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Sport Nation
In-stadium commentary at Mt Smart“Two words”: Has the bubble burst for the Bulldogs?
Nicholas Quinlan • May 23rd, 2025 9:55 am
Matty Russell is still confident that the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are still the team to beat despite their performance on Thursday night.
The Bulldogs suffered their second loss of the season against the Dolphins at Accor Stadium. They lost 8-44 as they conceded 30 points unanswered points in the second half.
It would be the first time that the Dolphins have beaten the Bulldogs.
When asked by co-host Andrew Voss whether the Bulldogs’ bubble has been burst, Russell was confident that it has not.
“Two words - absolutely not,” Russell said assertively on SEN 1170's Breakfast.
“The reason is, it’s just started to bite all the players that are missing. Two to Origin (in) Crichton and King; two still suspended (in) Preston (and) Tupouniua; injuries to Suluka-Fifita, Kiraz, Todd, (and) Salmon. I don’t read a lot into it.
“Especially considering the conditions last night. I was sitting back watching last night’s game saying to myself imagine if, in the replay box, we had a picture of Allianz Stadium’s playing surface...
“The easy way to sum it up is one team handled the conditions really well. The Dolphins’ first two tries were fantastic in those conditions with both wingers scoring. Whereas the Bulldogs just absolutely didn’t (handle the conditions).”
The error count would also have a contribution to the game’s result. The Bulldogs would commit 16 errors compared to the Dolphins’ nine.
They would also be assisted by the Canterbury-Bankstown giving away four six agains with the Dolphins scoring tries four tries from those infringements.
The Dolphins also managed to break 33 tackles compared to the Bulldogs’ 13 which had an influence on the game through the Dolphins generating 569 post-contact meters.
The Bulldogs also struggled in attack as well. They were unable to break the Dolphins’ defensive line while the Dolphins had seven line breaks.
They have the bye next week before next match in Round 14 against the Parramatta Eels in their traditional King’s Birthday clash at Accor Stadium.
