The Bulldogs are having a party after the club recorded one of its best wins in a cracking King’s Birthday contest to end round 14.
There’s no question Canterbury-Bankstown are now the feel good story at the halfway point of the season sitting in 7th position with seven wins.
The way Cameron Ciraldo has been able to develop a unique style using a lighter weight forward pack is an example of good coaching.
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‘That’s a first!’ Genius Eels challenge | 00:49
And the leadership of Stephen Crichton on the field has taken the gun centre’s game to a whole new level.
Many were surprised when Ciraldo made the call to hand Crichton the captaincy back in February but the star signing showed in Monday’s epic win over the Eels what an outstanding leader he’d become.
Sure the Bulldogs have endured some lean years results-wise but the work Ciraldo and general manager of football Phil Gould have been doing is clearly starting to pay dividends.
The same can’t be said for their arch-rivals and fellow western Sydney club the Parramatta Eels who have sacked their coach early doors and are still running around in circles about who the best replacement is.
Dogs come from behind to down Eels | 02:42
The banker and the bean counter calling the shots at the Eels have clearly been exposed as having little idea on football-related matters.
Meanwhile triple premiers Penrith continue to underline what a superb team they are and further enhance their credentials as the NRL’s benchmark side.
No longer the Eels little brother, the Panthers have shown the rest of the NRL how to best set-up elite junior pathways and are continuing to find ways to win even without star players Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards.
Then there’s the poor, old Wests Tigers whose members and fans have been continually served up s*#t sandwiches season after season.
Ciraldo reveals Lamb’s post-match speech | 05:53
It’s a terrible look when the young gun local junior Lachlan Galvin wants out of the club because he’s fed-up with a losing culture.
And big Stefano Utoikamanu looks like he’s all but out the door at the end of the season despite the Wests Tigers offering him $4 million across five seasons.
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson has tried to nip it in the bud by pointing out Galvin’s contracted for the next two seasons but the reality is we all know where this manipulation and agitation can end up.
Could you blame Galvin for having his head turned if a successful club like Penrith came knocking?
It’s tough for Wests Tigers members and fans to swallow.
What were your likes or dislikes from round 14?
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