Bulldogs blitz Tigers for back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019

Mick Potter has guided Canterbury to their first consecutive wins since 2019 but says he still needs “a couple of weeks” to determine whether or not he could see himself as the club’s full-time coach.

Potter has only been coaching the Bulldogs for a month but in that time, he’s developed an attacking brand of football that allowed his side to thrash the Wests Tigers 36-12.

Matt Burton is thriving under his new coach and his kicking game troubled the Tigers all afternoon, while Jake Averillo’s switch to fullback under Potter resulted in two more tries on Sunday.

But while the coach conceded the team had come far in his short time at the helm, he said he was still unsure whether he could see himself in the role long-term.

“I just don’t want to be distracted and make a call on that right now,” he said.

“It’s an option to apply. In a couple of weeks, I reckon I’ll go either yes or no.

“I’m pretty happy with how the players are going right at the moment and next week’s another challenge.”

Potter hasn’t discussed the coaching job with Bulldogs powerbrokers but couldn’t deny the last two weeks in charge had been “invigorating”.

“They might already have a coach (for next year),” he said.

“I’m staying right out of it at the moment.”

The Bulldogs ran out to an early lead in their first win under Potter but the patience on show in Sunday’s was just as impressive.

They had the better of the ball and field position in the first half but had to be content with a 12-6 lead at halftime.

Burton’s combination with Josh Addo-Carr didn’t bear the fruits it had in the previous fortnight but that didn’t worry the Bulldogs, who found other outlets to attack.

When Jacob Kiraz and debutant Kurtis Morrin scored from close range in the second half and Aaron Schoupp grabbed an intercept try, the Bulldogs proved their attack had rediscovered its rhythm.

The Bulldogs have already scored 38 more points in Potter’s five games in charge than they did in the first 10 games of the year and have now passed 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2016.

But Potter said he couldn’t take credit for the side’s resurgent attack.

“(The players) have worked really hard,” he said.

“There’s more in them than perhaps what you’ve seen on the field.

“They’ve got some pride in the jumper.”

The loss heaped more misery on the Tigers.

“We need to stay united,” interim coach Brett Kimmorley said.

“We need to learn how to be a tough, defensive team. We’re in a really difficult time.”

To make matters worse, the Tigers could now be in for a stint without Alex Twal, who left the field in a medi-cab just 90 seconds into the game.

Twal was knocked unconscious attempting to tackle Burton, who appeared to apply pressure to Twal’s neck as he fell to the turf.

Burton was neither penalised nor put on report.

Starford To’a also hobbled from the field late in the game with what appeared to be an ankle injury.

Kimmorley said he was pleased with Adam Doueihi on his return from an ACL injury.

The Tigers’ best player last season, Doueihi came on from the bench late in the game but is expected to play a bigger role in coming weeks.