Will Evans2009 Season Preview - Bulldogs
February 25th 2009 06:14
Bulldogs
The details of a horror 2008 campaign for the Bulldogs have been well-documented. In short: Willie Mason deserting the blue-and-whites before the season started, the club's first performance-based wooden-spoon in 44 years, Sonny Bill Williams' walk-out, coach Steve Folkes sacked for 2009. On top of that, star lock Reni Maitua has been let go after a long period of disenchantment and misbehaviour. 2009 couldn't come quick enough for the embattled club, and it arrives with a rookie coach and a wave of new talent after a heavy recruitment drive. With the new arrivals comes hefty expectations.
Strengths: A new coach and a squad barely resembling 2008's represents a fresh start for the Bulldogs. Some fine acquisitions in key positions - headlined by Brett Kimmorley, Michael Ennis and Ben Hannant - will give the Bulldogs the impetus to once again challenge for the finals, provided the new-look side can gel quickly. The depth in their three-quarter line is extraordinary, with 2008 standouts Tim Winitana and Heka Nanai, Daryl Millard and Souths recruit Yileen Gordon likely to miss out on Round 1 jerseys.
Weaknesses: The off-season departure of Reni Maitua and his subsequent replacement by Bronco David Stagg leaves the Bulldogs' back-row with a distinctly workmanlike look about it. Maitua was the club's most dynamic forward and their only genuine ball-player in the engine-room. Stagg, captain Andrew Ryan and Michael Hodgson are all valuable, grafting players, but for the club's sake Lee Te Maari needs to fill the hole left by Maitua. The Bulldogs need to find a stable fix for five-eighth outside Brett Kimmorley. Daniel Holdsworth and Ben Roberts have experienced a couple of up-and-down seasons for the club, but one of them needs to cement the No. 6 jersey as their own with some consistent performances.
Recruitment: The Bulldogs were the most active club in the player market this off-season. Brett Kimmorley arrives to offer some much-needed direction at halfback, while No. 9 Michael Ennis is an early front-runner for buy-of-the-year. Former-Dragon Josh Morris is a real coup for the Bulldogs and a NSW Origin smoky, Stagg will fill the gaps as he did at the Broncos and Ben Hannant should push for Test honours. With the exception of SBW and Maitua, the club has cut adrift much of the deadwood that had been clogging up their player roster.
Youth brigade: The Bulldogs' blooding of many rookies was the most positive aspect of 2008, and will have a flow-on affect this year. Centre Jamaal Idris is a star in the making, while Winitana and Nanai deserve to play first grade after oustanding seasons respectively in difficult circumstances. Look for forwards John Kite and Gary Warburton to make an impact, while 2008 Toyota Cup star Ben Barba could be the long-term answer at five-eighth.
Rep drain: Ben Hannant is a Queensland certainty, but other than outside Blues' chances Ennis and Morris, the Bulldogs squad should otherwise cruise through the Origin period relatively untouched.
X-factor: Kevin Moore will have his work cut out turning his squad into a cohesive unit by the time the season starts, and the Bulldogs can't afford to give the rest of the competition too much of a start. The squad on paper looks fantastic, and if they can perform to that standard a finals spot beckons.
Under pressure: Hazem El Masri and Matt Utai form the shortest wing combination in the NRL, and have plenty of taller, speedier, younger players nipping at their heels. El Masri is a club legend and a goalkicking maestro, but is not expendable if his form in general play is not up to a high standard, while Utai hasn't produced his best since the Bulldogs won the 2004 premiership. Brett Kimmorley has been brought to the club to guide them around the park and shoulder most of the responsibility in attack, a role he struggled with at times for Cronulla.
Ready to explode: Michael Ennis will ease the pressure on Kimmorley, and his thrust, creativity and enthusiasm from dummy-half shape as a key to the Bulldogs season. Also provides a more-than-adequate goalkicking option if El Masri loses his first grade spot.
Predictions: The season could go either way with such an unfamiliar line-up and a rookie coach coming to grips with the rigours of the NRL. The Bulldogs seem one dynamic forward short of challenging the competition's big guns (how handy would a Michael Crocker be?), but have the talent, depth and mix of youth and experience to clinch a finals spot in the bottom half of the 8. Ennis to pip Robbie Farah for the NSW No. 9 guernsey and win the Dally M Player of the Year award.
Seventh and beaten quarter-finallists
The details of a horror 2008 campaign for the Bulldogs have been well-documented. In short: Willie Mason deserting the blue-and-whites before the season started, the club's first performance-based wooden-spoon in 44 years, Sonny Bill Williams' walk-out, coach Steve Folkes sacked for 2009. On top of that, star lock Reni Maitua has been let go after a long period of disenchantment and misbehaviour. 2009 couldn't come quick enough for the embattled club, and it arrives with a rookie coach and a wave of new talent after a heavy recruitment drive. With the new arrivals comes hefty expectations.
Strengths: A new coach and a squad barely resembling 2008's represents a fresh start for the Bulldogs. Some fine acquisitions in key positions - headlined by Brett Kimmorley, Michael Ennis and Ben Hannant - will give the Bulldogs the impetus to once again challenge for the finals, provided the new-look side can gel quickly. The depth in their three-quarter line is extraordinary, with 2008 standouts Tim Winitana and Heka Nanai, Daryl Millard and Souths recruit Yileen Gordon likely to miss out on Round 1 jerseys.
Weaknesses: The off-season departure of Reni Maitua and his subsequent replacement by Bronco David Stagg leaves the Bulldogs' back-row with a distinctly workmanlike look about it. Maitua was the club's most dynamic forward and their only genuine ball-player in the engine-room. Stagg, captain Andrew Ryan and Michael Hodgson are all valuable, grafting players, but for the club's sake Lee Te Maari needs to fill the hole left by Maitua. The Bulldogs need to find a stable fix for five-eighth outside Brett Kimmorley. Daniel Holdsworth and Ben Roberts have experienced a couple of up-and-down seasons for the club, but one of them needs to cement the No. 6 jersey as their own with some consistent performances.
Recruitment: The Bulldogs were the most active club in the player market this off-season. Brett Kimmorley arrives to offer some much-needed direction at halfback, while No. 9 Michael Ennis is an early front-runner for buy-of-the-year. Former-Dragon Josh Morris is a real coup for the Bulldogs and a NSW Origin smoky, Stagg will fill the gaps as he did at the Broncos and Ben Hannant should push for Test honours. With the exception of SBW and Maitua, the club has cut adrift much of the deadwood that had been clogging up their player roster.
Youth brigade: The Bulldogs' blooding of many rookies was the most positive aspect of 2008, and will have a flow-on affect this year. Centre Jamaal Idris is a star in the making, while Winitana and Nanai deserve to play first grade after oustanding seasons respectively in difficult circumstances. Look for forwards John Kite and Gary Warburton to make an impact, while 2008 Toyota Cup star Ben Barba could be the long-term answer at five-eighth.
Rep drain: Ben Hannant is a Queensland certainty, but other than outside Blues' chances Ennis and Morris, the Bulldogs squad should otherwise cruise through the Origin period relatively untouched.
X-factor: Kevin Moore will have his work cut out turning his squad into a cohesive unit by the time the season starts, and the Bulldogs can't afford to give the rest of the competition too much of a start. The squad on paper looks fantastic, and if they can perform to that standard a finals spot beckons.
Under pressure: Hazem El Masri and Matt Utai form the shortest wing combination in the NRL, and have plenty of taller, speedier, younger players nipping at their heels. El Masri is a club legend and a goalkicking maestro, but is not expendable if his form in general play is not up to a high standard, while Utai hasn't produced his best since the Bulldogs won the 2004 premiership. Brett Kimmorley has been brought to the club to guide them around the park and shoulder most of the responsibility in attack, a role he struggled with at times for Cronulla.
Ready to explode: Michael Ennis will ease the pressure on Kimmorley, and his thrust, creativity and enthusiasm from dummy-half shape as a key to the Bulldogs season. Also provides a more-than-adequate goalkicking option if El Masri loses his first grade spot.
Predictions: The season could go either way with such an unfamiliar line-up and a rookie coach coming to grips with the rigours of the NRL. The Bulldogs seem one dynamic forward short of challenging the competition's big guns (how handy would a Michael Crocker be?), but have the talent, depth and mix of youth and experience to clinch a finals spot in the bottom half of the 8. Ennis to pip Robbie Farah for the NSW No. 9 guernsey and win the Dally M Player of the Year award.
Seventh and beaten quarter-finallists
| 66 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
