After such a brilliant defensive effort against Melbourne to claim a 6-4 win on the road last weekend, the Bulldogs have put in their worse defensive effort of the season.
The Bulldogs came into this game with only conceding 244 points all year at an average of 15 points per game.
They also came into this game off two great defensive efforts against two of the best attacking teams in Manly and Melbourne, so how did it all go so bad?
Well, it’s attitude!
Defence is attitude and it’s what wins you games and premierships and for the Bulldogs on Sunday it was a part of their game that was lacking, because for a side that prides themselves on defence, this was not the Bulldogs we have come to know over the past three seasons.
“Our defence was poor and for an area of our game that we pride ourselves on was certainly a concern and we need to address that area this week,” said forward Dale Finucane.
The Bulldogs went into the sheds with a hard fought 18-16 lead, but from the time the whistle blew for the kick-off to the second half and the ref blew full-time it was 30 unanswered points from the Tigers, that left many people scratching their heads as to why it turned so bad for the Bulldogs.
The Tigers ran away with it in the end scoring six tries in the second half to defeat the Bulldogs 46-18 at ANZ Stadium.
The 46 points they conceded was easily a season-high and after such a brilliant defensive effort against Melbourne to claim a 6-4 win on the road last weekend, Bulldogs coach Des Hasler was gutted with the effort his side dished out against the previously out-of-sorts Wests Tigers.
"We weren't good today – I will acknowledge that – but we should have beaten Wests Tigers," Hasler said. "I didn't think they played particularly well but they took their chances. It's one we've got to put behind us. They are a very, very disappointed playing group. The nine tries [conceded] is disappointing."
The Bulldogs have six days to turn their performance around for a revived Cowboys side that got their first win on the road last Friday night against the Cronulla Sharks and for a side who possess plenty of strike power, the Bulldogs defence will need to be in order come Saturday night.
“Our defence is the main area of our game that needs amending and if we do this, than everything else will sort itself out,” said Finucane.
