Bulldogs Debate Page
- Thread starter Dman2025
- Start date
This is what the Dogs team could look like in 2-3 years.
1. Bryenton
2. Rauqe
3. Critter
4. Fitzgibbon
5. Rinakama
6. Teaupa
7. Woods
8. Thompson
9. Young
10. Smith
11. Preston
12. Spinks
13. Galvin
14. Underhill
15. Hopoi
16. Latu
17. Haywood
18. Todd
19. Sua
20. Hayes
21.Readon - second row, centre
22. Kiraz - centre, second row
23 Puru - fullback
24. Cocherane - fullback, wing? Dykes - fullback 5/8?
25. O'Meley - wing, centre, Udeh - centre, fullback, Fing- utility?
26. King
27. AJ - should be higher in the pecking order.
28. Bowen - prop, Hughes- prop
29. Leota - prop
30. Conti - halfback, Bakarat - halfback
Development squad - hooker, centre, second row, prop.
1. Bryenton
2. Rauqe
3. Critter
4. Fitzgibbon
5. Rinakama
6. Teaupa
7. Woods
8. Thompson
9. Young
10. Smith
11. Preston
12. Spinks
13. Galvin
14. Underhill
15. Hopoi
16. Latu
17. Haywood
18. Todd
19. Sua
20. Hayes
21.Readon - second row, centre
22. Kiraz - centre, second row
23 Puru - fullback
24. Cocherane - fullback, wing? Dykes - fullback 5/8?
25. O'Meley - wing, centre, Udeh - centre, fullback, Fing- utility?
26. King
27. AJ - should be higher in the pecking order.
28. Bowen - prop, Hughes- prop
29. Leota - prop
30. Conti - halfback, Bakarat - halfback
Development squad - hooker, centre, second row, prop.
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Dykes is playing left sided half in reserve grade.
Probably the preferred option if Burto is unavailable.
If we are going to move Burto to rhe centres, we need to do it by round 10 and stick to it.
The good alternatve options to play 6 are - Dykes, Woods and Critter
Teaupa is IMO the best left sided half at the club, Woods seems to be able to play both sides.
Teaupa is too young to play NRL this year, but might be ready next year. What i like most about Teaupa is his composure, he seems to make mostly good decisions and he executes the pass or kick well. I've only seen him play limited minutes, but he seems to have the brain of an NRL half with 10 years of playing experience.
Dykes was a absolute star at 5/8 and fullback before he had a very bad run of injuries. If he gets back to anything like that form in those positions he will walk into our team.
If I was moving Burton to left centre, i wouls swap Critter back to right and Tuala to fullback. Assuming Critter isn't going to ve 5/8. Tracey could plsy wing instead of Montoya.
On form so far this season, Tuala is the best outside back at the club.
Others are starting to suggest Hayes at left backrow and Kiks playing at prop or lock. Starting lock instead of Salmon is a good option.
Probably the preferred option if Burto is unavailable.
If we are going to move Burto to rhe centres, we need to do it by round 10 and stick to it.
The good alternatve options to play 6 are - Dykes, Woods and Critter
Teaupa is IMO the best left sided half at the club, Woods seems to be able to play both sides.
Teaupa is too young to play NRL this year, but might be ready next year. What i like most about Teaupa is his composure, he seems to make mostly good decisions and he executes the pass or kick well. I've only seen him play limited minutes, but he seems to have the brain of an NRL half with 10 years of playing experience.
Dykes was a absolute star at 5/8 and fullback before he had a very bad run of injuries. If he gets back to anything like that form in those positions he will walk into our team.
If I was moving Burton to left centre, i wouls swap Critter back to right and Tuala to fullback. Assuming Critter isn't going to ve 5/8. Tracey could plsy wing instead of Montoya.
On form so far this season, Tuala is the best outside back at the club.
Others are starting to suggest Hayes at left backrow and Kiks playing at prop or lock. Starting lock instead of Salmon is a good option.
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If we get an injury im the backs and need to shift Burto to centre, Turpin should come on at hooker and Hayward should shift to left edge half.
Eventually we can try Preston or Hayes at left centre.
SOS is too big a risk in defence and we need a solid defender inside Burton.
Eventually we can try Preston or Hayes at left centre.
SOS is too big a risk in defence and we need a solid defender inside Burton.
This game looking ominous it could be a flogging to the Panthers or maybe somehow the Bulldogs might scrape a miracle win. Would that be something?
Panfers 32 Bulldogs 10 . They may rest Cleary halfway through give us a little breathing space .
Panfers 32 Bulldogs 10 . They may rest Cleary halfway through give us a little breathing space .
We had a lot to do with Penrith not being at their best.
We outplayed them early due to more energy and intent.
Kick, chase, line speed, gang tackle.
They did well to come back,
We could have won by more.
Critter, Thompson, Dykes, Woods, Rinkama and possibly a few more could come into oiur side.
Set up the win with defence and finish it with attack.
Galvin and Preston are the perfect combo to attack their weak link in defence. We did the same think last season.
No other NRL team was fit enough to go with them and smart enough to attack their weakness.
The Eels attacked their weakness, but conceeded 48 points.
If we bring that energy, the Eeks will struggle to match it.
The only certainity in the NRL is Mitch Moses will whinge for 80 minutes every week.
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The most logical change to the side that beat Penrith is Thompson replacing Hughes. Hughes has been very good every game this season.
IMO Hughes, Curran, Hopoi and AJ are all NRL standard but at this stage of the season are probably outside the top 17.
Underhill, Todd, DSF, Spinks are capable of playing NRL, even Baker is an ok player and Zyron still has some potential.
It is hard to fit Montoya, Kiraz, Rinakama, Criitter, Tuala, Xerri and Burton into tne backline.
Dykes and Woods should compete for a spot in the halves, Dykes and Cocherane could comete for fullback. SOS will improve.
Dogs fans and the wider NRL are sleeping on how good our depth is, partially becuase some of our depth has been injured for the first 5 rounds.
Usually around SOO and just after SOO, depth counts.
Just sfter SOO the coach needs to know the best 17 and to rest any of those players who need a rest.
A lack of depth and injuries at the wrong time has sunk us the last 2 seasons.
Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Sharks have depth similar to ours, some other clubs like Newcastle, Storm and Tigers may be close.
Our depth is much better than the last 2 seasons. A few more losses in the first 12 rounds will not be fatal. By the time we get to June, depth will count.
SOO2 is June 17th, hopefully Cirro knows our best 17 by that date.
Young making is NRL debut at hooker this season would be the icing on the cake for us. The word is thst his attacking play at hooker is excellent.
IMO Hughes, Curran, Hopoi and AJ are all NRL standard but at this stage of the season are probably outside the top 17.
Underhill, Todd, DSF, Spinks are capable of playing NRL, even Baker is an ok player and Zyron still has some potential.
It is hard to fit Montoya, Kiraz, Rinakama, Criitter, Tuala, Xerri and Burton into tne backline.
Dykes and Woods should compete for a spot in the halves, Dykes and Cocherane could comete for fullback. SOS will improve.
Dogs fans and the wider NRL are sleeping on how good our depth is, partially becuase some of our depth has been injured for the first 5 rounds.
Usually around SOO and just after SOO, depth counts.
Just sfter SOO the coach needs to know the best 17 and to rest any of those players who need a rest.
A lack of depth and injuries at the wrong time has sunk us the last 2 seasons.
Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Sharks have depth similar to ours, some other clubs like Newcastle, Storm and Tigers may be close.
Our depth is much better than the last 2 seasons. A few more losses in the first 12 rounds will not be fatal. By the time we get to June, depth will count.
SOO2 is June 17th, hopefully Cirro knows our best 17 by that date.
Young making is NRL debut at hooker this season would be the icing on the cake for us. The word is thst his attacking play at hooker is excellent.
I understand why fans are negative, the club was a shambles 1998-2018, and we haven't won a comp since 2004.
So some fans have only seen 20 years of failure and drama.
The exciting attacking players in the current side are Galvin, Burton, Preston, Kiks, Critter and Tuala.
Those players are improving and are in better form than last season.
Players who could improve the attack are Dykes, Woods, Spinks, Todd, Latu, Sua, Rinakama and Cocherane.
Beyond that, most of our elite talent is playing flegg or below. We might be 2-3 years away from the best version of a Cirro coached side.
We won plenty of comps in the past when we were not the most talented side or the most entertaining side.
If we win the comp this year it will probably be like that, we will need to beat some more talented sides in the semis.
I hope sticking it to our critics is extra motivation for the team this year, both the clueless clowns on NRL360, and the negative drama queens within the fans base.
Yes, i understand 20 years of fan trauma far too well, but use you eyes and your brain, and back the team to silence the critics.
That win over the Panthers was a step towards the best version of the Dogs 2026 team.
So some fans have only seen 20 years of failure and drama.
The exciting attacking players in the current side are Galvin, Burton, Preston, Kiks, Critter and Tuala.
Those players are improving and are in better form than last season.
Players who could improve the attack are Dykes, Woods, Spinks, Todd, Latu, Sua, Rinakama and Cocherane.
Beyond that, most of our elite talent is playing flegg or below. We might be 2-3 years away from the best version of a Cirro coached side.
We won plenty of comps in the past when we were not the most talented side or the most entertaining side.
If we win the comp this year it will probably be like that, we will need to beat some more talented sides in the semis.
I hope sticking it to our critics is extra motivation for the team this year, both the clueless clowns on NRL360, and the negative drama queens within the fans base.
Yes, i understand 20 years of fan trauma far too well, but use you eyes and your brain, and back the team to silence the critics.
That win over the Panthers was a step towards the best version of the Dogs 2026 team.
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Next week we play the Eels on Sunday and reserve grade plays after the NRL.
I don't mind playing reserve grade after NRL, becuase the 2 players on the 6 man bench that don't get a run can play reserve grade.
My post about depth proved relevant, because Max King has a broken jaw. Hopoi is an obvious replacement.
Hayes and Mann might have got minor niggling injuries hopefully just bruising. In that case the 9 day turn around helps us.
Worst case is if Hayes and Mann are out, AJ and Spinks are pretty good replacements.
Thompson should be back and should be playing reserve grade, but I wouldn't be surpised if he is named in the NRL team on Tuesday.
Curran is probably still out, DSF seems to be in and out of reserve grade. Todd is still injured. Underhill went off HIA. Latu is working on match fitness in Flegg.
I expect Curran and Thompson to play NRL before King. I am wondering what a Hughes / Thompson starting prop combo looks like.
Inspite of our excellent depth, we already need all of our depth.
The intensity is up at the start of this season. Most squads started the season in good shape, but injuries are starting to mount.
I don't mind playing reserve grade after NRL, becuase the 2 players on the 6 man bench that don't get a run can play reserve grade.
My post about depth proved relevant, because Max King has a broken jaw. Hopoi is an obvious replacement.
Hayes and Mann might have got minor niggling injuries hopefully just bruising. In that case the 9 day turn around helps us.
Worst case is if Hayes and Mann are out, AJ and Spinks are pretty good replacements.
Thompson should be back and should be playing reserve grade, but I wouldn't be surpised if he is named in the NRL team on Tuesday.
Curran is probably still out, DSF seems to be in and out of reserve grade. Todd is still injured. Underhill went off HIA. Latu is working on match fitness in Flegg.
I expect Curran and Thompson to play NRL before King. I am wondering what a Hughes / Thompson starting prop combo looks like.
Inspite of our excellent depth, we already need all of our depth.
The intensity is up at the start of this season. Most squads started the season in good shape, but injuries are starting to mount.
Broncos / Cows game was an interesting contrast to our game.
More intensity gang tackling in our game, more speed and skill in the Broncos / Cows game.
Those games with low intensity and a lot of points are entertaining, but are a bit like drinking light beer.
That style is unlikely to be a winning formula in the semis.
Regardless, the Cows are great to watch, they have a lot of speed and skill
More intensity gang tackling in our game, more speed and skill in the Broncos / Cows game.
Those games with low intensity and a lot of points are entertaining, but are a bit like drinking light beer.
That style is unlikely to be a winning formula in the semis.
Regardless, the Cows are great to watch, they have a lot of speed and skill
The key to beating the Eels and setting up our season is to prepare as if we are playing the Panthers and to be ruthless.
There are no easy games in tne NRL, but the right start in a game like this can turn it into an easy game.
We need to start fast, play with plenty of energy and put in a shift for the first 25-30 minutes, then our bench players need to make an impact.
Ideally we dominate posession, post some points, and take the crowd and the ref out of the contest.
No dropped balls, soft runs, bad decisons and silly penalties. Run hard, tackle hard, aim to play with more energy than we did against the Panthers.
Get it right, and our mentally soft opponents might fall to pieces. If that happens it is an opportunity to improve our for and against.
If Parra turn up ready for a fignt and desperate, we are also ready and can hopefully stop them getting some morale boosting wins early.
This kind of game is all about the start. My experience as a fan is, these games that should be easy wins are the type of game the Dogs often bungle. Our mistake is usually underestimating the opposition and starting slow.
If we want an easy game, we need to work hard for the first 30 mins and we might get one.
These games are also the games fans often think we need to just turn up to win. We need to do a lot more than just turn up for the first 30 mins, and if the game is flowing our way we need to be ruthless.
I hope that we don't waste this opportunity.
There are no easy games in tne NRL, but the right start in a game like this can turn it into an easy game.
We need to start fast, play with plenty of energy and put in a shift for the first 25-30 minutes, then our bench players need to make an impact.
Ideally we dominate posession, post some points, and take the crowd and the ref out of the contest.
No dropped balls, soft runs, bad decisons and silly penalties. Run hard, tackle hard, aim to play with more energy than we did against the Panthers.
Get it right, and our mentally soft opponents might fall to pieces. If that happens it is an opportunity to improve our for and against.
If Parra turn up ready for a fignt and desperate, we are also ready and can hopefully stop them getting some morale boosting wins early.
This kind of game is all about the start. My experience as a fan is, these games that should be easy wins are the type of game the Dogs often bungle. Our mistake is usually underestimating the opposition and starting slow.
If we want an easy game, we need to work hard for the first 30 mins and we might get one.
These games are also the games fans often think we need to just turn up to win. We need to do a lot more than just turn up for the first 30 mins, and if the game is flowing our way we need to be ruthless.
I hope that we don't waste this opportunity.
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My expectation is that the boys will be buzzing after the win over Penrith and still disappointed about the Newcastle and Souths losses.
The energy and defence is the same as last season, but the attack is better mainly becuase the right edge of Galvin-Preson-Tuala is more dangerous.
Also becasue we have more forwards making comitted runs up the middle in the opponents red zone.
Players like Kiraz, Mann and Kiks have more energy after a slow start to the season.
Salmon probably played his best game ever against the Panthers. We won the middle against Leota, Smith, Kenny and Yeo. Then our bench came on and added energy, but we lost a bit of momentum. Mostly due to conceding penalties and 6-agains.
When Hayes came back on, we regained the momentum.
I would like to see an 80 minute effort where we play with energy, but keep the dropped balls, penalties and 6-agains to a mimimum.
Don't play the opposition back into the game with a lot of posession.
The energy and defence is the same as last season, but the attack is better mainly becuase the right edge of Galvin-Preson-Tuala is more dangerous.
Also becasue we have more forwards making comitted runs up the middle in the opponents red zone.
Players like Kiraz, Mann and Kiks have more energy after a slow start to the season.
Salmon probably played his best game ever against the Panthers. We won the middle against Leota, Smith, Kenny and Yeo. Then our bench came on and added energy, but we lost a bit of momentum. Mostly due to conceding penalties and 6-agains.
When Hayes came back on, we regained the momentum.
I would like to see an 80 minute effort where we play with energy, but keep the dropped balls, penalties and 6-agains to a mimimum.
Don't play the opposition back into the game with a lot of posession.