LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Why One Finals Club Chose to Buck Resting Trend
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo stated that resting players this week "wasn't a conversation," emphasizing that his team will treat Saturday's match against the Sharks just like any other game, even with a qualifying final against the Storm looming a week away. The Storm will be without three key players, which adds to the stakes.
Canterbury has secured third place on the ladder and is set to travel to Melbourne next week. Ciraldo opted not to rest his key players, contrasting with former coach Ivan Cleary's decision to sit 16 players during the Panthers' recent game against the Bulldogs.
The Storm may regret not taking a similar approach, as Jahrome Hughes (broken arm), Ryan Papenhuyzen (head injury), and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (suspended) will miss crucial games ahead of the finals.
Despite his team's challenges, including Jacob Kiraz racing against time to recover from a foot injury and Viliame Kikau dealing with an infection, Ciraldo remained steadfast in his decision. Kikau has been actively participating at training despite his hospital stay.
Ciraldo's philosophy for the upcoming match against the Sharks is clear. "We approach it like every other game," he stated. "We never come into a game talking about ladder positions or outcomes. We've gone into every game chasing improvement, and every home game that we play is an opportunity to play in front of the fans and make them proud of the way that we play."