The Friday evening clash between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters unfolded as a classic tale of two halves, with the Bulldogs initially dominating and the Roosters staging a formidable comeback.
In the early stages, the Bulldogs surged to a commanding 26-0 lead, leaving the Roosters rattled and disadvantaged by the absence of three key players due to injuries. Dom Young was dismissed for a high tackle on Blake Taaffe, while Sam Walker and James Tedesco were forced off due to head injury assessments (HIAs).
Despite the Bulldogs’ initial dominance, the Roosters’ second-half resurgence posed a significant challenge, described by Fox League’s Warren Smith as giving the Bulldogs “a scare of their lives.”
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo conceded, “I thought the first 30 minutes was our best footy we’ve played that I can remember, and then we probably had our worst 40 minutes of the season in the second half.”
The game left both teams grappling with absent key players. Apart from those sidelined during the match, the Roosters faced additional concerns with Dom Young and Victor Radley facing scrutiny from the Match Review Committee.
For the Bulldogs, Blake Taaffe failed his HIA, Harrison Edwards exited due to a neck injury, and Kikau might be contending with a knee problem. Ciraldo disclosed that Kurt Mann played most of the game with a broken hand, while Connor Tracey sustained a calf strain.
Reflecting on the chaotic match, Fox League expert James Graham found it difficult to articulate, describing it as “carnage in the conditions.”
Speaking on SEN Radio, Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney highlighted the motivation derived from the presence of the 2004 premiership-winning squad and stressed the importance of controlling emotions and trusting in their abilities.
“It was good to have the old boys around. It added motivation throughout the week,” Mahoney noted.
“During the week, you plan for things, and most weeks you change your game plan depending on who you’re playing,” he continued, outlining the team’s strategy against the premiership contenders.
However, with a likely intense review underway under coach Cameron Ciraldo, Mahoney acknowledged that the team panicked when the Roosters mounted a strong comeback in the second half, showcasing their renowned attacking prowess.
“Our challenge is to control our emotions and focus on each play. We were too eager to score more points too quickly [in the second half],” Mahoney admitted.
While many fans and commentators have noted a defensively improved Bulldogs outfit in 2024, doubts persist regarding their attacking prowess. Mahoney recognizes the potential for improvement and acknowledges that there are plenty of scoring opportunities, but admits there is still progress to be made.
“When we trust in ourselves, things can click for us. It requires bravery to do so from the outset,” Mahoney continued, referring to the team’s confidence in playing expansively, not just in critical moments when the game hangs in the balance.
“It demonstrates that we can score from anywhere… but we need to maintain that for the entire forty minutes,” he conceded.
Regarding the incident involving James Tedesco, Mahoney expressed concern for his welfare, stating, “Teddy has been a courageous player for a long time, and I hope he’s okay.”
