The Bulldogs host the Dragons on Monday afternoon at ANZ Stadium looking to bounce back from their 38 nil loss to the Panthers.
After a run of four consecutive defeats, the Bulldogs will be looking to erase the disappointment of the past month when they clash with the third placed Dragons team aiming to register their ninth win of the season and below are five questions facing both sides ahead of the clash at ANZ Stadium.
How will the Bulldogs respond against the Dragons this week?
After going down to the Panthers 38-nil last weekend, the Bulldogs head back to ANZ Stadium on Monday afternoon looking to bounce back against an in-form Dragons team. The last time the Bulldogs failed to score a point was in Round 4 earlier this year and following the loss the side responded by winning their next three matches. We look forward to seeing the boys respond this time
Will it be win number 10?
Since arriving in 2012, Coach Des Hasler has enjoyed plenty of success against the Dragons, winning nine of the ten encounters since being in charge of the Bulldogs. The only loss against the Dragons since Hasler’s arrival was in 2015 when the Saints won 31-6. Can the Bulldogs make it win number 10 from 11 clashes with the 2010 premiers on Monday afternoon?
Don't miss our Queen's Birthday clash with the Dragons at ANZ Stadium!
Will Josh Reynolds play?
Injured five-eighth Josh Reynolds has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for five weeks and with a very important clash coming up against the Dragons, the inclusion of the energetic play maker will be a huge boost for the club. Head Coach Des Hasler said following the Panthers game that Josh would be reviewed early in the week and that his energy is ‘something the side is really missing at the moment’, so will the popular number six take to the field in seven days time?
Can the Dogs make it a hat-trick on Queens Birthday Monday?
Since the introduction of the annual fixture between the two sides in 2015, the Bulldogs have won both clashes over the past two seasons. With an average crowd of 23,722 and the Bulldogs scoring 29 and 34 points in both games, as well as averaging 24.4 points against the Dragons in their past 10 encounters, it’s fair to say the Dogs enjoy playing the Red V. So will it be a third win on the public holiday?
How crucial is Monday’s clash with the Dragons?
The Bulldogs sit on 10 competition points and in 14th position on the NRL ladder and with a bye just around the corner, a win is all that matters against the third placed Dragons. At the same stage of the season last year, the club had won an extra two games and went on a four game winning streak, so how important is Monday’s game at ANZ Stadium?
