for the second try to Souths as Cody Walker crossed the line with a shimmy of the hips and an explosive lunge at the line. Losing his mother during the week must surely have placed enormous pressure on his game, and he was determined to send her to a better place with a try.
He did just that and I was upset that my wife started peeling onions nearby when he crashed over and made an obvious gesture as a tribute to his late mum.
(AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
The late game saw the Cowboys finally secure the win they have been so desperately seeking to drag themselves off the bottom of the table. Either the Bulldogs or Eels look likely to assume that position come the end of the weekend.
Carrington Park Bathurst played host to their clash with Penrith. The Cowboys well and truly jumped the Panthers, with Johnathan Thurston finally finding some form. He was still nowhere near his best yet, with Matt Scott, Gavin Cooper and Michael Morgan all playing key roles in the first half – the legend was allowed to slowly work his way into the game.
By the second period some of the confidence had returned and the Cowboys were able to repel an enthusiastic Panthers comeback that looked to have legs until Thurston himself crossed in the 54th minute.
The 26-20 result will rejuvenate the hopes of the Cowboys and send the inconsistent Panthers back to the drawing board prior to their clash with the Knights next Friday.