Big Ponga question in sin bin; masterstroke proves doubters wrong — Crawls

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Hate to be the party pooper after the Bulldogs’ get-out-of-jail golden point celebrations in Las Vegas.

But I’m still not convinced — and I don’t reckon most honest Bulldogs fans would be either — that Cameron Ciraldo’s love affair with Lachlan Galvin playing halfback won’t continue to hold the Bulldogs back this season.

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We all watched the game on Sunday.

And if Stephen Crichton didn’t step up to nail that match-winning play — with six seconds remaining in golden point — there is no doubt that the biggest storyline to come out of Allegiant Stadium would have still centred on the Bulldogs’ halves.

While it must be said that Galvin and Matt Burton played well individually — with both running the ball strongly — what also can’t be disputed is that they continue to play like traditional five-eighths.

And crucially, neither took charge when the Bulldogs needed them most.

Case in point was the final minutes of regular time when the Bulldogs were positioned perfectly for a field goal.

But Galvin and Burton both inexplicably chose not to set up for the shot.

It occurred with just four minutes left on the clock and the scores locked at 14-all.

As a perplexed Cooper Cronk said on Fox League’s match coverage: “There was no communication from Burton and Galvin there about who was going to take the shot.

“They had no understanding.

“No intention.

“I can’t believe they didn’t set up for the field goal.”

Cronk himself was an absolute gun at nailing moments just like this.

And we all know Cronk’s commentary always borders on understated, rather than overstated.

So for Cronk to say what he did in the heat of the moment explains exactly why this partnership remains an ongoing concern for the Bulldogs (even though the coach will never admit it).

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It’s not as if the Bulldogs wouldn’t have prepared for moments like this all summer.

Yet when the pressure was on, all their planning and practice went out the window.

But then in the euphoric aftermath, everyone seemed to conveniently forget about what had happened 14 minutes earlier, as Crichton’s inspirational play stole the spotlight.

Ciraldo also took time out during the post match media conference to continue to praise his young halfback.

“If you think about all the really good halfbacks and what they were like at 20, he’s tracking in a great direction,” Ciraldo said of Galvin.

“He’s learning really quickly. I thought what he’s been able to learn over the pre-season and then some lessons he took at the Newcastle trial and took into tonight I thought was good.

“He’ll get better and better. He’s committed to his craft and he’ll get better every game and every year.”

In fairness to Ciraldo, Galvin did deserve a rap because he did do some really good things.

Like that ball he threw to Jacob Preston to help set up the first try which was an absolute ripper (even if it could have been called marginally forward).

Preston also deserves plenty of the credit for that try as well, because the backrower’s line running, footwork and power would make any young half look so much better.

But there is also no way of turning a blind eye to the Bulldogs’ overall lack of direction which comes back to the halves.

Canterbury had enough ball and good field position to put a score on the Dragons, and they failed to capitalise on their chances.

It certainly wasn’t a first up performance you’d expect from a team most think will finish top four this season.

For mine, it also summed up why Sean O’Sullivan would be the better option to wear the No 7 jumper at this point.

Of course, there is no way Ciraldo is going to drop Galvin.

But O’Sullivan is one of the sharpest footy brains in the business.

And while he might not have Galvin’s natural talent or flair, his strength is his ability to steer a team around the park.

Which is exactly what the Dogs are lacking as Galvin continues to develop in his new position.

In time, I have no doubt Galvin will become a fine player and more than hold his own regardless of what position he’s playing.

But I’m not convinced halfback will ever be his most natural or best spot, regardless of how hard the Bulldogs try to convince us otherwise.

WHY WASN’T CRICHTON SIN BINNED?

Now to the dodgy calls that robbed the Dragons.

It’s an absolute joke that Stephen Crichton wasn’t sin binned for his high shot on debutant winger Setu Tu.

Yet in the earlier game the Cowboys’ Braidon Burns was sin binned for a high shot on Kalyn Ponga.

While I’ve got no problem with Burns getting sin binned, you can’t have rules for some and rules for others.

And Crichton’s shot was without question more careless, if not reckless, given how he had ample time to make that tackle without whacking his opponent flush in the head.

FLANNO EVERY RIGHT TO BE FILTHY

Shane Flanagan also had every right to blow up about the Ryan Couchman getting penalised for that crucial ball strip on Bronson Xerri in the lead up to Crichton’s winning field goal.

As Flanagan said: “It’s a loose carry every day of the week … we didn’t get the run of the green, that’s for sure.”

It really infuriates fans who have been watching the game their entire lives seeing calls like this decide valuable competition points.

The NRL will no doubt argue that there had been a change of interpretation over the summer and they got this right.

But if this is the new interpretation, it stinks.

Even though it’s only round one, that call could have a huge impact on the Dragons’ season.

You just can’t have moments like that deciding matches with all the technology that is available these days.

ATKINSON GETS A PASS MARK

As for the Dragons’ new halfback, Daniel Atkinson had an impressive long kicking game.

But it would have been nice to see him take the line on a bit more.

Atkinson finished with six runs for 25m, while Kyle Flanagan had just two for 17m.

In comparison, Bulldogs playmakers Lachie Galvin had 10 for 85m and Matt Burton 13 for 141m.

It’s all well and good seeing the Dragons be brave in defence.

But to win footy games you also need to score more points than the opposition.

And this is where the Dragons are going to continue to struggle unless their halves can create more of a threat with the ball.

A KNIGHTS COACHING MASTERSTROKE

It was fantastic to see the Knights kick off their season with an impressive win under new coach Justin Holbrook.

And it was a coaching masterstroke to start Fletcher Sharpe at five-eighth.

With all the conjecture about whether Sharpe or Sandon Smith deserved first crack to be Dylan Brown’s halves partner, Holbrook proved he got it exactly right.

Before Sharpe left the field with a knee injury, the youngster known for his flying mullet was the best player on the field.

What he lacks in experience playing in the halves, Sharpe certainly makes up for with his speed and energy to attack every play like his life depends on it.

He reminds me of a young Ryan Papenhuyzen for more than just his choice of haircut.

Meanwhile, star recruit Brown got a solid pass mark, and Ponga was terrific in his first game back from injury in eight months.

The hope now is that Sharpe gets good news when he goes for scans on his knee injury when he gets back in Australia.

The early mail is that it is a PCL knee injury and Sharpe will only miss two to three weeks.

Even if that is the case, it’s still a cruel blow given he only just returned after suffering a ruptured spleen and lacerated kidney last season.

NO HIA FOR PONGA?

Back to the Burns’ high shot — and why wasn’t Ponga taken off for a head injury assessment after that tackle?

Watch the replay and the Newcastle captain clearly stayed on the ground holding his head.

Surely that constitutes a HIA with all the protocols that surround concussion injuries in the modern game.

But nope, Ponga gets up and plays on after winning the penalty.

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON PAYTEN

It’s only round one so let’s not blow this out of proportion.

But the pressure on Todd Payten can’t be ignored in the wake of what was a really disappointing first up performance from the Cowboys.

Sure, they had no luck with Scott Drinkwater copping a rib injury in the opening minutes that clearly dented the star fullback’s impact.

Yet even allowing for that, the Cowboys’ attack was disjointed and pedestrian _ while defensively they just weren’t up to the challenge.

It’s been well documented how Payten changed his entire coaching staff over the summer, and he made a point of saying pre-match how he was expecting those changes to bring a change in attitude and performance.

Yet the lacklustre attitude here was major worry.

They now take on the Tigers at Leichhardt in Round 2.

The Cowboys were supposed to benefit from a soft draw to start the season given they opened with games against teams that struggled last year — including the Knights, Tigers and Titans in the first three rounds.

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