The Canterbury Bulldogs have secured their first win of the season, overcoming four concussions to sneak past the North Queensland Cowboys 6-4 in Townsville.
The Cowboys were denied the win late on by the Bunker, who correctly ruled that Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow had been offside at a kick when he thought he had scored under the posts with two minutes left on the clock.
Jayden Okunbor, on the back of an excellent pass from Braidon Burns, levelled the scores in the second half after an early Tom Gilbert try had given the Cowboys the lead.
Matt Burton’s sideline conversion was ultimately the difference between the two teams on a night beset by heavy rain and early season clunkiness in attack.
North Queensland piled the pressure on the Dogs late in the piece but were unable to get over, save for the Tabuai-Fidow disallowed try.
“It was an extremely courageous effort – not by 17 players, by 18 players in the end,” said Trent Barrett, referencing that Aaron Schoupp was forced into action late on as a concussion sub.
“It was unbelievable what they did. It’s always tough to come up here to Townsville and to come through what we did – we had five HIAs, blokes out of position and using our reserve – and come away and get a win is great for us and for the players. I’m extremely proud of them.”
“They didn’t give up and that’s all I want from them. There’s certainly things that we can get better at, they’re a new group and to come together and show the grit and resolve that they did is a really good sign.”
Cowboys coach Todd Payten was disappointed but said that the result showed progress on last season.
“It’s a tough one to take, for the fact that we contributed significantly to the result,” he said. “I thought the Dogs hung in there and we showed periods where we hung in there, but by no ways do I feel like we were beaten. It’s a game that we cost ourselves.”
“It’s a step forward because last year we were losing games in periods. We hung tough, defended our line a lot and the way that we defended, the way we jumped the fence from attack to D, was really positive for us.
“The effort was great, it’s just the execution and blokes not getting their jobs done under fatigue and pressure in the game.”
The new concussion rules in the NRL were a major talking point in the match after another delayed reaction HIA withdrawal, this time in the Cowboys v Bulldogs game.
Canterbury centre Braidon Burns was pulled from the game midway through the second half after copping a head knock despite playing on for several minutes.
Burns sustained the injury from a clash of heads as he tapped a pass on for Jayden Okunbor to score the Dogs’ first try, with replays showing that he was clearly injured.
Yet it took a full five minutes between the incident occurring and Burns being withdrawn by the Bunker.
“It’s a good call, but why does it take so long?” said Steve Roach on the Fox League commentary.
Even the referee, Ben Sutton, was confused: he was asked by a Cowboys player why the game was stopped, and told him it was for a HIA – but he didn’t know who.
Earlier in the game, Chris Patolo had departed with a concussion and moments after the Burns withdrawal, Brent Naden was taken off with a head knock.
Amazingly, the Dogs lost a fourth man to a concussion with Jeremy Marshall-King being coming off in the last ten minutes of the game. Aaron Schoupp was activated as the Bulldogs concussion substitute as a result.
Westie
Guest
A horrible game! The Bulldogs were very lucky to get the Cowboys to play in their first game.
mach4
Roar Rookie
Agree with Max King, underrated.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’ve always thought he was a smart man… :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Mike Meehall Wood
Editor
That's basically what Trent Robinson said on Sat - teething problems but a good idea.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Couldn’t agree more about the bunker intervening in general play Either we have captains challenge or we don’t. Having a system where the bunker can intervene when it wants to but at the same time captains need to invoke a challenge is fundamentally flawed Having the bunker intervent destroys the captain’s challenge concept. If a ref rules play on and the bunker over rules, how can the captain challenge that decision…? Is the bunker ref going to say “whoops looks like I got that wrong, I over rule myself” We’re all guilty of getting caught up in the decisions that impact our team but what I really have a problem with is that the process to getting to the decision is fundamentally flawed like above…
Rob
Guest
I think the coaches abuse rules to gain any advantage unfortunately. I question the clubs that leave concussed players on the field or select them the following week also.
Rob
Guest
TB I’m miffed about the onside thing just like you. I was annoyed watching a couple of Bulldogs not being on the line with the ball being played 5m or less from the try line. I know why Vaughan held a Covid party. He just couldn’t get on the line. It was like his mentality was I just don’t like playing by the rules so I’ll stand a foot in front of where I’m supposed to be? It was like an act of defiance to the officials saying I don’t need to comply? He wasn’t actually to trying to get an advantage IMO just didn’t like doing what the rules say LOL. Everyone’s talking about these teams getting the spoon but seriously Roosters and Souths where ordinary with the football in much better conditions. Hopefully the Dogs and Cows teams aren’t to flat going into next weekend after playing in those conditions with a shortened turn around.
Rob
Guest
I thought both teams were courageous and desperate in defence. The conditions ( hot, humid and wet) weren’t good for attacking football unfortunately. Cummins wasn’t as bad as the bunker IMO. Maybe I just can’t stand them over turning the ref with an opinion of their own. I don’t believe that’s the bunkers purpose to give a second opinion? They’re there to correct a clear incorrect call. Like I say 2 looks clear evidence that all that they should need. The stoppages were extremely frustrating from my Cowboys point of view particularly as they appeared to be when the Cowboys had the Dogs under pressure. That said the Dogs deserved the win as they got the job something the Cowboys failed to do again. Cowboys were dumb at crucial times and it’s very disappointing when experienced players continue to do dumb things. Granville was doing the right thing pressuring the kicker but seriously why dive in at the feet? You know it’s stupid and what are you going to achieve other than a penalty. I’m happy with the defensive efforts of my team and think both teams will get better in attack with their new combination and dryer conditions.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, the 10 metres was terrible all weekend. Teams stand offside and break early almost every play knowing refs won’t penalise them all… so it becomes a lucky dip whenever they do blow something up Continuing the one eyed theme… late in the first half when the Dogs had repeat sets down the Cowboys end, there wasn’t a single tackle where the Cowboys were back on the line I can understand Cowboys fans being annoyed with the second half, because they didn’t get the rub of the green at all… exactly what the Dogs went through the entire first half I’m absolutely sure it goes both ways - but as you say we motive it more for our own teams - but because the rules aren’t enforced consistently we have fans on both sides angry about the refs performance
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
In my biased eyes, he (and the touchies) didn't keep the ten very well when the Cowboys were in attack; although, I probably wasn't looking as hard when the Cowboys were defending. Both teams looked pretty ordinary; although, the conditions didn't help, and first game of the season and all. They'd want to get better. Dogs gutsy to hang on though.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Sounds like a lot of whining, Sound. like a bunch Of sissies.
Dan
Guest
Concussion sub should be active from the 2rd withdrawal and teams need to carry 2 subs. If guys are being pulled for their health why not sub another player. In fact I think it is time for 5 interchange players as well (specialist back as opposed to another fwd or dummy half/utility)
The Barry
Roar Guru
Townsend got hit in the same moment he passed and didn’t go close to the horizontal… Chad lay down so the bunker could have a good long look… and…. nothing. Funny how you’re dirty on the Dogs players for time wasting and all took no further part, but not Chad who stayed on the field I wonder what Schoupp will get charged with by the judiciary for his late hit spear tackle. How about nothing… First half penalty count was 8-2 to the Cowboys. Every time a ball came lose in a tackle they got a penalty. Dogs had a player binned for three offsides in a 25 minute period in the middle of the field. Cowboys gave away three in five minutes defending their line and… crickets
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, I largely agree but having a dr in the bunker is a good move and probably overdue. The right call was made, but we need to work on getting there quicker. We don’t know what the challenges are that are causing the delays. EG maybe the doctor isn’t just looking at the impact but tracking the player for some time afterwards for concussion signs. Maybe it’s a tech issue getting the dr the footage he needs while play is ongoing… This is one of those important things for the game that we should be getting behind not rubbishing because it’s not immediately perfect ( I know that’s not what you’re saying, but if a Buzz or someone gets hold of this…)
The Barry
Roar Guru
I thought Cummins was terrible… the binning was for three offside penalties over a 25 minute period in the middle of the field. The Cowboys gave away three six agains for offside within a five minute period defending their own line If the ref wants to take a hardline I can live with it, but if you heard the descriptions above and were told one player got sin binned, you’d assume it was the latter every day of the week. It makes no sense that one is a bin and one is maybe if the half goes a bit longer Cummins’ explanation to Jackson at halftime was embarrassing I object to the way he officiated that, that one team was near perfect in the first half and the other near perfect in the second half. These teams were 15th and 16th last year, neither has played a perfect half of football in three years. He’s too easily influenced by the conditions of the game I’m not really going to argue the tries (immediately commences arguing :silly: ) because I acknowledge my one eyedness… I hate refs faulting and really try to avoid it but tonight was terrible. The Titans got a raw deal earlier too where every call seemed to go against them. Maybe it’s sour grapes but there definitely seems to be different standards applied across the league…
Jl
Guest
Don’t give me that bullshit. He lifted Townsend past the horizontal and it was late. Every HIA took so long to get off the field. Cummins let them take far longer than the allowed time to restart play from every scrum and drop kick. Gave bulldogs so long to get defence set and get energy back. The two tries. Meh. I didn’t see it hit the ground. Did u ? And I was sitting in line with Dufty’s try and it was forward
Mike Meehall Wood
Editor
For me it's more that this one today and the one yesterday were completely obvious from the moment they happened. At some point someone has to intervene and take them off and, if nothing happens, send them back on - rather than the current situation where we leave them to play and then pull them out five minutes later when they could have copped another hit.
Mike Meehall Wood
Editor
That Averillo one was a try for mine...Dufty was forward though. I'm not sure Cummins was that bad. He was right to bin JH and, had the half gone on, he probably would have had the hard word with Cowboys too.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahahahaha… did you see the first half? Did you miss Hetherington getting binned for repeat infringements and the Cowboys doing the same thing at the end of the half for no result Townsend didn’t get hit late at all. Tackled as he passed it. Cummins didn’t think so and Townsend’s little milking act gave the bunker a chance too. Granville dived at Burton’s legs after he kicked it… penalty all day long Each time play was stopped for the Dogs players to have an HIA, they went off the field and didn’t return… that hardly milking it. Can’t say the same for Chadwick Plus the two legit tries the dogs had disallowed
RLFan
Roar Rookie
Did Barret have "Attack Specialist" on his CV. If so he should be sacked for mis representation. Speed to burn in some of the outside backs and what do we see, forwards taking it up all the time, nothing has changed in the last two years. Defence better though.