Match Details
Match Date	28th Apr, 2013
Opponent	Cronulla
Result	Win 24-8
Coach	Des Hasler
Captain	Michael Ennis
Venue	Gosford (Bluetongue Stadium)
Crowd	10,131
Referee	Chris James Adam Devcich

Des Hasler spoke of the small steps taken and the momentum the Bulldogs will build with a victory over Cronulla, just their second this season. But an even bigger lift might come on the training paddock this week. With two points banked, the players will also be stirred by the knowledge that James Graham and, perhaps, Sam Kasiano are returning.

The Bulldogs won their first match since round two by simply being less out of form than their opponents, Cronulla. They were good without being great – still a long way off the form which took them to a grand final. But when Graham returns from a suspension on Friday night against Wests Tigers, having not played since last year’s grand final, when he infamously bit Melbourne fullback Billy Slater, they will be boosted as much as by the snapping of their losing streak.

Kasiano, who has been battling a leg problem, may also make a return.

‘‘One’s the captain of his country, the other one is an international as well,’’ Bulldogs coach Hasler said. ‘‘They’re quality players, they play in the middle, they’re front-rowers. They’re a pretty important part of any side, and they’re very important to this side. That creates some real pressure now, some real desire and hunger, and competition for spots. We’re getting closer to the day when we’ll be able to get our full side on the paddock.’’

Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds, though, warned that the team could not be complacent. ‘‘They’ve been out of the game for a long time now. People are going to think they’re going to come back and change the world – it’s not going to happen. We’re just going to have to keep going on what we’ve been doing and what we’ve done [on Sunday]. Move on and move forward.’’ There’s no doubt the Bulldogs took some significant steps in the right direction against the Sharks. Hasler appeared most pleased with the fact his team held onto the ball. Both wingers, Sam Perrett and Mitch Brown, were the beneficiaries of a solid performance, each scoring two tries. It had been coming, skipper Michael Ennis said.

‘‘I don’t think there’s ever been any doubt from my angle about how much the boys have been trying, and trying to competing, although previous games haven’t showed that,’’ Ennis said. ‘‘I was really proud of them.’’ The Sharks had their chances. ‘‘We had two real clear opportunities,’’ coach Shane Flanagan said. ‘‘Our skill level was poor . .. they should have been tries. We were our own worst enemies. We gave it to them today.’’ ‘‘We almost beat ourselves,’’ said Paul Gallen. ‘‘Two-on-one, simple passes for tries. It’s not good enough for first grade.’

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

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