LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Bullldogs captain Stephen Crichton has emphasized the need for his team to break free from their inconsistent performance patterns that have emerged over the past month. This sentiment resonates with concerns voiced by his coach about some players beginning to feel "comfortable" just weeks ahead of the finals.
After last week's loss to the Roosters, a frustrated Cameron Ciraldo accepted responsibility for certain issues but also expressed disappointment with some players for their failure to sustain intensity throughout the full 80 minutes.
The team's success this season has largely been attributed to a strong defensive foundation. However, recent performances have raised alarms, with notable victories against Manly and the Warriors overshadowed by disappointing losses to the Tigers and Roosters.
"When the intensity went up, a few guys didn't want to go with it," remarked Ciraldo following Friday's defeat. "We've had consistency for three quarters of the year. The last month has been disappointing."
He continued, "I sort of blame myself there because we've got some guys carrying niggles, and they just get through training instead of actually training. I'm going to stop that. If you can't train, it sort of results in a performance like that."