It’s hard to not show some bias when we are so passionate. Fans of every team will whine about ref mistakes, bad draws, favouritism etc. we are human after all. 

It might help to do some work on the mental side of the game during the bye.

Revisit resilience and trust.

Players need to
1. Stick to the game plan.
2. Stick to the defensive system and always do their job within the system.
3. Trust their team mates and work together in defence.
4. Cover for and help their team mates in defence.
5. Attack with purpose and energy.
6. Take smart options in attack and don't force low percentage options. 
7. Focus in attack and execute their skill, kicking, passing and running.

I think we have slipped down the greasy pole in these areas since the start of the season, the win / loss column and confidence has a lot to do with that.

The confident players in our team seem like the minoity, we need to consider the need for more confident/ assertive players when recruiting, or at least guys who can just focus on their job, regardless of scoreboard and past results.

This part is an area where we can attempt a quick fix. My impression is that CC is trying to lift spirits rather than put the boot in.

The players need to do a fun activity together, golf, ten pin bowling, canoeing, portrait painting, something with a few laughs.

Speaking from experience it is surprising what a team can achieve when everyone is 100% focused on doing it together, and all they are thinking about is the next job they need to do for the team, and recognizing that job in time to get it done on time.

For balance I should say it is amazing how a team can implode and meltdown.

Our guys keep fighting, but they need to find the focus and energy when it counts.

Exactly

Everyone knows their  job and keep the roles simple. Spend a lot of money on a few players with the football smarts and they will bring the points. Don't  have the contracts of the core players maturing at the same time and don't  be too exposed  to one agent

We are lacking in some areas, but that doesn't explain the drop off in the last 2 weeks.

It isn't new players coming into the side, as most of them are going better than guys who have been there most of the season.

I doubt that the coach has changed how we intend to play.

The other explanation is other teams stepping up. But that Sharks game was a real low in terms of beating ourselves.

Let's be honest the Sea Hunts haven't been exactly upfront and honest with us. There are a few times we did have a good game but were knobbled by the incompetent knobs.

Every team's  supporters thinks  that their  team is being picked on. I think our main problem is, becuase of our deficiencies, we push the envelope trying to stay with the game.

This'll put the cat among the pigeons, Matt Lodge rumoured to be in talks with Dogs. 
Bloke is a train wreck..... can we risk it taking into consideration his past?

And let the debate begin........

Gus more or less said no.

Specifically he said ignore rumours, becuase everyone is linked to the Dogs by the media.

The other thing he said is that he would not rule out an NRL debut for Hayward and KK this season.  He tends to say yes to everything or always make the most positive comment he can about a player.

Candidates to be promoted to top 30

Edwards, Morrin, Wilson, Rajab, Hayward, KK, Skelton  - 7 we need to find 12 players to let go

The common thread with this guy is that when he gets somewhere it's  not long before they want him out .

Players to let go

Clarke/Flanno, Wardell, Casey, Reynolds, Thompson, Allamotti?, Nu Brown, Davey, Cook

We need to find a few more, perhaps some guys with contacts will be let go.

No, no, no, no. NO!

Agreed!

His form has been ordinary for the Roosters, especially since he was told that they are not extending him.

Even at his best, not that great.

I doubt that we are even considering signing him.

If we were going to try to sign someone before June 30th to turn our season around, a halfback is a better option.

I am warming to the idea of giving Hayward a shot, perhaps try Rajab starting first, but it is a good idea to find out if these you guys are ready for NRL.

I watched Hayward playing for Scotland in the world cup, he had to steer a team around at that level and wasn't up to it. I am not surprised Rajab got first shot. Sometimes a player doesn't look special in reserve grade, but steps up when they get a shot at NRL. We need to keep rolling the dice as we have plenty of losses to chase and a few questions we may be able to answer.

Just take the Warriors win from an obstruction play. Every try for the last two seasons and every try since has been denied, except for ours... funny that!. Against Easts every forward pass (and there were plenty of them) were conveniently overlooked except when we were off to score from a flat pass at best and callef back for a forward pass. Sin bins for virtually fűck all and not charged by MRC. I can go on but wont and you think we are being given the same latitude  as all the other teams.

We are in danger of becoming  the whingers of the NRL. Just get better  and  get  on with  it. Whinging and whining never got anyone  anywhere. Our real problems are there for all to see.

I see no issues with contracts that are 1 or 2 years or even half a season for that matter.

Get him for 2 years. Put discipline clauses in his contract in case he goes if rails again or becomes a cancer within the playing group.

We need an old school forward who just tucks it in and runs straight.

The problem is if he becomes an issue the problems can linger on after he is gone.

We just need to get our big guys fitter this season Patolo, Pele and Hughes then sign 2 quality props for 2024-2025.

The only way I would sign him is if CC and Gus have no doubts about his character, that is also the only way they would sign him and I can guess the answer.

The other way to add more size to the team is promote KK, a big Fijian second rower, from the footage I have seen big is sn understatement. I would like to see him in the NRL just to get a good idea of how big he is.

Great win in the test cricket.

For those that haven't been following attention there was a lot of BS hype where many assumed that the poms would win and deserved to win becuase they were playing #BazBall.

It is similsr to the BS hype we sometimes get in the NRL.

Not only did the Aussies win, but we have plenty of improvement in us.

Our field positions,  tactics, bowling and batting can all improve and some aspects were below the standard we would hope for.

I would like to win the series 5-0 becuase shutting up a smug group of poms who are assuming that they are superior is as good as it gets.

IMO it is pefectly reasonable that the aussie bowlers have to take the wickets and score the runs. The batsmen are there to look good, and sport dapper moustaches.

Was this pitch prepared  to  assist  Bazball. Very tame by English standards.

Yes it was, the English captain asked for a tame pitch.

It will be interesting to see what kind of pitch he asks for next pitch.

IMO they will find playing Bazball on a pitch with seam, swing and bounce very difficult.

And if the go with another tame pitch, our batsmen will adapt bat for a long time and wear them down.

They are better off serving up typical english conditions and backing their bowlers.

Averillo to Dolphins in 2024.
Bulldogs recruitment and retention policy: let go anyone with speed and talent, recruit over priced plodders

The Ben Hunt saga speaks to Hunt's  character as much as anything  else. Last year he had protracted  negotiations with the Dragons extracting every dollar he could and signed an extension in October 22. Now before even getting  to the contract extension he wants out.
How is that morally defensible. Surely the Dragons were entitled  to expect the contract would be honoured and could have planned and spent the money more effectively if Hunt had not signed the extension.

I see you are new to NRL contract situations. 

One of my favourite players. But after watching him last game shying away from catching the ball on the full when moved to fullback I can understand why we are letting him go. We don’t need centres. We need a halfback and some forwards. And maybe a fullback if Crichton doesn’t work out back there. 

Yep he is/was a favourite of mine....
I'm pissed off with the club because he was our best 5/8th and was moved out of it because of the Burton signing. He then he ones out best fullback and he is moved for Perham. He becomes our best centre and we choose to not resign him and allow him to go to market.

Not happy or confident with our future at the moment. 

Only signing Ben Hunt will change my feelings right now and Gus better announce something quick. 

No, but moral integrity is not conditional on whether it is an NRL contract or not. If a man's  word is not his bond do you trust him, NRL or not. Maybe some leadership is the answer.

Averillo is a good player and fast.

He was a weak defender, but has improved.

Making yards was also a weakness, but has also improved.

He is ahead of Alamotti, but Alamotti is younger and less experienced. Alamotti is great at the tough carries.

We have signed Quai-Ward and that was odviously to cover the loss of Averillo and/or Alamotti.

I would keep Burns, and I'm not sure where Xeri will play, but centre and fullback are likely positions.

We probably have enough centres, halfback and prop are the key positions we need to strengthen.

Depending on how Xeri goes we have enough pace with Foxy, Wilson, Xeri and Chrichton.

We also need to consider players coming through the grades, most of our lower grades are winning and I know 2 brothers (twins?) that play centre and wing in the lower grades are highly rated.

At least one of them should be playing reserve grade next season.

Thurston was the last player I was bitterly disappointed about us losing, I also wasn't happy about Taupau and Finacanne. I we are going to move on players to recruit who we need, we have to accept that some good players go.

Been that way for a long time.

Hunt should have had a clause allowing him to walk if Hook is punted.

Sometimes when you no longer want to be there the best thing to do is leave.

If he stays his form will fall off a cliff, became mentally he doesn't want to be there.

In professional sport everything has to be right for a player to perform. This is why a change of clubs often turns a career around and why some players play better for particular coaches.