The Bulldogs have beaten the Storm 26-12 at AAMI Park, with a first-half onslaught that saw the locals in complete disarray by the half-time break.
After what was undoubtedly a ferocious serve from Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy in the sheds, the home side did level the contest somewhat in the second period, yet it was a brilliant, expansive and polished display from Cameron Ciraldo’s team early, that earned the club’s first two points of the season.
The former assistant under Ivan Cleary at Penrith would have feared the challenge of repairing the Dogs may have been even more difficult than he had imagined after a convincing loss to the Sea Eagles in the opening round, yet the turnaround has been instant, with Melbourne simply shocked by the enthusiasm and energy of the men in blue and white throughout the contest.
Storm still on the bus as the opening whistle blew
Something looked wrong for Craig Bellamy’s men right from the outset at AAMI Park. With significant cattle missing and the opposition clearly up for the fight, Melbourne were caught in the headlights early.
The home side’s defensive line was broken effortlessly and frequently in the opening exchanges.
The Bulldogs kept shifting the ball with gay abandon and the usually ever-present ability of the Storm to laterally match expansive attacks with supreme defensive organisation was simply absent and found wanting.
By the break, Melbourne were 16 behind on the score board and seemingly already out of the contest.
Concerns will grow as to whether Melbourne will be anything like the perennial semi-final contender in 2023 that they have remained for so many seasons, with some suggesting the cracks in the current Storm squad present a challenge that even one of the games greatest coaches will find difficult to overcome.
Hardly a Storm player found form on the night, with Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes trying hard yet mostly unable to begin sets in decent field position in the opening 40 minutes, thanks to the control and execution of the Bulldogs.
Josh Addo-Carr runs with the ball against Melbourne. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
However, it was Storm 101 in the second-half, as Bellamy’s troops did exactly what they have done for seemingly forever; grinding away through the middle, controlling the contest through ruck dominance and hitting the edges with flat balls.
Hooker Harry Grant took an ever increasing role in attack when momentum shifted, as Jahrome Hughes and young five-eighth Tyran Wishart began attacking the Bulldogs’ A defender and found metres in behind the markers with elite footwork.
Yet the home side would rue the opening half that made victory near impossible.
Bellamy was blunt post-game about the disappointing first-half.
“A lack of effort, that’s what we pride ourselves on. At the start of the game they were a lot more enthusiastic than us,” he said.
“We were a mile off with some of our effort areas. We were a long way from our best today.”
When asked where things could improve, he replied: “I didn’t see this coming, we had a good week of training……they all know where they can put their efforts in. We didn’t see that today.”
Bulldogs could well and truly be back
There was something immediately intense and impressive about the Bulldogs right from the opening whistle. Jacob Preston’s early try set the tone, whilst Jacob Kiraz is offering more elusiveness in attack for the Dogs than any winger since the great Hazem El Masri.
The early advantage was parlayed in the 26th minute, with Preston once again in behind the line and in space, and with Young Tonumaipea subsequently sent to the sheds for ten minutes, the pattern of the evening appeared to be set.
Improved discipline and control in attack and a dog hungry attitude in defence would have had every Canterbury supporter on their feet shouting, “Dogs of War”, something that despite its mythical origins, has been absent from the majority of Bulldog performances for the last six seasons.
By the time Josh Addo-Carr scored the third try of the game and the first-half scoreboard was extended to 16-0, the Bulldogs had broken the Melbourne line seven times and the home side had missed 29 tackles.
Reed Mahoney continued to mount a serious case as the potential recruit of the season and Jake Averillo played his best ever game in the blue and white.
Quite simply, the Bulldogs appear to have proven that they will be something incredibly different to the impotent and blunt attacking weapon that most teams lapped up with ease in 2022.
Ciraldo was measured after the game, despite the obvious excitement within the club after one of its best performances for some time.
“It’s very pleasing, very proud of the effort the boys put in. I wasn’t surprised by it,” he said.
“We played a style of football that we’ve trained for all pre-season … and that’s the way we are going to play. We are not going to play conservative, we are going to play to our strengths and play a real Bulldogs style of footy.”
Asked about the performance of Jacob Kiraz, he said: “Jacob’s a winner, that’s the way he trains every day. I’m not surprised.”
“I’ve believed the whole time we have been training we are capable of some pretty cool things this year if we put our mind to it and keep playing our style of footy and go after it like we did tonight.”
KenW
Roar Rookie
I can't write them off as a premiership contender due to the spine - Paps, Munster, Hughes, Grant. The forward pack clearly isn't what it was though, and they look genuinely vulnerable right now due to missing players. Get a good run with injuries though and they could be a different side when it counts.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You’re right about the style of footy lending itself to inconsistency and I can live with that, but that’s not really what happened against Manly It was unforced errors on simple plays like hit ups that kept putting us under pressure. We never even got to the point of making mistakes while throwing the ball around The concerning part was that it was exactly what we did against the Sharks in the second trial… shows were still ver much a work in progress…
Joe
Roar Rookie
Dogs deserved the win the way they played in that first half especially. Storm's depth is non-existent unfortunately so they looked like a reserve grade side. However I saw enough out of some of the signings and newbies (Katoa, Warbrick, Garlick and that guy who turned up to play the last 15 mins who I have no idea as he isn't even listed on the Storm site) to think that the a fully fit Storm can make the top 4 or 5-6. However NAS being out for 6 weeks means they'll be struggling to be even in the 8 by mid season meaning they'll be playing catchup in the second half of the season if (and that's a very big IF) they finally get all troops on deck and Paps is at least 90% what he was. NAS was the one who dragged them back into the contest so now he's out I think if they roll out the same theam they're looking at several losses in a row.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Kiraz is one heck of a footballer. Without sounding like Gus Gould, I made comments here last season about Jacob, how good he was. Newcastle didn't rate him apparently, not worth keeping.
Tom G
Guest
With all of those forwards leaving at the end of last season, it’s not surprising that they’d go backwards. What is surprising is the punditry claiming them as one of the favourites for the title this year. They still have a really decent side, Munster is great, Hughes close to being the best half in the comp and Olam is definitely missed. Papenhuzens absence not so much ch as he misses loads of games.. a bot like Turbo, a real asset when he’s there but he’s not there too often.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Kiraz is definitely a goer. Has a bit of Matt King about him, tall and lanky but plenty of ability to break a tackle and just generally move more powerfully than you expect I think you're right that the Dogs will be looking for consistency. That was great to watch last night, but that style of attacking footy will have good days and bad days.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Definitely some signs that we have an open competition on our hands. The dominant teams of the last few years look more vulnerable, and plenty of the lesser lights look a bit stronger. A long way to go, some of those favourites will inevitably re-asset themselves but good early indications at least.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The difference between this week and last week was ball control The Dogs gave up so much pill last week that they were unable to build any pressure and constantly put themselves under the pump. They were always just hanging on This team showed under Potter last year that they’re capable of playing some good attacking footy and that was the case last night. They constantly went side to side probing for a weakness. Some impressive tries but their attacking footy from anywhere on the field was good to watch Challenge for the Dogs is to maintain this effort and execution week on week Good to see the right side grab four of the five tries The Storm had a lot out, but it’s still an effort beating them in Melbourne. Dogs have our own injury concerns as well Super impressed with Jacob Preston. Rugged, mobile, strong in all aspects of his game. Mahoney has been great in both games. King was tough through the middle - 55 minutes, 35 tackles and 194 metres. Huge effort But Kiraz was my MOM. Every play is maximum effort. 24 runs, 235 metres, 2 line breaks, 1 line break assist, 10 tackle breaks, 5 offloads, 2 tries. He’s young and he’s a winger (for now) but he’s quickly becoming a leader
Cam
Roar Rookie
I’ll see your Max King and raise you J’maine Hopgood as a bolter. He has only started 3 or 4 NRL games (7 off the bench?), but looks purpose-built for SOO and could potentially replace Jai Arrow for Qld. Reece Walsh, Sam Walker and Reed Mahoney might also be in the mix for a debut in this year.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Here’s one for you, the entire top 8 from 2022 have all lost a match, with the Raiders and Eels dropping both games through R1 and R2. A quick look at the ladder and only the Rabbitohs and Panthers sit inside the current top 8 this year. If you had picked a top 4 going into R3 of Dolphins, Broncos, Sea Eagles and Titans, you would have been laughed off the Roar.
Nat
Roar Guru
Cracking win and thoroughly deserved by the Dogs. To go to Melbourne and dominate that first half put the game out of reach in the 2nd. Not going to write the Storm off but it certianly shows the quality of the competition we have this year.
Nat
Roar Guru
See you in Sept kk. :stoked:
Muzz
Guest
The Bulldogs game plan appeared so different this round. They played some nice expansive style footy from the start. They were too structured against Manly and failed to mount any pressure. They have plenty of strike power out wide that will trouble many teams.
Rellum
Roar Guru
If the Bulldogs are going to play open attacking footy they might actually be the first Sydney team worth watching :silly:
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Max King... grandson of the great Johnny. My tip for Freddie's out of the Blue Game 1 selection.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Flanagan's a special for that. I don't think he deserves most of the criticism he receives, he just needs a structure and game plan that doesn't ask too much of him.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Thanks. Just wondered if this was going to be a case where they get none of the credit for wins and all the blame for losses.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Burton was solid but still looks a little off his best. I thought Flanagan had some good moments, he is definitely a player that needs to underplay his hand and stick to short passing, he doesn’t have the skillset to get expansive. I’m interested to see what Ciraldo does with the Doggie halves as they seem to play isolated from each other which will be a limiting factor if not addressed. On early form, Mahoney looks like being the offensive glue.
Dean
Roar Rookie
Entertaining performance from the Doggies and there is still plenty of upside for them. Kikau looked lost on the left edge and the combination with Burton is not effective yet. There were some loose passes from Mahoney too: I think a lot of this comes down to playing and structure changes. When all the pieces start to fall into place this will be a very threatening team. For the Storm, Eliosa Katao was immense. Hard to believe that this is the same bloke who couldn’t make it at the Warriors but a very typical Bellamy/Storm spare parts conversion. Nick Meaney tried his heart out in typical fashion.
Womblat
Guest
Never a better time to play Melbourne who were always gonna struggle, but still a good win. Kiraz really showed that young fella Anderson how regular first graders do it. And I liked how they used Kikau. His threat value is as useful as his actual involvement. He could do the bulldozer stuff if he wanted but he's just an ominous presence loitering wide, has the defence on edge all the time. He might have to take a "trip" for a week though.