Round 19
Dragons 16 l. Bulldogs 22

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

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

Sonny Bill gets off, but what about Anthony Quinn?
Mon July 17, 2006
The NRL's Match Review committee has decided that Bulldogs duo Sonny Bill Williams and Reni Maitua didn't have a case to answer for a possible "Dangerous Throw" tackle on St George-Illawarra Dragons winger Colin Best. This tackle occurred in the second half of Friday night's blockbuster at OKI Jubilee Stadium. This ensures that the pair are free for Saturday's grudge match with a somewhat resurgent Sydney Roosters at Telstra Stadium (5:30pm kick-off).

Consistency has been a bit of an issue in 2006 when it comes to putting things on report and deciding what charges are to be laid by the Match Review committee, and I think this is another case of consistency going out the window. Current interpretations aside, the tackle itself didn't deserve to go on report, let alone be a penalty. However, in keeping with previous rulings in 2006, Sonny Bill Williams should have been charged with a Grade 1 Dangerous Throw; his good record would have seen him avoid suspension. Whilst the Bulldogs will be more than happy to benefit from this, I think that there may be a few other clubs with a valid case to be aggrieved after this finding.

On the other side of the coin, what on earth was Anthony Quinn thinking on the weekend? Anthony claims that a grapple tackle was the reason he blew up at the touch judge, leading to a penalty to the Storm whilst the Knights were in possession.

Whether he has a fair claim or not, when did it become acceptable for a player to abuse a touch judge to the point that he feels the need to come off his touch line and report it to the central referee? We have seen a few severe Contrary Conduct charges in 2006 for players bumping (perhaps pushing?) match officials, however verbal abuse appears to be acceptable. Kids watching that game on the weekend will no doubt have no problem following Anthony Quinn's example next time they disagree with the referee, and the NRL has condoned it by default. I wonder how many coaches or parents will use that as a defence when their child is suspended. I dub this the "Anthony Quinn Defence" from hereon out.

We should all expect more from the NRL.


Bulldogs win Kogarah classic
Fri July 14, 2006
The standard of Rugby League has dropped this year, mainly thanks to the "leadership" of David Gallop but tonight was an exception with the Bulldogs prevailing 22-16 against the Dragons in one of the great matches that had absolutely everything.

It was the most anticipated match of the season and the rain that swept across Oki Jubilee Stadium wasn't going to spoil the occasion, the passion of the crowd and the standard of football played between two outstanding teams.

St George Illawarra made an outstanding start to the match when Matt Cooper bursted through the Bulldogs defence and found Ben Creagh in support who scored. Aaron Gorrell was unsuccessful with the conversion attempt.

Soon after the Dragons opening try, the Bulldogs lost left winger Cameron Phelps with a shoulder injury, which forced Andrew Emilio to the left wing and Sonny Bill Williams was forced to once again play in the right centre position.

Canterbury worked themselves back into the match through their forward pack gaining metres up the middle and hitting extremely hard in defence. The forwards laid the platform for halfback Brent Sherwin to slice through close to the line and score under the posts. Sherwin's selection in the team was criticised during the week following the extra-time heroics of Ben Roberts against the Warriors but Sherwin who is building into the season justified the faith Steve Folkes had in him. Hazem El Masri converted for the Bulldogs to lead 6-4.

The Dragons threw everything at the visitors and only a freakish piece of play from El Masri prevented them regaining the lead. The Bulldogs worked their back back into the attacking zone where Corey Hughes worked the short side picking up Sonny Bill Williams who scored in the corner. El Masri was unsuccessful with the conversion attempt as the Bulldogs were up 10-4 and it remained that way until half-time.

Mark Gasnier playing in the five-eighth position got the Dragons off to the start they desperately needed when he sliced in between Mark O'Meley and Jarrad Hickey and had too much momentum, speed and footwork to step around the attempted tackles from Luke Patten and El Masri to level up the scores following Gorrell's conversion.

Daniel Holdsworth who left the Dragons because they didn't deem him good enough to play for them regained the Bulldogs lead in the 54th minute when he backed up a break from Roy Asotasi to score near the posts. El Masri made no mistake with the conversion to boot Canterbury six points clear. Asotasi is already shaping up as the buy of the season next year for Souths and young halfback Jeremy Smith will have a field day feeding from one of the best prop's in the game today. Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court did remarkably well to get Asotasi from the clutches of the Roosters.

Corey Payne unfortunately had to come off with concussion after a collision with O'Meley. Payne who came through the Bulldogs Junior system hailing from the Chester Hill club was having a strong match and it was one match he would have been looking forward to be a major part of.

Mathew Head got the Dragons back on level pegging when a well timed kick was plucked out of the air by Gasnier who scored his second try. Gorrell leveled up the scores with a successful conversion.

The second half remained the battle of the five-eighth's with Holdsworth scoring his second try following some outstanding work from Williams who shrugged off Cooper and Luke Bailey to offload on the inside to Holdsworth who was backing up in support like a certain great five-eighth from yesteryear. El Masri converted a difficult conversion to push the Bulldogs a converted try infront.

St George Illawarra threw everything at the Bulldogs in the final stages hoping for a Melbourne like finale but it wasn't to be with Canterbury's defence holding firm in the game of the season and a classic preview of what we'll see come September and possibly the first weekend of October.

It was a sweet night for Holdsworth who is shaping up as the buy of the season and more so considering he is on nine times less the money than Braith Anasta and is playing at least nine times the better football than the former Bulldog who is now under the regime of Ricky Stuart at the Roosters. Holdsworth was the man Folkes wanted in the off-season and under the astute coaching of Folkes and learning from one of the all-time great five-eighth's in Terry Lamb at training, Holdsworth is developing into a player of pure class. Anasta has not been missed one bit by the Bulldogs and as Willie Tonga continues to gain confidence returning from injury, he'll be hitting the overs holes at will from Holdsworth.

The Bulldogs forwards aimed up and muscled up for the big match atmosphere with O'Meley, Asotasi, Willie Mason and captain Andrew Ryan all outstanding. Forwards win big matches and the Bulldogs have forwards coming out of everywhere with under-rated duo Chris Armit and Tony Grimaldi still to come back into the side. The defence was ferocious and it was from the Dogs of War era of the mid-1980's.

Former Canterbury enforcer Peter Kelly who won the Man of the Match award in both the 1984 and 1985 Grand Final's believes this Bulldogs forward pack is better then the feared pack from the mid-1980's that featured men like Kelly, Peter Tunks, current coach Steve Folkes, David Gillespie, Brian Battese, Paul Langmack, Geoff Robinson, Darryl Brohmen (1984 only), Paul Dunn (1986 and beyond), Mark Bugden and Billy Johnstone. That pack was the mean machine of the Rugby League in its hey day and Kelly's comments certainly carry some weight. The current Bulldogs pack didn't let Kelly down with defence that was back to the glory days of Rugby League and they aimed up under intense pressure of the situation.

Canterbury have had their critcis this season with a few people on one radio station saying they haven't beaten a contender all season but if tonight's performance doesn't impress their detractors than nothing will. It was one of the best games of the season and one where the Bulldogs stood tallest.

St George Illawarra might have lost on the scoreboard but they haven't lost any admirers with the way they've been playing. It was their first loss in eight weeks and they have the depth and talent across the park to wreak havoc. The return of Trent Barrett threatens to make or break their season. Barrett has been inconsistent and the Dragons have been consistent without him.

Thu July 13, 2006
• Ryles ruled out of Friday Night Blockbuster
  

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