Can The Doggies Win It All? Dan Ginnane 3 August, 2009 - 9:35 AM

An analogy for you. If the premiership was a horse race, St. George Illawarra may well be the NRL’s version of Makybe Diva, but the Bulldogs have quickly become the competition’s Octagonal. They are simply the best front runners in the game. A point proven with their victory over a feisty South Sydney.

These Bulldogs have dropped just five matches all season. Of those, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Parramatta and the Dragons all got the early jump. Just once - against Manly - have the Dogs hit the front only to surrender their advantage.

Not a bad stat 21 rounds into the season.

This is no fluke. Bryson Goodwin’s freakish corner-grounding not withstanding, the Bulldogs were fastidious in their disciplines. They ran hard. They tackled hard. They chased hard. When they sensed the big moment was approaching, they simply ran, tackled and chased harder. Flair was introduced only when the basics had been completed and the right to show razzle dazzle had been earned.

A simple game plan.

Make no mistake, Souths had the Dogs on the ropes. At 0-12, many Bulldogs players had their hands on their hips. At 10-18, the Bunnies had their chances to choke the game via scoreboard pressure. The Dogs didn’t roar back into the contest with brilliant switches of play or some other tactical genius, no, they just busted a gut to get themselves close. Get that close enough times and the law of averages usually sees the job done. Souths were eventually suffocated by the Bulldogs relentlessness, resulting in what might have at first looked like soft tries, however reality suggests those tries came from a hefty lead up. Once the Bulldogs nosed ahead, they only got better.

There were plenty of people giving the Rabbitohs a red hot chance in this match. Seems the Bulldogs haven’t quite convinced the world they’re the real deal. Perhaps the Dogs are a distance from the Dragons, however whoever plays the Dogs in the finals will want to get going early, or they’re going to have a problem overrunning Octagonal.

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• John says

  Not a hope in hell!

  Posted Monday 3 August, 2009 9:38 AM
• Karen says

  Being a massive Dragon supporter, I have waited too long for this day! The doggies will go down and with hope the red V will fly again! Go the Dragons!

  Posted Monday 3 August, 2009 10:58 AM
• Boyo says

  NEEEEEVVVVVEEERRR!!!! The Dragons will smash them.

  http://teamsoward.webs.com

  Posted Monday 3 August, 2009 12:38 PM
• Marcus says

  With Bennett in charge, this mob can do no wrong. Come back to Brissie and save us!

  Posted Monday 3 August, 2009 1:01 PM
• Schmick says

  Minor premiership and the title will be going to Kograh this year and there's no one who can stop us!!!

  Posted Thursday 6 August, 2009 1:42 PM
• Narelle Quinn says

  NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!!!!!

  Posted Thursday 6 August, 2009 8:48 PM
• Anthony says

  Of course the boys from Belmore can. They have done it once already this year (Even if the competition points went to the Dragons)

  However, Dragons are definately the team to beat. But Dogs could knock them off.

  Posted Friday 7 August, 2009 9:44 AM
• Nudie says

  DOGGIES R THE BEST N DERS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT ITS THE BULLDO9S YEAR =) cant wait for the dragons to do down down down when they play against da doggs there going to be humiliated

  Posted Monday 17 August, 2009 9:57 PM
• Karin says

  Dam straight they can - they're my team - and the grand final is on my birthday (Oct 4) so it's an omen - been waiting since 2004 for this one GO HAZEM EL MASRI YYYYEEEOW!!

  Posted Sunday 30 August, 2009 4:07 PM
• Terry says

  Yeh well ive been waiting for this since before i was born im 28 and still havent seen the dragons win one. Ive seen them loose a s**t tin of grand final though so go the dragons keeb bennys perfect grand final record alive and do it for your fans

  Posted Friday 11 September, 2009 8:10 AM

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