Source : ABC NEWS
– with AAP
It’s not been the best start to the season for the Bulldogs.
One of last year’s most exciting sides going forward has, seemingly, gone backwards at a rate of knots to start the 2026 season from an attacking sense.
Last year, the Bulldogs were averaging 26 points per game after a month gone of the season, a season that would see them play in the semi-finals.
This season they average just 15 points per game — scoring the fewest points of any team in the league.
Cameron Ciraldo though has described a degree if “hysteria” over Canterbury’s attack, saying there were plenty of positive signs.
“We’ve won two games, we’ve lost one, so I don’t think there’s any need for panic stations,” the Bulldogs coach said.
“A lot got made of ‘Critta’ [Stephen Crichton] moving in a little bit last week.
“‘Burto’ [Matt Burton] took a bump, needed a little rest out wide, ‘Critta’ came in and got involved … we scored two tries pretty quickly after that.
“I’m not sure of all the hysteria around that.”
That was in reference to him moving Crichton from centre to five-eighth against Newcastle last Saturday, with Burton scoring two tries from left centre.
However, the Bulldogs eventually lost 24-16 to last season’s wooden spooners – although Ciraldo gave no thought to changing his starting halves combination of Burton and Lachlan Galvin for today’s clash.
“We’ve won the possession every week, we’ve made the most metres every week, we’ve also made the most line breaks in each game every week,” he said.
“They’re all really good signs.”
One of the issues facing the Bulldogs is the effectiveness of halfback Galvin, whose signing last year arguably interrupted the Bulldogs charge into the finals and led to a breaking up of one of the league’s most potent attacks.
He has produced only one try assist so far this season despite touching the ball more times on average than any non-hooker.
During the week, NRL legend and media pundit Andrew Johns encouraged Galvin to simplify his game.
Ciraldo said the 20-year-old wasn’t the only one who could heed that advice.
“For everyone, it’s about simplifying your own game and your team’s game at the start of the year,” he said.
“Last week we had 60 per cent of possession against us in the first half and our team was looking for a bit of energy. Lachie, because he’s so fit, decided to try and give us a bit of a thrust.
“That’s awesome, from a team-first perspective. Is there stuff we need to do better? Yeah, and we’re all working on that.”
