Phil Gould, the football manager for the Canterbury Bulldogs, has expressed that he isn’t particularly concerned about the team’s current form following an unexpected defeat to the Brisbane Broncos.
Despite fielding a weakened squad, the Broncos showcased their depth by securing a decisive 32-12 win on Friday evening.
The Bulldogs now hold a record of 3-4 at the start of the season, with one of their wins achieved against the formidable Penrith Panthers.
This victory encapsulates the Bulldogs’ season, characterised by inconsistency.
Gould sees positives emerging from the loss on Friday night.
Phil Gould. Nine
“We’re fine. We’re just navigating through a bit of a tough period at the moment,” he commented on Nine’s 100% Footy.
“The Broncos were impressive, just as we anticipated. They possess excellent depth in their squad and played some quality football.”
“There were definitely some positive indicators for the Bulldogs; I thought our performance at certain points was really promising and showcased our potential going forward.”
“However, when it came to converting our opportunities into tries, the Broncos excelled in that area. Adam Reynolds was superb, and his kicking game was top-notch, similar to what Mitchell Moses produced the previous week against us.”
“Having a player who can manage the game effectively and keep them in a strong position made a crucial difference, but I’m not overly concerned about the scoreline; I don’t believe it reflects our performance accurately. That said, we are in a challenging phase and need to push through it.”
Catch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.
The Bulldogs are facing increased scrutiny due to their form, having suffered two consecutive losses.
On Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, Andrew Johns reiterated his viewpoint that Lachlan Galvin is better suited to the five-eighth role rather than halfback.
This situation poses an issue for the Bulldogs, as the talented young player Mitch Woods is currently dealing with injuries, while Matt Burton is more adept at playing in the No.6 position.
Although Burton could potentially shift to the centres, Bronson Xerri and Stephen Crichton are the preferred options in that position.
100% Footy is now available as a podcast! Follow or subscribe via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts
When asked about Galvin’s suitability for the No. 7 jersey after the Broncos loss, coach Cameron Ciraldo pointed to his performance against the Panthers.
“Do you think he was ready for the job two weeks ago against Penrith? He’s just a 20-year-old halfback at this stage,” he stated.
“He gained valuable insights from a player with 15 years of experience, but these insights are only useful if he chooses to learn from them.”
The Bulldogs will be looking to turn it around when they face the Cowboys this coming Friday night.
Compiled by SportArena.au
Fanpage: SportArena.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
