Captain Ibis
Squad Member
The Bulldogs have produced a stunning upset over the Eels with a 34-4 win at Accor Stadium on Monday.
The one-way traffic started in the sixth minute when Josh Addo-Carr scored the first of his three tries and just eight minutes later Jake Averillo scored a long-range try — the first of his double.
The Dogs laid on a total of six tries compared to Parramatta’s consolation four-pointer in the 67th minute.
Greg Aexlander declared it the “upset of the season.”
BURTON LEADS DOGS’ UNRECOGNISABLE ATTACK
The Bulldogs’ interim head coach Mick Potter was asked pre-game how he aims to unlock the Bulldogs lacklustre attack, which has improved in recent weeks, and he explained one simple method should see them play a more dynamic brand of football.
“Just a little thing, just getting the forwards to pass the ball a little bit more, freeing up our spine if you like to go wherever they like,” Potter said.
“So we can load up on a side if we want or put two on a short side or one on a longer side.”
The Bulldogs did just that for their third try, with lock Max King playing the ball out to captain Josh Jackson who found playmaker Kyle Flanagan in space to put Jacob Kiraz through a hole.
“The kennel has gone off here at Accor Stadium, their attack has been excellent to start the game,” Ennis said.
“They come here optimistic, their side starting to attack better of the last few weeks, their defence has been a little leaky but their attack certainly improving.
“They have come with a real positive mindset and are finding holes in this Parramatta defence.”
The Bulldogs went into halftime with a 16-0 lead before laying on three more tries in the second half.
Josh Addo-Carr combined nicely with Matt Burton, who set up three tries, got a linebreak and a linebreak assist.
Michael Ennis called Burton’s kicking game “outstanding,” and called his performance “five star.”
He also declared “we haven’t seen this in years” as the Dogs scored their final try in the 72nd minute.
“What a display it’s been off the boot from Burton... 34 points from a side that’s been averaging just 12 points a game and they’ve had to work hard just to get 12 some days,” Ennis said.
“This was the Dogs that we haven’t seen, we haven’t seen this in years.”
It was the third time in the last four years that the Bulldogs scored 30 points or more.
ADDO-CARR PUTS HIMSELF IN FRAME FOR ORIGIN RECALL
Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr may have catapulted himself into the forefront of Brad Fittler’s mind with a blistering performance against the Eels.
Addo-Carr scored two tries off the boot of Burton as well as an intercept from 50 metres out.
Fittler and consultant Greg Alexander revealed Addo-Carr’s Blues omission was down to form and now he has revitalised his season with a strong showing ahead of Game 2.
“The combination between Burton and Addo-Carr has been blistering this afternoon. It’s Matt Burton going to the line with a tap for Addo-Carr who is making a statement,” Michael Ennis said after Addo-Carr’s second try.
“We might see him in Perth… He’s making a strong case today,” Fox League commentator Warren Smith added.
Addo-Carr celebrated his hat-trick when he snatched an intercept to extend the Dogs’ lead.
“The awareness, the speed and the experience of Josh Addo-Carr accelerates his way to the northern end of Accor Stadium and may have just accelerated himself into a Blues jersey,” Ennis said.
“He’s not trotting, he’s galloping.”
Blues Adviser Greg Alexander told the NRL 360 panel that Addo-Carr had put himself back into the frame.
“Addo-Carr was very good... that’s the sort of reaction you want to see. He certainly put his hand back up,” he said.
EELS EXPOSED AS THE ‘JEKYLL AND HYDE’ TEAM OF THE COMP
This season the Eels have beaten the Panthers in Penrith and the Storm in Melbourne... but they’ve also lost to the Tigers, who were sitting last at the time and on Monday they were smashed by the last-placed Bulldogs.
Fox League commentator Warren Smith question whether the Eels will be able to handle themselves in finals if they lost to two of the weaker teams in the competition.
“You wonder should they be there in September? How they can find a way to win three games in September against the best teams in the business when they prove for the second time this year, they can’t beat a team coming last,” he said.
“They are the great enigma of the competition. They can beta Penrith, they can beat Melbourne, yet get beaten twice by the team coming last in the Tigers and Bulldogs… Jekyll and Hyde they are.”
Michael Ennis agreed that there may be question marks over the Eels’ premiership credentials following the loss.
“No doubt there’ll be questions asked of Parramatta after this performance,” he said.
Parramatta’s star halfback Moses conceded after the loss that his team didn’t turn up.
“We didn’t come to the game and we need to be better,” he told Fox League.
The Eels face the Roosters next week followed by the in-form Rabbitohs and a rematch with the Tigers.
The one-way traffic started in the sixth minute when Josh Addo-Carr scored the first of his three tries and just eight minutes later Jake Averillo scored a long-range try — the first of his double.
The Dogs laid on a total of six tries compared to Parramatta’s consolation four-pointer in the 67th minute.
Greg Aexlander declared it the “upset of the season.”
BURTON LEADS DOGS’ UNRECOGNISABLE ATTACK
The Bulldogs’ interim head coach Mick Potter was asked pre-game how he aims to unlock the Bulldogs lacklustre attack, which has improved in recent weeks, and he explained one simple method should see them play a more dynamic brand of football.
“Just a little thing, just getting the forwards to pass the ball a little bit more, freeing up our spine if you like to go wherever they like,” Potter said.
“So we can load up on a side if we want or put two on a short side or one on a longer side.”
The Bulldogs did just that for their third try, with lock Max King playing the ball out to captain Josh Jackson who found playmaker Kyle Flanagan in space to put Jacob Kiraz through a hole.
“The kennel has gone off here at Accor Stadium, their attack has been excellent to start the game,” Ennis said.
“They come here optimistic, their side starting to attack better of the last few weeks, their defence has been a little leaky but their attack certainly improving.
“They have come with a real positive mindset and are finding holes in this Parramatta defence.”
The Bulldogs went into halftime with a 16-0 lead before laying on three more tries in the second half.
Josh Addo-Carr combined nicely with Matt Burton, who set up three tries, got a linebreak and a linebreak assist.
Michael Ennis called Burton’s kicking game “outstanding,” and called his performance “five star.”
He also declared “we haven’t seen this in years” as the Dogs scored their final try in the 72nd minute.
“What a display it’s been off the boot from Burton... 34 points from a side that’s been averaging just 12 points a game and they’ve had to work hard just to get 12 some days,” Ennis said.
“This was the Dogs that we haven’t seen, we haven’t seen this in years.”
It was the third time in the last four years that the Bulldogs scored 30 points or more.
ADDO-CARR PUTS HIMSELF IN FRAME FOR ORIGIN RECALL
Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr may have catapulted himself into the forefront of Brad Fittler’s mind with a blistering performance against the Eels.
Addo-Carr scored two tries off the boot of Burton as well as an intercept from 50 metres out.
Fittler and consultant Greg Alexander revealed Addo-Carr’s Blues omission was down to form and now he has revitalised his season with a strong showing ahead of Game 2.
“The combination between Burton and Addo-Carr has been blistering this afternoon. It’s Matt Burton going to the line with a tap for Addo-Carr who is making a statement,” Michael Ennis said after Addo-Carr’s second try.
“We might see him in Perth… He’s making a strong case today,” Fox League commentator Warren Smith added.
Addo-Carr celebrated his hat-trick when he snatched an intercept to extend the Dogs’ lead.
“The awareness, the speed and the experience of Josh Addo-Carr accelerates his way to the northern end of Accor Stadium and may have just accelerated himself into a Blues jersey,” Ennis said.
“He’s not trotting, he’s galloping.”
Blues Adviser Greg Alexander told the NRL 360 panel that Addo-Carr had put himself back into the frame.
“Addo-Carr was very good... that’s the sort of reaction you want to see. He certainly put his hand back up,” he said.
EELS EXPOSED AS THE ‘JEKYLL AND HYDE’ TEAM OF THE COMP
This season the Eels have beaten the Panthers in Penrith and the Storm in Melbourne... but they’ve also lost to the Tigers, who were sitting last at the time and on Monday they were smashed by the last-placed Bulldogs.
Fox League commentator Warren Smith question whether the Eels will be able to handle themselves in finals if they lost to two of the weaker teams in the competition.
“You wonder should they be there in September? How they can find a way to win three games in September against the best teams in the business when they prove for the second time this year, they can’t beat a team coming last,” he said.
“They are the great enigma of the competition. They can beta Penrith, they can beat Melbourne, yet get beaten twice by the team coming last in the Tigers and Bulldogs… Jekyll and Hyde they are.”
Michael Ennis agreed that there may be question marks over the Eels’ premiership credentials following the loss.
“No doubt there’ll be questions asked of Parramatta after this performance,” he said.
Parramatta’s star halfback Moses conceded after the loss that his team didn’t turn up.
“We didn’t come to the game and we need to be better,” he told Fox League.
The Eels face the Roosters next week followed by the in-form Rabbitohs and a rematch with the Tigers.
