Round 9: Bulldogs v Wests Tigers preview
Dogs on the rebound against desperate Tigers
The new and improved Canterbury Bulldogs will look to show that their improved form to start 2024 is here to stay when they take on a Wests Tigers side, desperate to erase a four game losing run.
Canterbury have been one of the more improved sides to start this season. Defensively has seen the biggest turning point, to a point where they can sustain teams' long attacking raids on their own line, something that was near impossible last season. Sitting inside the top eight after their bye week, the Bulldogs have something to show in this competition, but the challenge now is to maintain consistency. Especially dominating up front and the new spark in their attack, especially the new look left edge which has fired in recent weeks.
Against the Tigers, their middles led by Josh Curran and Max King will need to dominate their opposite numbers. While Matt Burton and Drew Hutchison's building combination will need to take another step in the right direction exploiting the new combinations like Brisbane did just seven days before. Their bench forwards will also need to provide spark and impact to compete with the Tigers. Plus, containing Lachie Galvin, he's the most explosive rookie we've seen this season and if he gets an inkling of space, it'll be a long afternoon.
For the Bulldogs, Jacob Preston has been named in the reserves and could be a late inclusion should he get through training. Chris Patolo is out with Josh Curran joining Max King up front while Kurt Mann is named at lock. Otherwise it is the same side that massacred Newcastle.
For the Tigers, after a promising start, they are staring down the barrels of five straight defeats. Something, which has sadly become a pattern in the last few seasons. It'll be no doubt the biggest test of Benji Marshall's coaching career to date to provide an environment which turns it around. Samuela Fainu's sin-bin last week was costly, but it's something the young backrower will learn from and I know for certain he knows that rule now!
To beat the Bulldogs, second phase play will be the order of the day. It's something we've seen inconsistently across Benji Ball to date, but when it's worked, it has been devastating in it's effect. They will need to also tidy up their discipline, conceding the fourth most penalties in the competition. Jahreem Bula will need to get his hands on the footy and create havoc in what has been at times a rookie middle third for the Bulldogs when the starters have a break. Plus, the thriving footwork of Galvin causing havoc, the Tigers are in with a chance.
Onto team news and Benji Marshall has kept the faith in the 17 that lost last weekend. Api Koroisau has been named despite a back complaint.
Last meeting: Round 3 2023 - Bulldogs 26 Wests Tigers 22
Who to watch: I am focusing on Connor Tracey. Having left the Sharks for the confides of Belmore, Tracey missed selection early due to injury but ever since taking the 1 jersey back from Blake Taaffe, he has been in excellent form. Running the ball hard and efficiently out of yardage plus adding some play making, Tracey will be one to watch in this one.
For the Tigers, I am putting the blowtorch on Aidan Sezer. Brought into be the guiding and calming influence for a young spine of Bula and Galvin. He was underwhelming with his kicking game against the Broncos, which saw the Tigers placed under immense pressure. He has shown the glimpses of experience in the past this season, but it needs to be more consistent for this young Tigers side moving forward to snap this losing streak.
Favourite: Canterbury are favourites in this one, the Tigers have lost their last nine matches at Accor Stadium while the Dogs have a good recent head to head record against the Tigers.
My tip: In the wet conditions expected in Sydney, I will favour the Bulldogs. They put on a wet weather clinic earlier this season against the Roosters, and they are on better than even odds of doing that here against the Tigers. Bulldogs by 10.
