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.
Comments on RugbyPass
Can’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
1 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
8 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to comments