With injuries plaguing the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs this season, young halfback Jack Cogger has taken it upon himself to lead his team when others are absent.
Five-eighth Kieran Foran has become the latest casualty, limping off the field with a hamstring injury in his side’s hard -fought win against the Cronulla Sharks on Sunday afternoon.
With debutant Brandon Wakeham replacing the injured five-eighth, Cogger was forced to step up and lead his team against a close-to-full-strength Cronulla outfit.
Demanding the ball in crucial moments and dominating his side’s kicking game, the young halfback led his team around the field, taking possession of the ball 55 times throughout the match, running 12 times and kicking 466 metres.
Cogger was, however, adamant that there is much in his game to improve on:
“There are things throughout the game I could have done better, but I’m happy that I backed myself.”
At a crucial time when the Dogs needed a lift, Cogger knew that it wasn't just his leadership, but a complete team effort, that led his side to the win.
“That's what our game is built on. We are a team who pride ourselves on our effort and we just never give up.”
WORDS: Anthony Eltarraf
