By Andrew Johns via Smh….
Sometimes in rugby league, you can’t beat experience - and the three teams who have been the big improvers this year have it in spades.
The success this year so far, of the Bulldogs and Dragons, has injected a new life into the competition. Both are traditional and powerful clubs with huge fan bases who have had to put up with a lack of results for far too long.
On the Bulldogs, I had no idea Stephen Crichton’s influence could be so big in his first year at the club. He’s been the buy of the season by the length of the Flemington straight. Talking to players at the club, they absolutely love him. He’s turned into a sensational leader.
But the building blocks for this turnaround started before Crichton got to the club. The work Phil Gould has done in the front office has been phenomenal. That experience has helped turn the club around. Coach Cameron Ciraldo might only be young in terms of being an NRL head coach, but he knows what winning looks like through years of learning his craft with the Panthers.
One guy I want to mention is Travis Touma, the strength and conditioning guru who has the team working harder and looking fitter than almost any other in the competition. Don’t underestimate the role he’s played in the Bulldogs’ revival.
The same can be said for the Dragons, whose players look far fitter than what they have in previous years. You can see how the big boys have changed their body shapes and when they get it right, they’re a fit and powerful team, as we saw against
the Storm last weekend in what was the upset of the season.
But I think most of the credit has to go to coach Shane Flanagan. A lot of people thought he had the type of experience to start dragging the Dragons up the ladder, but I don’t think anyone thought it would be this immediate. He knows how to prepare a team and get them to win. His influence has been huge.
They’re a really dangerous team when they get it right, and I think their big forwards can get the better of the lightweight and more mobile Canterbury pack at Kogarah on Saturday. It should be a belter.
Lastly,
Des Hasler is another coach who knows what winning looks like and the Titans’ revival in the second half of the year has been another of the stories of the season. I think they’ve given themselves too much to do to make the finals this year, but with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and AJ Brimson back next year, I’ve got no doubt they’ll be playing finals in 2025.
You can see they’re starting to know their style of play and there would be barely a team that is faster out wide.
The big plus for Hasler is he looks like he’s got his spine settled now, with Keano Kini at fullback a great addition to Kieran Foran and Jayden Campbell in the halves.
I just don’t know where the points will come from for the Sharks with Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall out of Friday night’s match Titans-Sharks match. I think the Titans will keep their impressive run going on the Gold Coast.
Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere.
Key appointments have lifted these clubs fortunes. Richardson may yet prove to be similar. My concern is Marshall. Has he been elevated before his time?
