Match Details
Match Date	18th Feb, 2000
Opponent	St George Illawarra
Result	Win 24-0
Coach	Steven Folkes
Captain	Darren Britt
Venue	Sydney Football Stadium
Crowd	16,163
Referee	Sean Hampstead

ONLY one team lost the game last night but it was hard to pick which coach was more disgusted at the post-match press conference, Steve Folkes got the nod in a photo finish.

The Bulldogs coach after all was the first to admit he was “pissed off” despite beating the Dragons in the most convincing fashion. His reasons and targets were plentiful.

Too many people had written off the Bulldogs after dropping their first two games of the season.

Some sections of the media had suggested that was because there were too many older players in the side and even a few supporters had contacted the club to suggest widespread changes to the team, Folkes did not hold back.

"We're two rounds into a 26-round competition and anyone who writes a team off after two rounds is stupid basically," Folkes said.

"I must point out the majority of our supporters are excellent but there's always a nark group in every club that wants to stab you in the back when you're down and want to be the first to pat you on the back when you win a game.

"Those sort of supporters we can certainly do without."

The Bulldogs certainly played like a side with a point to prove last night.

It showed in the desperation of Steve Price when he launched himself at a Trent Barrett kick and knocked it down for pivot Corey Hughes to collect and score the first try under the posts.

The Bulldogs had been maligned for not scoring a try in their first two games but Hughes had reminded them of the way and suddenly everyone wanted in on the action.

Centre Willie Talau was next in line charging on to a Ricky Stuart grubber that sat up nicely on the line while Shane Marteene ran onto a beautiful but pass from lock Glen Hughes to score out wide.

The Bulldogs lead 18-0 at half-time but were not finished. They absorbed everything the Dragons could throw at them in the second half before David Thompson scored off a Hughes grubber.

Folkes was the first to acknowledge his side still had plenty of work to do but he also reminded everyone there were bound to be blowouts in a 14-team competition and it was important to stick by your side.

"We like to win, we have an expectation of winning and we have an expectation of success and the people who want to criticise you ... I think it's very shallow of them because they don't see all the hard work that goes in, and all the injuries and that sort of stuff that happens afterwards. So that's pissed me off a bit this week really," Folkes said.

Dragons coach David Waite lamented the fact his side had made 12 line breaks to the Bulldogs' three but had failed to convert that into points.

He praised the Bulldogs for their scrambling defence and said his side was still showing signs of a grand final hangover.

Dragons co-captain Craig Smith, who described his team's performance as "diabolical" had an unhappy night after being placed on report for a high tackle on Corey Hughes.

"They turned up to play and we didn't," Smith said. "Every time we had the ball we gave it to them and said run at us and we won't even tackle you hard. We did that the whole first half and we paid the price for it."

ONLY one team lost the game last night but it was hard to pick which coach was more disgusted at the post-match press conference, Steve Folkes got the nod in a photo finish.

The Bulldogs coach after all was the first to admit he was “pissed off” despite beating the Dragons in the most convincing fashion. His reasons and targets were plentiful.

Too many people had written off the Bulldogs after dropping their first two games of the season.

Some sections of the media had suggested that was because there were too many older players in the side and even a few supporters had contacted the club to suggest widespread changes to the team, Folkes did not hold back.

"We're two rounds into a 26-round competition and anyone who writes a team off after two rounds is stupid basically," Folkes said.

"I must point out the majority of our supporters are excellent but there's always a nark group in every club that wants to stab you in the back when you're down and want to be the first to pat you on the back when you win a game.

"Those sort of supporters we can certainly do without."

The Bulldogs certainly played like a side with a point to prove last night.

It showed in the desperation of Steve Price when he launched himself at a Trent Barrett kick and knocked it down for pivot Corey Hughes to collect and score the first try under the posts.

The Bulldogs had been maligned for not scoring a try in their first two games but Hughes had reminded them of the way and suddenly everyone wanted in on the action.

Centre Willie Talau was next in line charging on to a Ricky Stuart grubber that sat up nicely on the line while Shane Marteene ran onto a beautiful but pass from lock Glen Hughes to score out wide.

The Bulldogs lead 18-0 at half-time but were not finished. They absorbed everything the Dragons could throw at them in the second half before David Thompson scored off a Hughes grubber.

Folkes was the first to acknowledge his side still had plenty of work to do but he also reminded everyone there were bound to be blowouts in a 14-team competition and it was important to stick by your side.

"We like to win, we have an expectation of winning and we have an expectation of success and the people who want to criticise you ... I think it's very shallow of them because they don't see all the hard work that goes in, and all the injuries and that sort of stuff that happens afterwards. So that's pissed me off a bit this week really," Folkes said.

Dragons coach David Waite lamented the fact his side had made 12 line breaks to the Bulldogs' three but had failed to convert that into points.

He praised the Bulldogs for their scrambling defence and said his side was still showing signs of a grand final hangover.

Dragons co-captain Craig Smith, who described his team's performance as "diabolical" had an unhappy night after being placed on report for a high tackle on Corey Hughes.

"They turned up to play and we didn't," Smith said. "Every time we had the ball we gave it to them and said run at us and we won't even tackle you hard. We did that the whole first half and we paid the price for it."

Source: The Australian

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