Bulldogs brush Gould drama to end drought
AFTER a week of headlines dominated by Gould-related column inches, the Bulldogs supremo showed he is still one of the game’s greatest thinkers as he helped engineer the upset of the season from the box as coach Trent Barrett stalked the sideline to inspire his side to a miraculous 16-12 win over a Roosters side that is totally out of sorts.
But things are never easy for Canterbury, and they had to survive one of the wildest finishes of the season to pick up their second win of the year.
With three minutes to go, it looked like Joseph Suaalii had tied things up when he slid over in the right corner. The referee awarded the try before the Bunker intervened to check for obstruction.
But that was quickly cleared, and thousands of heads dropped. That was until one last replay showed Suaalii had put a toenail into touch with the ball still in the air.
Forget about column inches. Footy is a game of millimetres.
Gould was criticised for some tough love at a video session and for then taking charge at training, but the players didn’t complain and it showed on the field at Accor Stadium.
This is a team that hadn’t won since round 1, but they doubled their 2022 win tally on the back of effort and nailing the key moments.
If this was a game of skill then the Roosters would’ve won by 50. But skill counts for little if you’re not hungry enough to dive on loose balls against a team that was prepared to do anything to win.
They tackled their guts out and when their attack started to go nowhere, Matt Burton nailed a 40/20 that woke them and the crowd up.
It took Josh Addo-Carr six games to open his Bulldogs account, but a double against the Roosters have taken him to five tries in three games.