The Bulldogs attacking woes have been introduced into focus after a combined begin to the season with query marks rising over halfback Kyle Flanagan’s potential to steer the staff.
Cameron Ciraldo’s aspect have gone 2-2 to start out the season with Flanagan struggling to gel with new recruit Reed Mahoney and fellow playmaker Matt Burton.
The 24-year-old has recorded only a single help regardless of averaging 45 possessions per recreation, simply 5 shy of Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds who has 5 attempt assists.
Watch each recreation of each spherical of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
MORE NRL NEWS
POWER RANKINGS: Hynes makes Sharks a special beast; Dolphins’ cracks emerge
MCKINNON: Why Dolphins make most sense for Wighton; Blues should choose Suaalii
‘35,000 MORE SEATS’: Victoria’s $5m bid to pinch NRL GF as V’landys open to modify
Bulldogs nice Braith Anasta mentioned his former membership wanted “more creativity” out of Flanagan.
“The Dogs have come a long way and have improved out of sight,” he mentioned on NRL360.
“They’ve got the foundation in terms of their defence and getting into good field position, but when it comes to the attacking zone they have a lack of options.”
NRL360 co-host Paul Kent agreed.
“They get up that end of the field okay and then when the defence gets their back against the try line the Bulldogs have this habit of going across one side of the field and then across the other side of the field,” he mentioned.
“They can’t come up with the plays to penetrate them”.
“I don’t want to be critical of Flanagan,” Anasta replied. “I think he has the ability to take the line on. I think he has the ability to go into the line and create space and opportunities I just haven’t seen it yet.”
LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE FOX LEAGUE PODCAST BELOW
“There’s a lot of expectation of Burton but there’s nothing happening between Mahoney and Burton so (the opposition) can double team Mahoney and double team Burton.
“And they are getting no creativity out of their No.7 at the moment.”
Anasata’s feedback got here after Panthers legend Greg Alexander raised fears Burton was being requested to do an excessive amount of. Alexander, talking forward of the Bulldogs’ Round 4 loss to the Warriors, additionally questioned whether or not Ciraldo must make an early-season name on his halves pairing.
“I did say through the (Round 3) game that the pressure on Matt Burton is increasing as the season gets longer for him to do everything,” Alexander mentioned on SEN Radio.
“He is the runner, the kicker, he looks like he is organising. In terms of threatening the line, if you’re not getting help from somewhere else [it makes it difficult].
“Hayze Perham is a runner not a passer, whereas Kyle Flanagan is a passer not a runner. Matt Burton is trying to do a bit of everything and I think the load is too big on him.
“Do the Bulldogs bite the bullet and put Karl Oloapu in? Maybe.”
‘The present tradition stinks there!’ | 03:09
Oloapu has been on hearth in reserve grade since becoming a member of from the Broncos within the low season. In his most up-to-date outing he scored a try to made a line break together with racking up 24 tackles.
He is seen by many as Burton’s long-term halves accomplice casting additional doubt over the way forward for Flanagan who’s within the ultimate 12 months of his deal.
Kent mentioned Flanagan has in the end suffered from a rule change introduced in simply as he was discovering his ft.
“The worst thing that happened to Kyle Flanagan was the six again rule because it brought back more ad-lib footy whereas he played structure very well,” he mentioned.
“All his formative years in junior footy the game was highly structured. By the time he got to first grade, he had only just begun to crack the level, the game changed. He’s struggled to adapt to that.
“Every now and then he falls back into his old habits of just playing structure.”
Flanagan has been named at No.7 to tackle the Cowboys in Round 5.
‘
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
