Andrew Johns Explains Bulldogs' Slowest Play-the-Ball Issue

andrew johns points to a Bulldogs attack under pressure, and Braith Anasta has now put a number on the problem. He said Canterbury have the slowest play-the-ball in the competition in good field positions, with Thursday night against the Dolphins looming as a response game.

Braith Anasta on Canterbury

Anasta's criticism cuts straight through the talk around Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton. He said the issue is not just the halves pairing but the speed of the ruck in areas where the Bulldogs should be turning field position into points.

"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."

He added: "It’s their power game, their big men draw attention with their runs."

Bulldogs points after nine rounds

That has been reflected on the scoreboard. After nine rounds, the Bulldogs have scored 145 points, the second least of any team.

Only the Dragons have scored fewer points, leaving Canterbury under enormous pressure to turn around their mini-slump this week. Anasta said the Bulldogs rarely get a quick play-the-ball, which means they are not 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. That’s why it looks so monotonous when you’re watching and so repetitive."

Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium

The test now comes on Thursday at 7:50pm at Suncorp Stadium. Anasta said the defence is coming up quicker against the Bulldogs and they have to get better at that, putting the focus on whether Canterbury can lift the speed and force of their ball carries against the Dolphins.

For Cameron Ciraldo, the challenge is clear: the Bulldogs need their forwards to create faster rucks before their halves can do more with the ball. If that does not change, the same pressure will keep landing on the same part of their attack.