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Important SN update for Southland“How long is this going to last?”: The coaching conundrum facing Ciraldo
Nicholas Quinlan • June 27th, 2025 10:01 am
The idiom of ‘two is company and three is a crowd’ may be proving true for Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo when it comes to trying to ensure that Lachlan Galvin, Reed Mahoney and Toby Sexton all feature in Canterbury’s spine.
With the addition of Galvin into the 17, it has seen a shift in the dynamics of the Dogs side with a reduction in minutes for Mahoney at the hooker position while Sexton has spent time playing at hooker to accommodate the 19-year-old halfback when he comes off the bench.
It would be a similar case for the Bulldogs against Penrith on Thursday night with Galvin coming into the game in the 51st minute for Mahoney with starting halfback Sexton shuffling into hooker while Galvin became the halfback.
Within the next set of the match, the Panthers through Nathan Cleary would score the decisive try for the match which would allow the Panthers to take the lead in their 8-6 victory against the Bulldogs at Commbank Stadium on Thursday night.
As a result of the loss, it now leaves the door open for the Canberra Raiders to knock Canterbury out of their ladder-leading position by the end of Round 17.
Following the aftermath of the match, Voss was left wondering whether the decision to try and play all three players across the two positions is the right one going forward.
“How long is this going to last?” Voss pondered on SEN 1170 Breakfast
“My opinion last night, Mahoney was having a really good game at hooker. Sexton was having a terrific game at halfback, and you upset the applecart, just to get Galvin in the game.
“And I don’t think that they were better served when Galvin came on.
“Now, that’s not against Galvin, but what Cooper Cronk observed in the Fox League commentary is when you take Sexton out of halfback, you take one of your two main long kicking options.
“And whether it was or not, it sort of leads to the Cleary try. I mean Burton is the kicker. Cleary knows that it’s going to Burton, they all know that it’s going to Burton. He’s the long kicker.
“So, can they go another game with it, Canterbury? Another big game, I’m saying no.”
The Bulldogs’ next match takes place against the Brisbane Broncos next Friday at Accor Stadium.
They remain top of the table despite a third loss of the season.
