Round 1
Parramatta Eels 28 d. Bulldogs 20

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Bulldogs fall apart in the second half .... again
Mon March 17, 2008
Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes is on very borrowed time after Parramatta came from 20-0 down at half-time to emerge 28-20 victors as their woes at Homebush continues.

It was an impressive defensive effort by the Bulldogs in the first half to lead 20-0, but they were helped by Parramatta's poor ball control and the 20 point lead was not enough. It's not the first time in recent memory that the Bulldogs have fallen into a heap in the second half. The collapse on Saturday is a record in the Bulldogs 74 season history, but strangely enough the damage was done in the first half and the results of that showed in the second half.

One fatal mistake made by Folkes in the first half was his use of interchange in the first half making only two replacements and mucking up the rotation. The Bulldogs emerged from half-time looking very lethargic and not up for the challenge and the Eels lifted their intensity and the result of the match was never in doubt despite Parramatta having to claw back 20 points.

Whatever was said at half-time had no effect on the Bulldogs players as their now traditional fall asleep period immediately after the break came to haunt them again. Once Folkes started to make the changes that he should have made in the first half the momentum of the match had change and there was nothing that could be done to change the outcome.

Parramatta also played it smart in the second half planning their attack down their left side and cross bombing away to expose Matt Utai with great effect. Utai may have possibly played his final first grade match where he has until last Saturday night enjoyed a fine career, which has included two tries in the 2004 Grand Final and winning the Peter Moore Rookie of the Year award in 2002.

Folkes is no chance of being Bulldogs coach next year and if they go in the same vein as they did on Saturday he shapes as being the first Canterbury coach since Vic Bulgin in 1951 to be replaced mid-season. Bulgin however stood down as captain-coach after five matches to realise his potential as an amateur golfer where he enjoyed success in South Africa and Canada. The only other coach to stand down during the season at Canterbury was Ron Bailey in 1944 when he was captain-coach and stood down from the coaching duties to focus on his own performance where he would later captain Australia in 1946.

Unless there's dramatic changes to whatever is said at half-time, the use of the interchange and regaining that once Canterbury tradition of being the side that storms home best in the second half than Folkes will be the first coach in Canterbury's history to be sacked with immediate effect during the season and and just the 3rd in their history not to last out a full season.

Utai's position in the first grade side has virtually become untenable where he will be one player on the chopping block for the Souths game on Good Friday. Folkes is a coach that doesn't like to make many changes to a losing side, but Utai is almost certain to be one.

The halves continues to be a big problem for the Bulldogs and they will be hoping the rumours about Craig Gower are true as they need someone who can control a game and urge his team on urgently. Daniel Holdsworth has proved himself to be a one-season wonder (albeit an excellent season at that) and the quicker Ben Roberts is used as a utility player the better it will be for him and the Bulldogs.

Under the leadership of Malcolm Noad the Bulldogs went from being the best balanced side to a one-man team in a hurry and it's up to new chief executive Todd Greenberg and the new Bulldogs board to make the tough decisions and make the right recruitment decisions to rebuild the Bulldogs from the mess they've been in since taking out the 2004 title.

The Bulldogs were a one-man team during the early 1990's, but recovered to win a Premiership in 1995. The change of board and CEO is a positive step for the Bulldogs and gives them a chance of once again being a great Club. But the tough decisions and strong recruitment has to be done or second half performances like last Saturday will continue to plague their season.

Folkes has been the best clubman Canterbury has had and he's been a constant in the Bulldogs last 10 grand final campaigns as a player, trainer and coach. However, for Folkes to leave the Club on good terms and see the season out he has to make changes to his approach, to whatever he says at half-time and give the kids a go or he'll be gone within the next 5-6 weeks.

Parramatta can be proud of their second half performance and coach Michael Hagan will be pleased that they can play their worst half of football and come out ten minutes later where they put on a complete performance and turn around. With Jarryd Hayne to return the Eels along with the Roosters shape up as the two biggest contenders to stop the Storm winning back to back titles.

One lowlight from the game was the performance by referee Jason Robinson. Why he is allowed to be anywhere near first grade let alone refereeing first grade matches remains a mystery to this day and the decision by the video referee in the incident involving Michael Sullivan and Nathan Hindmarsh with all the technology in front of him was a blunder of Bucknor like proportions. However, that decision and the performance of Robinson can't put cloud over the second half collapse of the Bulldogs and the poor use of the interchange rotation by Folkes.

Meanwhile, much the same happened in the Toyota Cup as the Bulldogs surrended a 20-6 lead to lose 30-24. The hard part of the loss was that the best performer in the match was Parramatta halfback Daniel Mortimer - the son of three-time Bulldogs premiership winner, club stalwart and NSW representative Peter Mortimer.

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