The Kurri Kurri Bulldogs past two wins could hardly have been greater contrasts.
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However, the last-gasp win against South Newcastle and the week before’s 40-4 thumping of the Maitland Pickers has the team confident they can win no matter what is thrown against them.
Lakes United will be smarting after a 40-1 drubbing by the Pickers at Coronation Oval and back at home at Cahill Oval on Sunday will be looking for revenge.
The Bulldogs backs have been in scintillating form and have been capitalising on a great platform laid by the forwards with Terence Seu Seu’s return to No.9.
The Walsh brothers Tyrone (halfback) and Ryan’s (five-eighth) combination in the halves has given the Bulldogs a new dimension over the past two weeks.
However, outside of Seu Seu, centre Tyme Dow-Nikau has been the Bulldogs’ most damaging player with back-to-back best on ground performances in their two wins.
Mitch Cullen showed signs of returning to his damaging best providing another attacking option and rock solid defence.
Kurri coach Ron Griffiths said the Bulldogs were probably lucky to get the win against Souths, but said the sense of belief even when down by a point with only 30 seconds to go was incredibly heartening.
Griffiths said the Bulldog were plagued by errors in their first three games, but were turning things around and benefitting from not having to defend as much.
“We switched off at times last week and didn’t stick to the process completely. We just need to make sure we tick all those little boxes along the way. But I can see an improvement each week.
“To turn up and win at that time of the game in that fashion is a credit to the spirit we are building.”