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Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Sydney Roosters – Match Preview
In the third week of season 2010, the table’s high flyer’s, the Sydney Roosters take on the tough task of playing a team with a record of 0 from 2, the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.
Taking Turns
This match will show the NRL the last two teams that have won the wooden spoon. The Canterbury Bulldogs were the competition’s cellar dwellers in 2008 and eventually came second the following season, while the much-improved Sydney Roosters side finished with their first wooden spoon since 1966 last year and now have started season 2010 on an extreme high. With the two teams’ virtually swapping positions over the last two seasons, who says that the swap can’t happen one more time?
The Pearce and Carney Show
Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney have made their own show, showing the NRL the top halves pairing, even though Carney is a fullback and that speaks volumes. With both players leading the Dally M rankings on 5 points with only one other player, Jonathan Thurston, their performance along with the rest of the Roosters team, should be another stylish attacking performance that will have the back pages of the Daily Telegraph talking again.
Goal-kicking problems at the Dogs?
Post Hazem El-Magic era, the Dogs are having goal-kicking problems. The only glimmer of hope is winger Bryson Goodwin, even though he had one chance against the Dragons. Ennis had the goal-kicking duties in the round 1 clash against the Knights and managed none from four, something that would be very worrying for every Bulldog fan.
Form Guide
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
March 19, 2010 – St. George Illawarra Dragons 26 def. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 6
March 13, 2010 – Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 16 def. by Newcastle Knights 20
February 28, 2010 – Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 22 def. Canberra Raiders 12
February 20, 2010 – Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 14 def. by St. George Illawarra Dragons 16
September 25, 2010 – Canterbury Bulldogs 12 def. by Parramatta Eels 22
Sydney Roosters
March 21, 2010 – Sydney Roosters 44 def. Wests Tigers 32
March 14, 2010 – South Sydney Rabbitohs 10 def. by Sydney Roosters 36
February 27, 2010 – Sydney Roosters 40 def. Parramatta Eels 14
February 21, 2010 – Sydney Roosters 28 def. Wests Tigers 10
February 13, 2010 – New Zealand Warriors 26 def. Sydney Roosters 8
Head to Head
Played: 154
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Wins: 73
Sydney Roosters: 76
Drawn: 5
Last Match:
August 24, 2009 – Canterbury Bulldogs 28 def. Sydney Roosters 4
Team News
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
The Dogs welcome back Michael Ennis after completing his 1 week suspension and he will retake his space in the starting 13 at hooker. Chris Armit is also back from injury and will join last weeks’ debutant Blake Green on the bench. On the slide, Gary Warburton was handed a two-week suspension and will be back in time for Round 5. Mickey Paea and Michael Hodgson will both be sidelined for a number of weeks.
Sydney Roosters
The Roosters have no fresh injury concerns coming into their Round 3 clash against the Bulldogs. Jason Ryles, who was put down to start the match, has been tipped to miss out the match so that he is fit for the upcoming Good Friday clash against the Broncos as he looked in tatters when placed in the sun against the Tigers. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is expected to be back in two weeks and Tom Symonds in three. Anthony Cherrington is still expected to miss the season.
How they line up
Players to Watch
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs – Michael Ennis
After missing out on last weekend’s loss to the Dragons, Michael Ennis will want to put in a very committed display against the Roosters to make up for his suspension.
Sydney Roosters – Mitchell Pearce
After a master class displays against the Rabbitohs and the Tigers, Mitchell Pearce will want to carry his current run of almost perfect performances against the Bulldogs. Being the NRL’s second highest try-scorer so far this season, there is no reason why he won’t score more.
Mouth-watering Match Ups
Luke Patten vs. Todd Carney
Although Patten and his team haven’t had the best of start’s to this season, he’ll be wanting to get one over the NRL’s form fullback (although playing out of position), Todd Carney. Carney, on the other hand, will want to continue his stunning form and get some more Dally M points up his sleeve.
Josh Morris vs. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
After having a relatively quiet game last weekend, Shaun Kenny-Dowall will want to grab some points on Sunday against last years’ top tryscorer, Josh Morris, who himself has also managed to grab two tries so far this season, despite the clubs’ poor form.
Brett Kimmorley vs. Mitchell Pearce
It’s experience against youth as Brett Kimmorley will do his utmost to get his team a much needed two points against a high-flying Roosters side. Pearce on the other hand, has been playing scintillating football, and will undoubtedly attempt to replicate the form of his last two matches.
Michael Ennis vs. James Aubusson
Michael Ennis will want to repay the Dogs for his week out of action. James Aubusson hasn’t started either of the previous two matches and will try his best to stab competition from Nick Kouparitsas to cement a staring spot each week.
What the Chookpen forum members think
The chookpen forum members belive that this match will be a blowout with a vast majority (54.72%) going for a Roosters win by 13 or more points, and a total of 94.34% going for a Roosters win. Here were a few comments that stood out when asked about the match:
“Bulldogs will give this game EVERYTHING they have, there's no way they want to start the season 0 from 3.” – Chris
“On form it’s a no-brainer. Canterbury look slow and tired (especially Kimmorley, who was dreadful on Friday). They've got a good (but ageing) pack but our forwards have been good so far. Where the Roosters should burn them is in terms of creating chances - Kimmorley is in poor form, Ben Roberts is inconsistent, whereas Carney and Pearce are going well. If the Roosters turn up, then they should win this game well - who would have honestly thought that would be the case before the season started?” – redwhiteandbluester
“The dogs players are living on last years’ memories, while our players have forgotten all about last year. The style we play will run their big forwards into the ground. We have much more variety in attack now, more than St George by a long way, and look what they did to the dogs. I know they will be desperate, but it won’t help. They will go back to what they know, playing up the middle and thinking they can run over us, if we can hold them there we have too much speed and too many options for them to handle for 80 minutes. It will come down to our forwards defence, and I really like what I’ve seen from Conn, and the Aubusson’s, and Myles. We can attack from anywhere on the field, I know I sound over confident, I’ve tried to tone it down, but I’m just saying from what I’ve seen we will beat them, I can’t see any other result.” – Roosdaman
“Be wary of a wounded dog I say. 0 and 3 won't sit well with them and they'll do all they can not to let that happen. I'm cautious, this will be tight. GO EASTS !!!” – TheLoneRooster
Prediction
The Bulldogs couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start to season 2010 after such a superb last season. They will do their utmost to get a positive result against the Roosters. The Roosters on the other hand, have been flawless, and I can’t see the Roosters losing this one.
Sydney Roosters by 13+
In the third week of season 2010, the table’s high flyer’s, the Sydney Roosters take on the tough task of playing a team with a record of 0 from 2, the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.
Taking Turns
This match will show the NRL the last two teams that have won the wooden spoon. The Canterbury Bulldogs were the competition’s cellar dwellers in 2008 and eventually came second the following season, while the much-improved Sydney Roosters side finished with their first wooden spoon since 1966 last year and now have started season 2010 on an extreme high. With the two teams’ virtually swapping positions over the last two seasons, who says that the swap can’t happen one more time?
The Pearce and Carney Show
Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney have made their own show, showing the NRL the top halves pairing, even though Carney is a fullback and that speaks volumes. With both players leading the Dally M rankings on 5 points with only one other player, Jonathan Thurston, their performance along with the rest of the Roosters team, should be another stylish attacking performance that will have the back pages of the Daily Telegraph talking again.
Goal-kicking problems at the Dogs?
Post Hazem El-Magic era, the Dogs are having goal-kicking problems. The only glimmer of hope is winger Bryson Goodwin, even though he had one chance against the Dragons. Ennis had the goal-kicking duties in the round 1 clash against the Knights and managed none from four, something that would be very worrying for every Bulldog fan.
Form Guide
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
March 19, 2010 – St. George Illawarra Dragons 26 def. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 6
March 13, 2010 – Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 16 def. by Newcastle Knights 20
February 28, 2010 – Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 22 def. Canberra Raiders 12
February 20, 2010 – Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 14 def. by St. George Illawarra Dragons 16
September 25, 2010 – Canterbury Bulldogs 12 def. by Parramatta Eels 22
Sydney Roosters
March 21, 2010 – Sydney Roosters 44 def. Wests Tigers 32
March 14, 2010 – South Sydney Rabbitohs 10 def. by Sydney Roosters 36
February 27, 2010 – Sydney Roosters 40 def. Parramatta Eels 14
February 21, 2010 – Sydney Roosters 28 def. Wests Tigers 10
February 13, 2010 – New Zealand Warriors 26 def. Sydney Roosters 8
Head to Head
Played: 154
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Wins: 73
Sydney Roosters: 76
Drawn: 5
Last Match:
August 24, 2009 – Canterbury Bulldogs 28 def. Sydney Roosters 4
Team News
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
The Dogs welcome back Michael Ennis after completing his 1 week suspension and he will retake his space in the starting 13 at hooker. Chris Armit is also back from injury and will join last weeks’ debutant Blake Green on the bench. On the slide, Gary Warburton was handed a two-week suspension and will be back in time for Round 5. Mickey Paea and Michael Hodgson will both be sidelined for a number of weeks.
Sydney Roosters
The Roosters have no fresh injury concerns coming into their Round 3 clash against the Bulldogs. Jason Ryles, who was put down to start the match, has been tipped to miss out the match so that he is fit for the upcoming Good Friday clash against the Broncos as he looked in tatters when placed in the sun against the Tigers. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is expected to be back in two weeks and Tom Symonds in three. Anthony Cherrington is still expected to miss the season.
How they line up
Players to Watch
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs – Michael Ennis
After missing out on last weekend’s loss to the Dragons, Michael Ennis will want to put in a very committed display against the Roosters to make up for his suspension.
Sydney Roosters – Mitchell Pearce
After a master class displays against the Rabbitohs and the Tigers, Mitchell Pearce will want to carry his current run of almost perfect performances against the Bulldogs. Being the NRL’s second highest try-scorer so far this season, there is no reason why he won’t score more.
Mouth-watering Match Ups
Luke Patten vs. Todd Carney
Although Patten and his team haven’t had the best of start’s to this season, he’ll be wanting to get one over the NRL’s form fullback (although playing out of position), Todd Carney. Carney, on the other hand, will want to continue his stunning form and get some more Dally M points up his sleeve.
Josh Morris vs. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
After having a relatively quiet game last weekend, Shaun Kenny-Dowall will want to grab some points on Sunday against last years’ top tryscorer, Josh Morris, who himself has also managed to grab two tries so far this season, despite the clubs’ poor form.
Brett Kimmorley vs. Mitchell Pearce
It’s experience against youth as Brett Kimmorley will do his utmost to get his team a much needed two points against a high-flying Roosters side. Pearce on the other hand, has been playing scintillating football, and will undoubtedly attempt to replicate the form of his last two matches.
Michael Ennis vs. James Aubusson
Michael Ennis will want to repay the Dogs for his week out of action. James Aubusson hasn’t started either of the previous two matches and will try his best to stab competition from Nick Kouparitsas to cement a staring spot each week.
What the Chookpen forum members think
The chookpen forum members belive that this match will be a blowout with a vast majority (54.72%) going for a Roosters win by 13 or more points, and a total of 94.34% going for a Roosters win. Here were a few comments that stood out when asked about the match:
“Bulldogs will give this game EVERYTHING they have, there's no way they want to start the season 0 from 3.” – Chris
“On form it’s a no-brainer. Canterbury look slow and tired (especially Kimmorley, who was dreadful on Friday). They've got a good (but ageing) pack but our forwards have been good so far. Where the Roosters should burn them is in terms of creating chances - Kimmorley is in poor form, Ben Roberts is inconsistent, whereas Carney and Pearce are going well. If the Roosters turn up, then they should win this game well - who would have honestly thought that would be the case before the season started?” – redwhiteandbluester
“The dogs players are living on last years’ memories, while our players have forgotten all about last year. The style we play will run their big forwards into the ground. We have much more variety in attack now, more than St George by a long way, and look what they did to the dogs. I know they will be desperate, but it won’t help. They will go back to what they know, playing up the middle and thinking they can run over us, if we can hold them there we have too much speed and too many options for them to handle for 80 minutes. It will come down to our forwards defence, and I really like what I’ve seen from Conn, and the Aubusson’s, and Myles. We can attack from anywhere on the field, I know I sound over confident, I’ve tried to tone it down, but I’m just saying from what I’ve seen we will beat them, I can’t see any other result.” – Roosdaman
“Be wary of a wounded dog I say. 0 and 3 won't sit well with them and they'll do all they can not to let that happen. I'm cautious, this will be tight. GO EASTS !!!” – TheLoneRooster
Prediction
The Bulldogs couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start to season 2010 after such a superb last season. They will do their utmost to get a positive result against the Roosters. The Roosters on the other hand, have been flawless, and I can’t see the Roosters losing this one.
Sydney Roosters by 13+
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