Round 19
Gold Coast Titans 12 l. Bulldogs 36

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

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

ABC Interviews with Ryan and Tonga following Titans victory
Sun July 22, 2007
Source: www.bulldogs.com.au

ABC Grandstand spoke with the Bulldogs skipper Andrew Ryan and centre Willie Tonga following last night's 36-12 win over the Titans at Carrara Stadium.

ABC:
I've got Andrew Ryan with me, Andrew a very impressive first half performance tonight.

Ryan:
Yeah the first half was but pretty disappointing in the second half really, we probably should have put the foot on the throat and we didn't, we let them back into the game and gave them a bit of a sniff but oh well, we won so it's still a pretty impressive first half but again we've got a lot of things to work on I think.

ABC:
I guess there's a stage at the season you'd be happy with the win but that disappointment with the second half shows that you've got a real determined Bulldogs at this stage of the season now?

Ryan:
Yeah, you know, even though we had a few guys out we probably should have went on with the job tonight but, you know, as you said it was a good first half but I'm sure Folkesy will have plenty in store was us this week.

ABC:
When you get a performance like that in the first half and play so well, is it hard to maintain that concentration, is it just a matter of concentration or is it killer instinct, what is it that you've just gotta fix with it?

Ryan:
Yeah I think we just need to be a bit more ruthless, you know, we gave away away I think four or five penalties early in that second half and really let them into the game with a couple of easy tries, just one-on-one misses so we've still got plenty of work to do and to give this competition a shake we need to be a lot more improved for the full 80 minutes.

ABC:
Okay Andrew we'll let you get inside, thanks very much for talking to us on Grandstand.

--------------------

ABC:
Willie, great to come up here and have a win?

Tonga:
Yeah it was. We knew that it was on the line if we lost this game, we knew that with Willie (Mason) and Ogre (O'Meley) and that being out it was going to be a tough game and we come up prepared.

ABC:
Your season yourself, you've probably had a bit of a frustrating start to the season in a way, your form probably wouldn't have been what you'd liked at times but you seem to be building now.

Tonga:
Yeah I'm finally working on it, it's just a confidence thing and it's just a matter of building that up and working around your team mates and getting that spark back.

ABC:
That new winger outside you there, he went alright today.

Tonga:
He goes good, he's only a young kid, debuted straight from Flegg so it's good to see him out there playing.

ABC:
And as you said there, it must be building now for the Bulldogs even with the players out, obviously getting to the business end of the season and people are starting to take a bit of notice of the Doggies.

Tonga:
Yeah hopefully, you know, we've got a few key injuries out but you know, we're showing that we're gonna be there come final time and we wanna show teams that we're gonna be the Bulldogs of old.

ABC:
Okay Willie thanks for talking to us tonight and enjoy the rest of the season.

News source: www.bulldogs.com.au


Maitua dominates as Bulldogs maintain top eight place
Fri July 20, 2007
The Bulldogs have bounced back from a disappointing loss last week against bogey side Penrith to defeat the Gold Coast 36-12 at Carrara Stadium tonight.

Reni Maitua had easily his best game of the season as the Bulldogs were never headed leading 24-0 prior to half-time and did enough after the break to secure the two points. Maitua has been disappointing all season and in recent week has been slowly hitting his straps with tonight's effort confirming why he won Australian honours last year.

The opening try came in the 19th minute with good work from Corey Hughes and Ben Roberts down the right hand side created the opening for Daryl Millard to score untouched. Hazem El Masri after two disappointing weeks with the boot landed a bottler from the sideline to convert the try.

Maitua scored an outstanding 40m individual try in the 24th minute bursting through the Titans defence and having enough pace to score the try. El Masri added the extras for the Bulldogs to be up 12-0.

Heka Nania scored his maiden try in the top grade when he was on the end of good short passing down the short left hand side from Hughes, Roberts and Andrew Ryan. El Masri landed another goal from the sideline as the Bulldogs kicked well clear.

The Bulldogs went further ahead just four minutes from half-time when Luke Patten sliced through some feeble Titans defence to break clear and than was watched by Preston Campbell as he scored the try. El Masri again converted with the Bulldogs up 24-0.

Luke Bailey got the Titans on the board just before half-time when the hole opened up from a good inside ball and Bailey ran 20m untouched to score the softest of tries and Brett Delaney's conversion made it 24-6 at the break in favour of the Bulldogs.

A comeback from the Gold Coast looked to be on the cards in the second half when Bailey crossed for his second try in the 51st minute and Delaney's successful conversion brought the Titans within two converted tries.

The Bulldogs surrended a 10 point lead against the Panthers last week and a 16 point lead in the opening round against Newcastle, but didn't do the same this time around with Patten and Millard crossing for their doubles in the 55th and 59th minutes respectively to push the margin out to 36-12.

With the game safely in the Bulldogs command, the final 20 minutes fizzled out as the Bulldogs put up the shutters and the Titans lacked the ability to put pressure on the scoreboard.

Maitua was easily the standout player with Roberts, Patten, Hughes, Sonny Bill Williams and Brent Sherwin also having strong games.

Gold Coast have done extremely well this season to be competitive, but their injury toll and lack of depth is coming to haunt them in the business end of the season. The key for them is to continue building their playing depth and with three feeder clubs in the Wizard Queensland Cup - that is bound to happen in the long-term future. They'll be in equal 8th position at the best or at the worst two points out of the eight after this weekend, however their for and against isn't too flash.

The Bulldogs now sit in 6th position, but will drop back to 7th spot with the Warriors and Wests Tigers clashing this Sunday at Campbelltown and whoever wins that game will go to 5th position in the Tigers case or 5th or 6th in the Warriors case. Consistency and attitude appear to be the Bulldogs two biggest challengers for finishing in a respectable position for the Finals and if they can maintain their intensity than they present a threat to the Storm and Sea Eagles, but there are still question marks as to whether the Bulldogs can maintain a healthy attitude and intensity on a consistent basis.

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