Finals Week 2
Parramatta Eels 25 d. Bulldogs 6

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

X-rays reveal spiral fracture for Williams
Mon September 17, 2007
Source: www.bulldogs.com.au

X-rays have revealed a spiral fracture in the radius (bone in right forearm) of Bulldogs forward Sonny Bill Williams.

The injury was sustained in the Bulldogs loss to the Eels last Saturday.

Williams will consult a specialist to determine the extent of the fracture and whether he requires surgery to insert a plate.

News sent by: www.bulldogs.com.au


Parramatta's Revenge
Mon September 17, 2007
It took nine years and a new coach, but finally the demons of past Finals experiences can be put to bed as Parramatta are now one match away from a Grand Final appearances disposing of a disappointing Bulldogs outfit 25-6.

Parramatta have been bogged down in the last 10 years of spectaculary collapsing on the Finals stage with their 1998 loss against the Bulldogs the 'highlight' of how they have fallen when the pressure in on. It's all now been put to bed as they put away their arch-rivals in front of over 50,000 fans at Telstra Stadium.

The final scoreline may have blown out in the end, however, even the 19 point difference wasn't a reflection of difference between the two sides as once Sonny Bill Williams came off the field in the early exchanges the Bulldogs fell to pieces and never looked like scoring. A change in culture and structure has to happen if the Bulldogs want to return as a prominent club in the game or otherwise they'll continue sliding down the pecking order.

Parramatta coach Michael Hagan played it brilliantly during the week where he put pressure on Shayne Hayne and Robert Finch where his side was rewarded with an lopsided 8-2 penalty count. The Bulldogs on the other hand just said through captain Andrew Ryan that they hoped for a fair go late on Friday when the damage by Hagan had been long done with the game being controlled to Parramatta's liking. Hagan also won the second battle when he praised the Bulldogs backline and highlighted his wingers height advantage only for the Eels to take on the Bulldogs in behind the ruck area. Again it was smart mind games from Hagan using his experience from his days at Canterbury during the 1980's when he was coached by Warren Ryan.

The Bulldogs started the game very impressively when Williams created the opening try for Matthew Utai showing that the Bulldogs can attack from anywhere on the field, but once Williams went off all the Bulldogs attacking options went down with him.

Parramatta worked themselves into the game thriving on a lop-sided penalty count from Hayne and errors from the Bulldogs scored when Mark Riddell kicked ahead only for Daryl Millard to fumble and the ball bounced back into Riddell's hands for the try. The Eels extended the lead with Eric Grothe scoring in the corner as they kept the ball alive with great offloading and impressive levels of skill.

The second half was mostly an arm wrestle as the Bulldogs lacked the options to threaten the Eels defence and Parramatta couldn't quite put away the killer blow. Brett Finch landed an important drop goal with just under 20 minutes remaining to push the Eels seven points clear. It was a smart option by Finch as nothing was happening and the Bulldogs without Williams were showing they couldn't score any points.

Parramatta's superior speed, skill and youth tolled in the final five minutes as Timana Tahu and Jarryd Hayne scored to extend out the scoreline. Even though it had been 12-6 and 13-6 for much of the second half, the Eels were never in danger of losing the match and it was only a matter of time before they would finally turn off the life support the Bulldogs have been living on all season.

The Bulldogs season came to an end and in fact it never really got going as how they finished in the top six is a mystery with their only impressive performances all season being against Souths at Telstra Stadium and Manly at Brookvale Oval with nothing else to show for a season that had promise on paper and never delivered.

Danger signs for the Bulldogs happened in the very first round when they surrended a 16 point half-time lead against Newcastle to go down and than the following week against Penrith surrended to get smashed 40-10. The scars of the preliminary final last year remained and their season never seriously got going. They limped into 6th position and while they were refereed out of the match last week against the Cowboys, on Saturday night the problems that have been obvious to all were exposed as Parramatta ripped holes from the dummy half area and the Bulldogs brand of football was out dated and stale.

Former Bulldogs stalwart Peter Mortimer who played in four Grand Finals and 190 first grade games for the club from 1977-87 who was also a club official from 1987-91 and Football Club Director from 2000-04 told the Daily Telegraph newspaper today, "The Dogs have to change their style.

"For years they have tried to muscle opposition sides through the forwards but it's not working these days. Sides that are winning these days are showing flair and are prepared to throw the ball around.

"Canterbury haven't had an impressive backline since Terry Lamb retired. That shows to me they are only trying to dominate through the forwards. Other teams have changed, the Bulldogs haven't."

Steve Mortimer, who is still the Bulldogs most capped first grader by two games ahead of Hazem El Masri told the same newspaper, "I wouldn't say it's the end of an era but the club certainly needs to look at hooker, halfback and five-eighth.

"The club needs to look around, even for some halves who aren't getting a run at other clubs and give them the chance."

The eldest of the great Mortimer brothers last week floated the idea of moving Brent Sherwin to five-eighth and Ben Roberts to halfback.

Roberts is a fine player, however, he's not a five-eighth or halfback. He's a fine running player and should be looked at as a centre or hooker where his strengths would be better utilised. The Bulldogs have signed Michael Sullivan from English club Warrington and he previously played for the Sharks where his value off the bench was impressive. Sullivan and Roberts at dummy half would give the Bulldogs an attacking frame of mind from the ruck area and they have been murdered around the dummy half area all season in attack and defence.

The halves remains a major issue and the development of new signing Aaron Groom will be watched closely and they do have a glut of backrowers with Williams, Ryan, Willie Mason, Nick Kouparitsas, Lee Te Maari and Reni Maitua to all slot into positions. Sherwin has been a fine servant for the Bulldogs, but his form and consistency of 2002-04 has eluded him for the last three seasons. Should Sherwin remain at halfback, move to five-eighth as Steve Mortimer last week suggested or is his time up?

Changes in the styles and structures of play have to change at the Bulldogs and decisions have to be made in the next six weeks as they plan for the off season ahead. If they turn a blind eye to the current game and the value of youth, speed and attack than they'll be amongst the bottom ranked sides next season.

On the other hand, Hagan has done an outstanding job at Parramatta where he's had to clean out the club and bring in the youth of tomorrow through the ranks. Hayne has developed into a world class performer, Krisnan Inu's confidence has gone through the roof as the season has got older and Feleti Mateo is very close to Australian selection for the October Test match such is his form and dominance in recent weeks. Experienced duo Nathan Cayless and Nathan Hindmarsh are doing a great job leading the Eels and Hagan has got consistency out of his much malligned halves combination of Tim Smith and Brett Finch.

Parramatta are in with a 50-50 chance against Melbourne on Sunday at the Telstra Dome. Craig Bellamy has an outstanding coaching record, but the Storm's record in the crunch big matches is less than impressive during the four years of Bellamy being in charge at Melbourne. Whoever wins on Sunday deserves to be favourites for the Grand Final the following week and Parramatta's form suggests that they are well worth a bet for both this weekend and the premiership.

Hagan won the battle in the pre-match and his players than did the damage once they went onto the field. Hagan has showed that youth, speed and excitement is the way of the future.

For all the criticism of the McIntyre finals system, the final four teams are made up of the teams that finished in the top three and the side who won the 4th v 5th semi final in week one. For all its flaws, the McIntyre setup is still the fairest top eight structure in the game.

Thu September 13, 2007
• Comment: What about the flop?
  
Thu September 13, 2007
• Free Transport to Eels v Bulldogs Semi-Final
  
Tue September 11, 2007
• Sonny Bill returns for Bulldogs
  
Tue September 11, 2007
• Reddy named as replacement for Smith
  
Tue September 11, 2007
• Junior NRL Pass Offer - Eels v Bulldogs
  
Mon September 10, 2007
• Will the pattern continue in Week 2?
  
Mon September 10, 2007
• Eels v Bulldogs - Finals Classics
  
Mon September 10, 2007
• Week 2 and Week 3 NRL Finals Information
  
Sun September 9, 2007
• Eels v Bulldogs Semi Final #1 Ticket Information
  

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