Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Canterbury’s first loss of the season had coach Cameron Ciraldo “filthy” on one hand but also convinced his side had the right DNA to rebound.
The ladder-leading Bulldogs crumbled in the first half of their 42-18 loss to Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night after falling behind 34-0 at halftime.
Of further concern was forward Sitili Tupouniua being put on report twice, once for a shoulder charge and the second time for lifting his knees while in possession, with Broncos second-rower Brendan Piakura the victim both times.
Winger Marcelo Montoya was also booked twice, the second time for a high shot on Piakura.
Five-eighth Matt Burton was put on report for a high shot on hooker Billy Walters while prop Josh Curran also fell foul for a wallop to the chin of Payne Haas.
Tupouniua, Montoya and Curran were all sin-binned once.
In the second half, the Bulldogs showed the fighting spirit they are known for.
Ciraldo said his side were “humbled” in the first half when errors, penalties, seven-tackle sets and binnings proved costly.
“It was a comedy of errors but we will walk away with plenty of lessons from tonight,” he said.
“Number one, we are not good enough to be beaten at the laws of the game like that.
“Number two, we are not good enough to play as individuals. We played as a team in the second half and started to look like the Bulldogs again.
“Number three, we never give up. I know teams get ahead on the scoreboard like that and don’t come out with the same intensity, which is probably part of the story of the Broncos tonight, but we attacked the second half and scored 18 points.
“I am really proud of the second half and filthy at the first half.”
The Bulldogs, after six wins to start the season, had “two or three” players off their game in the middle of the park, the coach said.
Ciraldo was non-committal when asked if the sin-binnings were too harsh
“I don’t know. There was so much going on tonight and no flow to the game,” he said.
“It was one of those games that was hard to watch to be honest. It was a ball-ache to watch for me so I am sure everyone else felt the same. I put that down to us trying too hard.”We have been pretty disciplined for long periods so we can fix it. “I didn’t think we had to lose a game to need that sort of lesson. We prepared really well. You just can’t do that to a team like the Broncos.”
