Round 17
Tigers 10 l. Bulldogs 32

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Folkes Interview with ABC Grandstand following Wests Tigers win
Mon July 3, 2006
ABC Grandstand spoke with Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes after the Bulldogs thrashed the Tigers in Sydney.

ABC: Steve is that one of the best, if not the best performance from the 'Dogs this year?

Folkes: I don't know about the best. It's certainly one of our more solid performances, we did what we spoke about doing before the game, that was defensively we were pretty strong plus our ball control was good aswell so that's how we wanted to play and it resulted in some points in the first half.

ABC: You mentioned in the press conference that over the last three weeks, not only has the defence of the Bulldogs been good but the mental application of each of the individuals has been what it should be for a first grader. Has there been a turn around there, has there been a change?

Folkes: I think it's been coming for a while, probably longer than three weeks but the last three games we've performed pretty well in all of them and gradually, I don't know what happens but the penny drops and everyone starts coming to the game really prepared, I guess they're looking forward to semis and they know that starts now so the guys have been really good, it's been a really easy job for Kevin Moore and myself to get them up because they've been up when they get to the game.

ABC: How big a bonus is it for the Bulldogs to have Willie Tonga back in the centres and Sonny Bill back in the pack?

Folkes: Today I thought Willie was really good, again he has been really enthusiastic with his training since he's been injured and having Sonny in the back row, I think that's where he is best suited and that's where he is best for us but we'll wait and see I guess, Matty Utai's send off may make some difference to where Sonny plays next week.

ABC: What did you think of the send off, was it fair enough?

Folkes: I don't know about a send off. I've seen worse stay on the field but it was certainly high. I thought what could have saved him was the fact that on the replay it clearly came off the ball so I thought that may have saved him from being sent off but it certainly wasn't a good looking tackle so I guess the judiciary will make whatever decision they decide.

ABC: But at this stage you're considering that you might be without him for a week or two atleast?

Folkes: Well the fact is he has been suspended twice this year so he has got some loading so even if he gets a grade one I guess that would see him miss a week or two, I'm not sure of the points but yeah you would have to concede that.

ABC: Luke Patten, very good for you at fullback today, always positionally very good but dangerous when he got the football?

Folkes: Yeah we've spoken about supporting the ball carrier and supporting both sides of the ruck a fair bit and 'General' does that really well and he's got the pace and footwork to go on with it if he gets in the clear which he did today so yeah he's been good for us but he's been good for us for the last three years so it's no real change for him.

ABC: You said also in the press conference it's been win loss, win loss for a number of weeks now for the Bulldogs. You've got the Warriors next weekend who are in great form, that will be a big test for both sides?

Folkes: Yeah well it's sort of gone that way, we probably, if your, aunty had...

ABC: You know what...

Folkes: Yeah she'd be your uncle, but we probably should have won last week, getting beaten in the last 10 seconds and two weeks before that against Canberra we had a horror middle 20 minutes but having said that we need to string some wins together, we need to keep pace with the front runners and I think we're playing well enough to do that.

ABC: We wish you well next week, well played today. Thanks for talking to Grandstand.

Sources:
Bulldogs Football Club: www.bulldogs.com.au
ABC Rugby League: www.abc.net.au/rugbyleague


Bulldogs maul Wests Tigers
Sun July 2, 2006
Source: www.bulldogs.com.au

The Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs have backed up their Round 2 performance against the Wests Tigers with another well drilled, damaging 32-10 victory at Telstra Stadium.

The 'Dogs took a 32-0 lead early in the second half before being reduced to 12 man in the 55th minute with Matt Utai taking Flanagan high after the hooker made a break. With Utai's poor judiciary record in 2006 the Bulldogs could well be looking for a replacement winger in the weeks to come.

Despite early raids from the Tigers the Bulldogs opened the scoring in the 6th minute through rookie Jarrad Hickey after steaming onto the ball close to the line. Hickey was a late change to the line-up, pushing Armit onto the bench.
El Masri converted and the 'Dogs took an early lead.

With both sides down on personnel it was evident the replacements were out to impress and it looked as though the Tigers were getting the better of the Bulldogs however errors were the difference as the defending premiers blew yet another chance in the 9th minute.

The Bulldogs then made another bust down-field as Andrew Ryan charged over to score. The try was similar to that of Hickey's after Ryan barged over from close range. Hazem added the further two points and the 'Dogs led 12-0 after 17 minutes of play.

The Bulldogs then stepped up a gear and had plenty of chances to stretch their lead however some desperate Tigers defence repelled the onslaught.

In the 28th minute the Tigers desperation was dulled when Luke Patten received the ball on a second man play, spinning away from the defence to find space before fending off a tackler to score under the posts. El Masri made no mistake with the conversion and the Bulldogs led 18-0 with ten minutes remaining in the opening half.

The Tigers once again had more than their fare share of chances to get on the scoreboard however ball handling was their worst enemy and giving away a penalty late in the half certainly didn't help their cause. Hazem El Masri stepped up to the mark and slotted the two-pointer as the Bulldogs dashed out to a 20-0 half-time lead.

With plenty of missed opportunities in the opening half for the Tigers, ball handling and better executed last tackle options would have seen the scores much tighter. The Bulldogs however were not showing any sympathy when they dove over just two minutes into the second half after spreading the ball wide, finding El Masri who improved his position. He converted his own try as the 'Dogs dashed out to a 26-0 lead.

The Tigers then continued to shoot themselves in the foot with errors and shocking kicks in play. They payed the ultimate price in the 51st minute when a Scott Prince kick was charged down by Daniel Holdsworth before the five-eighth unloaded to Willie Tonga who raced away to score under the sticks. El Masri added the extras as the Bulldogs extended the lead to 32-0.

Matt Utai has not been the most disciplined Bulldog this season and in the 55th minute he didn't do his reputation with the NRL judiciary any favours with a late shot on Tigers hooker Stuart Flanagan. Utai was sent off despite his arm appearing to bounce up off the ball. He played no further part in the match and in the end his exclusion hurt the 'Dogs.

Despite holding out the defending premiers for 73 minutes the Bulldogs were out-numbered as the Tigers ran in two late consolation tries to Tuiaki and debutant Rangi Chase.

Report source: www.bulldogs.com.au

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