Azza wrote:We're not in top form. The fact we have been competitive in all bar one game this season shows that if we get our act together, we'll be flying.
Azza wrote:We're not in top form. The fact we have been competitive in all bar one game this season shows that if we get our act together, we'll be flying.
You could say the same for the dogs.
So many teams go into a season with potential.
Its what you do that counts.
Heres hoping we play to ours.
I'm not sure what your point is. I'm concerned that we are leaving ourselves too much work to do at the end of the season. I don't subscribe to the theory of "we can win it from anywhere" - a top 4 spot is crucial.
Jarrod Croker interview ABC Radio Canberra Breakfast:
Ricky Stuart set to withdraw Raiders from City-Country? First I've heard of it, nothing has been spoken about, had day off yesterday.
No longer a genuine representative trial? Disappointing part if it, Blake Austin scored three tries two years ago and wasn't in the hunt for a Blues jersey. Why being scrapped. Disappointing. Used to be high profile. Was a goal to play in that game, but no longer a genuine rep trial. That's why players are not putting their hand up.
Josh Papalii. Have to wait and see if he's suspended? Disappointing it's happened so close to the game tomorrow. If something happens before tomorrow, we'll have to have a quick reshuffle.
The Bulldogs are the Bulldogs. They play some scappy, gruelling footy and it's always a scrap fight. Want to win to stay in top eight.
Azza wrote:We're not in top form. The fact we have been competitive in all bar one game this season shows that if we get our act together, we'll be flying.
You could say the same for the dogs.
So many teams go into a season with potential.
Its what you do that counts.
Heres hoping we play to ours.
I'm not sure what your point is. I'm concerned that we are leaving ourselves too much work to do at the end of the season. I don't subscribe to the theory of "we can win it from anywhere" - a top 4 spot is crucial.
My point is the bulldogs have been in every game bar there manly game, to a point being in a game is good, but as we saw last year. Winning is so much more important.
Azza wrote:We're not in top form. The fact we have been competitive in all bar one game this season shows that if we get our act together, we'll be flying.
You could say the same for the dogs.
So many teams go into a season with potential.
Its what you do that counts.
Heres hoping we play to ours.
I'm not sure what your point is. I'm concerned that we are leaving ourselves too much work to do at the end of the season. I don't subscribe to the theory of "we can win it from anywhere" - a top 4 spot is crucial.
My point is the bulldogs have been in every game bar there manly game, to a point being in a game is good, but as we saw last year. Winning is so much more important.
That's hardly revolutionary though. I don't think anyone in their right mind would be happy with just being "in games" without winning the bulk of them. We've dropped 3 close games this year now... we can't afford to keep dropping them.
VIDEO: Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker previews clash with the Bulldogs
Raiders captain Jarrod Croker will front up against former teammate Brenko Lee in the centres this Saturday, when the Raiders travel to ANZ Stadium to play the Bulldogs.
“Brenko’s been in really good form and he moved away to seek opportunity, he has an opportunity there and I think he has taken it with both hands… he has been one of their standout players so I’ll definitely have my hands full tomorrow,” Croker said.
1. Jack Wighton
2. Nick Cotric
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Joey Leilua
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Blake Austin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Junior Paulo
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Clay Priest
11. Sia Soliola
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Joseph Tapine
14. Adam Clydsdale
15. Luke Bateman
16. Dunamis Lui / Makahesi Makatoa
17. Shannon Boyd
Boyd comes on as soon as Kasiano does or 5mins before (around 25mins in).
I'd like to see Makatoa get a couple of games to test him out but with Papalii also out we probably won't see something like that. Need Taylors shoulder to heal up faster.
zim wrote:1. Jack Wighton
2. Nick Cotric
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Joey Leilua
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Blake Austin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Junior Paulo
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Clay Priest
11. Sia Soliola
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Joseph Tapine
14. Adam Clydsdale
15. Luke Bateman
16. Dunamis Lui / Makahesi Makatoa
17. Shannon Boyd
Boyd comes on as soon as Kasiano does or 5mins before (around 25mins in). I'd like to see Makatoa get a couple of games to test him out but with Papalii also out we probably won't see something like that. Need Taylors shoulder to heal up faster.
That's a problem for another time, Papa's playing tomorrow
Makahesi Makatoa and Lachlan Croker drop out of Canberra Raiders squad to face Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canberra Raiders have omitted Makahesi Makatoa and Lachlan Croker from their extended squad to face the Builldogs, with Dunamis Lui and Scott Sorensen remaining on the reserves list. Here's the squad of 19:
1. Jack Wighton
2. Nick Cotric
3. Jarrod Croker (C)
4. Joey Leilua
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Blake Austin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Junior Paulo
9. Josh Hodgson
10. Shannon Boyd
11. Josh Papalii
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Joe Tapine
Interchange
14. Adam Clydsdale
15. Luke Bateman
16. Clay Priest
17. Sia Soliola
Canterbury Bulldogs centre Brenko Lee looking forward to taking on Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker
Brenko Lee spent last season playing outside Canberra Raiders captain Jarrod Croker on the left wing. But a switch to the Canterbury Bulldogs to move to his preferred spot at right centre will see him go toe to toe with his old skipper.
"It'll be good. Obviously he's got a lot of experience behind him, he leads by example and I'm always up for a challenge," Lee said. "I think if I put my best foot forward here and not take a backward step I should be alright."
Green eyed Mick wrote:Paps is a massive hole to fill. For purely selfish reasons I hope they suspend him from the test.
Agreed GeM but it will have to be done at Origin time. Papa is now suspended from the home Test match. That is going to hurt him financially and emotionally. Let's hope he is very up for the Dogs game today.
Green eyed Mick wrote:Paps is a massive hole to fill. For purely selfish reasons I hope they suspend him from the test.
Agreed GeM but it will have to be done at Origin time. Papa is now suspended from the home Test match. That is going to hurt him financially and emotionally. Let's hope he is very up for the Dogs game today.
Would you consider resting him RR they often come out and play like busted you know what's after dramas, bringing the whole team with him.. I'm happy either way.
No Q, I wouldn't rest him. He is free to play and fit to play so I would have him doing what he has great talent at. We are likely to be without him soon enough, possibly suspended then for State of Origin. I would look to get as many matches from him as he is eligible to play. He seems very comfortable on the footy field. I'd get him back in his comfort zone.
I have no doubt that Josh Reynolds and James 'ear chomper' Graham will have some niggle in the pipeline for him. He generally doesn't react, in the way Tapine does, but if we are to win, then personal discipline will have to be put first for the good of the team. I don't think there is a favourite for this game. It will get down to completing sets and defending hard. We have more points in us. Hopefully we get to show that, but I have no doubt that the 'Cronulla formula' for beating the Raiders (Take off before the ball is played and scrag them on the ground) will be used today.
If the Raiders dont have a strategy for dealing with the niggle, they'll be in trouble. We have a few hot-heads on the team who will get drawn in and distracted. The boys need to focus on their own game plan and try to ignore all the insults and dust-ups. Let's hope the Raiders are really hungry for the win and make that their goal from the first whistle. And let's hope the refs give us a fair go.
Really got to watch their short drop outs from restarts, they've been doing it all season no matter what the context of the game is. This is providing we force any.
zim wrote:Pretty much every week someone posts they don't know what's happening with Taylor even though nearly every week it's talked about (on the forum).
So true!
