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The Bulldogs were handily beaten by the Eels in Round 1 in what was a somewhat disappointing result for the long-suffering fans who had high hopes in 2024, however according to Matty Johns and Cooper Cronk, not all is as bad as it seems.
The Bulldogs were extremely stout defensively in the first half, trailing only 8-0 after 35 minutes despite Parramatta dominating the possession and territory count.
Speaking on the Matty Johns podcast, Johns and Cronk said that the defence, led by captain and new recruit Stephen Crichton had shown plenty of good signs in Round 1, and looked much improved in that area as opposed to last year when they leaked 32 points a game.
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“The number one thing to need to improve is their defence. They showed good signs at times in the Pre-Season Challenge,” Cronk said.
“If you watch the first 30 minutes of the Eels game, they defended their goal line stoically for a long period. I think there are enough signs out of that.”
There have been many calling for coach Cameron Ciraldo to shift Crichton to fullback, but Johns and Cronk says the three-time premiership winner is too valuable to the team in the centres.
“There was a moment in the game in the first half and Parramatta shifted the ball to the right hand side and Crichton and his winger, they find themselves two on two with an ocean of space and at that point, the centre would sit and say ‘what’s he going to do’, but Crichton just went bang and smashed him,” Johns said.
“It was so decisive. There was talk of him going to fullback, but you must keep him in the centres.
“Don’t, don’t do that,” Cronk replied.
“I understand why but there’s two sides of the game and he’s arguably the best defensive centre in the comp.”
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While their defence was mostly good against the Eels, the Bulldogs attack failed to fire except for a brief period late in the second half when they scored two quick tries.
The halves have been a point of contention all off-season and pre-season, with Ciraldo electing to roll with Matt Burton and Drew Hutchison for Round 1.
Hutchison has little experience at halfback while Burton has taken a bit of time adjusting to the No.6 jersey since arriving from the Panthers (where he played centre) at the start of the 2022 season.
Both Cronk and Johns think that Burton can be a very good five-eighth in time, but say he is playing like he is “handcuffed”.
“The other part to it is their attack and their combination work. That left side of Burton, Crichton, Kikau and Addo-Carr needs to be unlocked,” Cronk said.
“Brilliant runner of the football, huge fan of Burton. His final year at Penrith when he won the grand final and his Origin experience, he was super,” Johns said.
“I saw it last year and I saw it on the weekend. He’s just sort of being suffocated a little bit by what he perceives to be his responsibilities and expectations as a playmaker.
“It’s almost like the number on the jersey is dictating how he plays and suffocating his strengths rather than vice versa.
“It’s important to him to understand that it’s not just him that deals with that battle.”
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Cronk agreed, believing that at this stage, Burton needs to have a little taken off his plate to “flourish”.
“I think instead of the jersey determining how you play, write down two or three things that you are great at and they be the focus on what you do,” the champion halfback opined.
“I think the other thing is that Matt Burton for me feels like he needs a genuine half that takes control of all the other things that come into play for halfback play, create space for Matt, I think that’s when Matt will flourish.
“Give him Kikau, Crichton and Addo-Carr on the left hand side and he doesn’t really have to think too much.
Both Hutchison and Burton failed to spark much creativity in attack on the weekend.
Toby Sexton, who is waiting in the wings in reserve grade, is a more specialised halfback than Hutchison is. If the incumbent doesn’t improve on the Round 1 performance, Ciraldo should look to turn to Sexton before the Bulldogs get in too much of an early season hole.
Cronk said that to relieve pressure off Burton, a “ball playing 13” needs to have an impact in attack.
“Look at Jarome Luai at Penrith the last few years. He doesn’t leave the left hand side, he says to Nathan (Cleary), give me the ball. I think that’s what Matt Burton needs,” he said.
“If you aren’t a traditional half and aren’t comfortable doing first receiver stuff, you probably need a ball playing 13 to help you play on the overs to get some momentum going.
Jaeman Salmon isn’t Isaah Yeo or Victor Radley but I think there’s something there with Salmon that can provide little bit of open space for Burton to become more comfortable on the left hand side.
“What you said is right. He’s handcuffed to a certain way that he should be playing but I think there’s enough tools at the Bulldogs for him to be unlocked.
“That left hand side on paper could be the best in the comp. So how do you do that? You’ve got to create space in the middle and get Burton one pass wide. Don’t get him chewed up with a lot of defenders around him but get him moving onto the football and I think we’ve got a different situation.”
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