Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
6
Match Complete
Newcastle Knights
16
| 76 |  | K. Ponga | ||
| 75 |  | A. Clune | ||
| 47 | | B. Best | ||
| M. Burton |  | 29 | ||
| J. Addo-Carr | | 20 | ||
| 14 | | E. Lee | ||
| 6 | | K. Ponga |
| 1 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 0 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Magic Round of the NRL Premiership starts tonight when the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs play host to the Newcastle Knights at Suncorp Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 6.00pm AEST.
Sometimes the bottom of the table clashes are as entertaining as the ones at the top. That’;s what we will likely get first up in Magic Round as the loser in this one will remain rooted to the bottom of the table. Stakes are high.
The Bulldogs have improved in recent weeks but the 14-4 last round loss to the Raiders was still concerning. Canberra weren’t all that impressive but the Bulldogs attack rarely threatened their line.
Plenty of responsibility lies on the shoulders of Matt Burton. He will be hoping that Kyle Flanagan can guide the team around the park much like he did against the Roosters only a fortnight ago.
Trent Barrett has only made one change with Chris Patolo starting from the bench and Ava Seumanufagai moving to 18th man.
After making the top 8 last season, the Newcastle Knights are arguably the biggest disappointment of the 2022 season so far. The 36-16 loss to the Cowboys did nothing to ease that disappointment.
They have conceded 242 points across their 9 games, the worst of any team. Poor defence often comes down to a lack of commitment so Adam O’Brien has plenty of work to do.
The Knights do get some troops back with Mitchell Barnett coming in for Jack Johns and Adam Clune shifting Phoenix Crossland to the bench.
Prediction
Sometimes you need to reach rock bottom before you can start the slow climb back up. The Knights remain a good team on paper but they are not producing on the field. This week could be the week they reach rock bottom.
The Bulldogs still look clunky in attack but, as in the past few weeks, will show plenty of enthusiasm. That will be enough.
Bulldogs by 10
Game information
Kick-off: 6:00pm (AEST)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
TV/Stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Bulldogs $1.73, Knights $2.11 – odds via PlayUp
Bulldogs
1. Matt Dufty 2. Brent Naden 3. Jake Averillo 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Luke Thompson 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Corey Waddell 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Josh Jackson
Interchange: 14. Bailey Biondi-Odo 15. Joe Stimson 16. Max King 17. Chris Patolo
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Dominic Young 6. Tex Hoy 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Chris Randall 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Mitchell Barnett 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Leo Thompson
Interchange: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Mathew Croker
Bloke7
Roar Rookie
Less gutted if they boot him this week
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
TIGERMIKE
Guest
At least you beat the Tigers, who will be 15th
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
No one could express the frustration of a Bulldogs fans better than you just did. Well said.
UAP
Guest
Not sure what's going on with Dufty .. embarrassed watching him
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Best. Suggestion. Ever. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
What was that rubbish I just watched? The Bulldogs were supposed to be good this year. Truly abysmal attack tonight.
RLFan
Roar Rookie
That's the last straw for me - I've followed the Bulldogs for more years than I care to remember, but I will not watch another game until the coach and underperforming players are shown the door. It is absolutely disgraceful that the team has no structure, no attack, nothing - feel sorry for Burton and Addo Carr. What the hell do they do for fitness - need to be be running from Belmore to Bankstown every day. It seems to me no matter who they buy, they will still go backwards under Barret.
Adam
Roar Guru
I'll sign it for you as well. No one wants a shoddy Bulldogs
Danno1
Roar Rookie
The best and most committed Bulldogs side since 2015 has been for that brief period Georgallis took over a team with half the talent of this lot. That team played with ultimate commitment and as much enterprise as their skills would allow. Besides that brief period, from the fag end of Hasler's time through to now, the attack has been painfully slow and obvious regardless of whether it's been Hasler, Pay or Barrett at the helm. I get that Barrett is managed by a raging self promoter who needs his "talent" to keep the money coming in, I'm sure Barrett is passionate and a really nice bloke, so we have picked up some major signings, but putting this talent to use appears beyond him. The lack of attacking structure and the way the players seem unable or unwilling to use the skills they have is shocking Fox, Burton and to a lesser extent TPJ excepted. With the talent we have we should be 9-13, the last 2 weeks are games we should have had in the bank....I fear they will stick with Barrett till mid 23 then realise it ain't gonna happen and shaft him for Furner, or someone else, but please not Flanagan.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Barrett has to go No one knows what anyone else is doing Other than Burton and JAC working their back sides off there is nothing in attack No pattern, no structure,no clue, no hope Last week, 15 v 14 on a five game losing streak. Lose This week. 15 v 16 on a six have losing streak. Lose Looked clueless and hopeless in both games Trent Robinson must be apoplectic at the Roosters losing to this tripe FAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRKKKKK Where’s the petition…
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Gotta be something seriously wrong there . Hasler pretty fair coach , wether he got fed up or disinterested and Dean Pay club stalwart and now the stuck with a bloke who wouldn't / shouldn't get a job selling outdoor furniture at Harvey Normans . I feel sorry for fans like TB who stick with them solid , something's got to change .
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Yeah., here tonite and Sunday. Weather is hit and miss but nothing's here. Go the Bronx.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Said elsewhere, Fox will be FB next week
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
’twill be shouts by the end of the month. Such a waste of talent. What I could have done in the game with his speed. .. And Smith’s brain and Cronk’s dedication and….
You at the game Jimmy? Glad the rain stopped. Hope the next game brings some excitement. Otherwise Caxton pub it is.
Vivalasvegan
Roar Rookie
A good coach could get the best out of those three. All talented but all problematic. Barrett just looks out of his depth. Reckon he's a bit soft. That's why Gus had to step in... ?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Thats my take out as well. How can you be disinterested on such a big stage.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I'm saying Fox is fb next week
No, he was just saying that to emphasis that he's happy with Trent and that his job is safe lonterm. Or maybe just tryna take some pressure of Trent and the club now that he's CEO. Well, unless Gus is gone today, and the definition "long after im gone" is the rest of the season, then Trent wont be here next year.