Anasta Flags Bulldogs' Slow Ruck Speed Before Dolphins Vs Bulldogs
Braith Anasta said the Bulldogs have the slowest play-the-ball in good field positions, a problem he linked to their attack before dolphins vs bulldogs on Thursday night. Canterbury go into round 10 under pressure after scoring 145 points through nine rounds, the second fewest in the competition.
Anasta's ruck warning
On Wednesday night, the NRL 360 host said the Bulldogs should be turning their power game into quicker ruck speed and repeat attacks, but instead they are stuck with the slowest play-the-ball in the competition in good field positions. He said, "It’s their power game, their big men draw attention with their runs" and "Should be getting quick play-the-balls and then play off the back of that... but they actually have the slowest play-the-ball in the competition in good field position."
Anasta said the issue is simple enough to see in the way Canterbury are moving the ball. "So they rarely get a quick play-the-ball so they aren’t really running the ball hard enough, fighting enough in the ruck or isolating defenders," he said. "They aren’t denting oppositions, getting a quick play-the-ball and then playing."
Bulldogs attack under scrutiny
The Bulldogs' halves pairing of Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton has already been under scrutiny in 2026, and the ruck speed problem adds another layer to the pressure around their attack. Canterbury's mini-slump has left them with little margin for error, especially with the Dragons the only team sitting below them on points after nine rounds.
Anasta also said the defence is closing down faster and the Bulldogs have to respond. "The defence is coming up quicker and they have to get better at that," he said, after adding, "That’s why it looks so monotonous when you’re watching and so repetitive."
Suncorp Stadium test
The next chance for a response comes at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday at 7:50pm against the Dolphins. If the Bulldogs can lift the speed of their play-the-ball, the contest becomes a direct test of whether their power game can finally turn field position into points.
