Bulldogs look for early points

If the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs could take their final 30 minutes from most matches this year and bottle it, they would.

On three occasions the Bulldogs have been forced to come from behind and claim victory in the last half hour of play.

Last week it was against the Wyong Roos (28-22), before that it was the South Newcastle Lions in a one-point thriller (24-23) and most satisfying was their one-try Mercury Shield win over two-time defending premiers the Maitland Pickers (16-12).

“Our last half hour has been good,” Bulldogs second-rower Daniel Abraham said.

“I don’t know why but out first 50 or 60 minutes have been pretty ordinary and it has taken that long to work out what to do.

“By then we have knuckled down and got the job done.”

The unbeaten Bulldogs will be hoping to buck that trend this Saturday afternoon but continue their winning ways when they host last year’s grand finalist Western Suburbs.

The Rosellas have a share of third spot on the ladder while the Bulldogs lead the Newcastle Rugby League competition alongside Coalfields rivals Cessnock after the opening five rounds.

“It should be a good game,” Abraham said.

“We have been building a little bit of momentum and even though we have started games slow we have still got the chocolates in the end.

“But Wests have been going along well, as well, and in this competition you can’t take it easy against anyone otherwise you will get done.”

The Bulldogs will be forced to shoot for win number six on the trot without prop Mick Campton, who has been suspended for three weeks.

Campton was sent off in last week’s victory against Wyong for head-butting opposition skipper Jamie Davis.

In 2010 Campton was sidelined for seven weeks for a high shot on the same player.

Adam Peek comes in to start for Campton and will partner skipper Jesse Royal in the front row.

Abraham said Rosellas skipper Matt Thurston would be the man to watch around the rucks for the Bulldogs this weekend.

The match kicks off at 3pm.