I always have a particular match, trend, team, or player in mind to focus on heading into each round of the NRL season. This week, I’m breaking down a Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs tap start.
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The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs resurgence in 2024 has been built on defence.
After finishing 15th on the NRL ladder conceding 32 points per game in 2023, the Bulldogs find themselves inside the Top 8 and a chance of finals after allowing only 16 points per game through 21 rounds this season.
With the defensive side of the ball under control, the Bulldogs seem to be chancing their arm more with the ball. I already covered their yardage shifts and the cues the played to against the Brisbane Broncos last week.
Now I want to dig into a tap start.
While this might be Bulldogs-specific, tap starts for any team are often a scripted set we should follow closely.
It’s Matt Burton’s movements that are interesting here. Just as the ball is kicked to the sideline, you can see him start to move towards the right edge.
He’s having a look down the shortside. If Josh Curran is able to scramble the line on his carry, leave a defender on the ground or earn a quick play-the-ball, Burton has the option to attack.
Instead, Reed Mahoney returns the ball to the long side. The Bulldogs move the Broncos defence once more and set up to fire a shot on the following play. Burton, typically fixed to the left, is still out the back on the right edge, ready to take the ball on the second layer of the shift.
Kobe Hetherington does a great job of forcing Toby Sexton to play back underneath. He releases from the lead and shoots up at Sexton, not allowing to get across him to engage Ezra Mam with a lead outside for the centre.
If Sexton is able to get at Mam, Burton becomes a very dangerous option out the back with plenty of space to create.
Returning to the left edge, you can see Burton sweep late. There seems to be some confusion between Curran and Kurt Mann. They’re a bit behind on the play, and the Broncos cover it with relative ease in the end. Still, you can see what the Bulldogs are trying to achieve.
The Bulldogs look to move the ball again on the last. They’re set up to run and kick depending on what the defence gives them.
It’s two passes to Burton who has the option to grubber in behind the line for Viliame Kikau and Bronson Xerri to chase or, having seen Jordan Riki slow off the line and Jesse Arthurs back for the kick, fire a pass out the back.
The timing is off. Adam Reynolds jamming throws Kikau’s line. However, once again, we can see what they’re trying to do.
While this set ended in a penalty, the Bulldogs threw two or three dangerous shots at the line from this tap start. It’s something to look out for again this week, and across the NRL in general.
Like the mind-numbing decision to reduce the number of scrums and the poorly thought-out adjustment to short dropouts, the six-agin rule removed tap starts which are prime opportunities to attack from. So, like the teams on the field, we need to make the most of watching them when given the chance.