Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Dykes confirmed as half back
Brian Smith has confirmed to The Australian that he will play Adam Dykes at half back in the premiership opener at Telstra Stadium on Saturday.
"He's healthy and confident and if we lay a better base for him I think he's ready to fill the role," Smith told the paper.
"With a solid platform to work off the whole team will be better balanced, co-ordinated and confident.
The Australian said Aaron Cannings was expected to partner Vella up front, with Cayless and Hindmarsh in the second row and Smith said the Bulldogs would represent a good test of Parra's new forward armoury.
He was quoted as saying: "We are not budgeting for anything but a full-on encounter on Saturday night and that's what we need. We would obviously love to get the confidence that comes from a victory out of meeting a team that's capable of playing the way the Bulldogs are.
"But we can't lose either way because it will give us a gauge either way as to where we are at. We are not playing against someone who is not up to the test of matching the physical capabilities we know have."
Bulldogs captain Steve Price agreed it would be a "physical confrontation". "We have some very fit and fast athletes just waiting to play and meet the challenge head on," he said to The Aus.
According to The Herald, the "likely" Bulldogs team is: "Luke Patten; Hazem El Masri, Tonga, Williams, Jamaal Lolesi; Thurston, Brent Sherwin; Anasta, Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan, Maiava or Dennis Scott, Adam Perry, Steve Price (c). Res: Jamie Feeney, Roy Asotasi, Glen Hughes, Corey Hughes, Tony Grimaldi, Scott or Maiava (two to be omitted). "
"He's healthy and confident and if we lay a better base for him I think he's ready to fill the role," Smith told the paper.
"With a solid platform to work off the whole team will be better balanced, co-ordinated and confident.
The Australian said Aaron Cannings was expected to partner Vella up front, with Cayless and Hindmarsh in the second row and Smith said the Bulldogs would represent a good test of Parra's new forward armoury.
He was quoted as saying: "We are not budgeting for anything but a full-on encounter on Saturday night and that's what we need. We would obviously love to get the confidence that comes from a victory out of meeting a team that's capable of playing the way the Bulldogs are.
"But we can't lose either way because it will give us a gauge either way as to where we are at. We are not playing against someone who is not up to the test of matching the physical capabilities we know have."
Bulldogs captain Steve Price agreed it would be a "physical confrontation". "We have some very fit and fast athletes just waiting to play and meet the challenge head on," he said to The Aus.
According to The Herald, the "likely" Bulldogs team is: "Luke Patten; Hazem El Masri, Tonga, Williams, Jamaal Lolesi; Thurston, Brent Sherwin; Anasta, Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan, Maiava or Dennis Scott, Adam Perry, Steve Price (c). Res: Jamie Feeney, Roy Asotasi, Glen Hughes, Corey Hughes, Tony Grimaldi, Scott or Maiava (two to be omitted). "
