Four line-breaks, two tries, two try-assists and a mountain of work in defence, Kurri Kurri centre Zeb Dunstan delivered a match-winning performance to keep his club's finals hopes alive.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Bulldogs forward Brock Gilmour enjoyed a front-row seat for the Dunstan show which also featured some star performances by wing Barry McGrady and ever-reliable fullback Kade Hardy as the Bulldogs beat Macquarie Scorpions 38-30.
“Zeb is just a tireless worker. On the weekend he made four line breaks in the first half and they were all just general hit-ups coming out of trouble,” Gilmour said.
“He hungers for work. I watched the replay of the game last weekend and the commentator mentioned that every set he is having the second or third carry and they’re strong carries as he is an ex-backrower.
“Barry has been coming off the bench playing hooker for us the past few weeks and finally got his opportunity to go back on to his preferred position as an outside back.
“The win on the weekend and beating Wests before that has been a big step in the right direction.
“Our attack is starting to click again like it did at the start of the year.
“We’re starting to put some points on the board. Back in the hunt equal with Wests on points and we’ve got them again on Saturday.
“Jarom Haines is starting to show a bit of maturity in the halves, but he still has that ad-lib footy which he is very good at with his speed and footwork. He is coming into his own which is very good.”
Gilmour said it was great to call on some attacking flair to get the job done against the Scorpions, but the Bulldogs defence would need to improve against Western Suburbs this week at Harker Oval.
“We beat them at home, but like us they really don’t like to lose at home and will be a tough opponent,” Gilmour said.
“The main thing is to deny them as much ball as we can, particularly possession in dangerous positions on the ground.”
Gilmour said the onus would be on the Bulldogs forwards to stand up against Wests on Sunday.
The Bulldogs depth has been tested with the loss of Peter Cronin, Mick Campton and Kahn Juhnke.
“We’ve had to dig deep with a couple of blokes coming to help us in the middle. Brady Hammond has moved into the middle which is good because he is another big body and he is very good in defence.
“He plays big minutes, the last couple of weeks he has come on at the 20 to 30 minute mark and hasn’t gone off after that.
“We’re only carrying three or four front-rowers every weekend, so the more minutes that Brady, Mick Steele, Jordy Mitchell and myself play the more beneficial it is for the team.”
