Canterbury’s coach Cameron Ciraldo has dismissed suggestions that halfback Lachlan Galvin is out of his depth following the Bulldogs’ 32-12 defeat to Brisbane on Friday evening.
Despite facing a Broncos outfit missing 12 players from their top-30 squad, Canterbury found themselves trailing by over 20 points as Brisbane established a commanding lead.
Adding to the Bulldogs’ concerns, they await scans on Viliame Kikau for a potential pectoral injury, while Matt Burton’s future availability remains uncertain after he was placed on report for a dangerous tackle on Kotoni Staggs.
When questioned about Galvin’s suitability in the key playmaker position after he struggled against the 35-year-old Broncos captain, Adam Reynolds, Ciraldo remained steadfast.
“Do you think he was against Penrith two weeks ago? He’s just a 20-year-old halfback at the moment,” Ciraldo stated.
“He would have gained invaluable experience from a player who’s been at it for 15 years, but those experiences are only valuable if you learn from them.”
Galvin was instrumental in the Bulldogs’ 32-16 triumph over the competition frontrunners, Penrith, in Round 6.
Cameron Ciraldo and Stephen Crichton address the media. Nine
However, since that victory, Canterbury has suffered two consecutive losses against the Eels and the Broncos, revealing vulnerabilities in their defensive setups.
Last season, the Bulldogs conceded an average of 17 points per game, but this year, that number has crept up to 23.7.
“Our defence was poor last week. I was disappointed with the lack of defensive grit, and tonight was no different,” Ciraldo remarked.
“At times, we defended very well. Many players put in solid performances, but at critical moments, one or two players let us down.
“You simply can’t afford to do that against a team boasting talents like Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, and Kotoni Staggs.”
Ciraldo further expressed, “We understood the need for a strong start and energy in our performance following the five-day turnaround. Unfortunately, we just weren’t able to capitalise on our opportunities in the attacking zone.”
“They went downfield and converted their chances, and suddenly we were behind 12-0. That was tough to swallow.
“The try just before half-time and the one right after was particularly damaging for us.
“Their defence was commendable, and while we might have been a bit disjointed at times, we made it too easy for them down the other end.”
The club will monitor Galvin following an ankle injury he sustained during the match.
The Bulldogs will be aiming to halt their losing streak when they face off against North Queensland at Homebush on Friday night.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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