This is your weekly dose of NRL truth-telling, as tipster and rugby league raconteur Nick Tedeschi tears through the good, the bad and the indefensible, with absolutely no regard for bruised egos.
Cameron Ciraldo and Phil Gould Have Lost Their Goddamn Minds
Phil Gould and Cameron Ciraldo have received a lot of credit for helping pull the Bulldogs off the bottom of ladder, as if sacking Trent Barrett and moving on a roster that finished last required any kind of genius. Note to the Bulldogs: you do not need to AI Gus’ mind to safehouse that thinking. The duo were widely criticised for bringing in a host of utility players but those players through grit and hard work and the optimism that comes in the early part of a rebuild elevated the play and the standards at the club. A cushy draw last season did not hurt.
To be fair to Ciraldo and Gould before they are completely skewered in the coming paragraphs, they returned Canterbury to being a club that was a desirable place to sign, re-worked the culture to prioritise hard work and toughness and get the salary cap into some kind of workable state.
They have since completely destroyed any hope that this rise will lead to sustained premiership contention through arrogance, persistent meddling, pseudo-nepotism, horrific decision-making and a refusal to hold underperforming players to account. Canterbury now are proud owners of a middling roster with a bottom four fullback, no halfback, no hooker and a host of utilities that all play the same minor role.
The Bulldogs have the upside to beat a Panthers side that is off their game but there is far more downside than up in a team that really should be on the rise.
Lachlan Galvin has been the lightning rod for criticism and while he has really struggled in the No.7 jumper, his signing is a long way from the problem.
Let’s go back less than 12 months when the Bulldogs were locked into the Top 4. Ciraldo had a worrying history of making some incredibly poor selection calls. He continually played Blake Taafe at fullback when better options existed. He stuck with Drew Hutchison way too long over Toby Sexton. He continues to play Jaeman Salmon and Marcelo Montoya.
The Galvin difficulty of a mid-season move could easily have been settled by playing Galvin in what looks his natural position: lock. Ciraldo is clearly hell-bent on playing a ball distributing lock, trying to replicate Isaah Yeo. If Ciraldo just played Galvin at lock, his introduction to the Bulldogs would have been far less harsh. It would have allowed the club to keep Toby Sexton, the only genuine No.7 on the books ready for first grade.
Yet in the throes of the best season the club had enjoyed in a decade, Ciraldo blew it up, not only dumping Sexton but then making the unforgivable and worst decision when he not only dropped Reed Mahoney for bench lock Bailey Hayward but forced Mahoney out of the club believing Hayward was the long-term answer. So bad has Hayward been that he was dropped for Jake Turpin over the weekend.
On and on and on it goes, the meddling and the self-immolation and it is one delusional, self-created issue after another.
There was absolutely no need to sign Marcelo Montoya with Jeral Skelton, Blake Wilson and a host of talented young wingers coming through. Less than 18 months into his deal and he can barely run, has absolutely no defensive sense and is arguably the worst player in the competition.
Playing Josh Curran at centre and then publicly lying about his history of playing in the centres was as weird as it was moronic. There was absolutely no need to switch Bronson Xerri and Stephen Crichton sides, creating much unnecessary drama. Hiring Adam O’Brien to be the attacking coach after leading the Knights to an historically bad attacking season was the height of both arrogance and stupidity. The constant wholesale changes that are unnecessary. Re-signing Connor Tracey as a starting fullback when he is contending for the worst starting No.1 in the competition. Signing Leo Thompson for huge money. On and on and on it goes, one act of self harm after another.
Ciraldo and Gould may have saved the Bulldogs. They have also extinguished any hope that the salvation will lead to anything of value. Powerbrokers at the Bulldogs now need to start planning for the next phase before things get worse.
The One-Third Report Card
We are one-third through the season. Here is the report card for every team.
BRISBANE
Grade: B+
What’s Working: Depth – surviving a huge injury toll and keep racking up wins.
What’s Not: Defence – the Broncos rank 4th worst in missed tackles.
Best: Kotoni Staggs
Most Disappointing: Ben Hunt
CANBERRA
Grade: D
What’s Working: Hudson Young – established himself as an elite threat on both sides of the ball.
What’s Not: Right edge defence – Canberra are conceding 51% of tries on their right.
Best: Simi Sasagi
Most Disappointing: Savelio Tamale
CANTERBURY
Grade: C-
What’s Working: Jacob Preston – tremendous runner and works hard in defence.
What’s Not: Attack – the constant tinkering and no halfback have killed the Bulldogs ability to score.
Best: Jacob Preston
Most Disappointing: Marcelo Montoya
CRONULLA
Grade: C
What’s Working: Playmaking – the Sharks lead the NRL in try assists thanks to Braydon Trindall.
What’s Not: Defence – the Sharks are conceding more than any team outside the bottom four.
Best: Blayke Brailey
Most Disappointing: Briton Nikora
DOLPHINS
Grade: D+
What’s Working: Showing up against good teams – lost to three of four Top 4 teams but all by 10 or fewer.
What’s Not: Energy – the slow tempo of the No.7 just leads to a total lack of energy.
Best: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Most Disappointing: Isaiya Katoa
GOLD COAST
Grade: C+
What’s Working: Finding their level – the Titans have been getting it done in winnable games.
What’s Not: Fundamentals – the young Titans are dropping balls, giving away penalties and not completing enough.
Best: Arama Hau
Most Disappointing: Moeaki Fotuaika
MANLY
Grade: C+
What’s Working: Coaching change – Sacking Siebold and going to Foran has netted four straight wins.
What’s Not: Decision-making – Luke Brooks continues to make poor decisions that will prove costly in more important games.
Best: Haumole Olakauatu
Most Disappointing: Luke Brooks
MELBOURNE
Grade: F
What’s Working: Fullback – Melbourne have uncovered their long-term fullback in Sua Fa’alogo.
What’s Not: Edge defence – The Storm are all at sea on their edges, conceding 88% of tries out wide to lead the NRL.
Best: Sua Fa’alogo[
Most Disappointing: Cameron Munster
NEWCASTLE
Grade: C
What’s Working: Coaching – Justin Holbrook has turned the team,particularly the attack, around quickly.
What’s Not: Injuries – Losing so many key playmakers is hard to overcome.
Best: Fletcher Sharpe
Most Disappointing: Dane Gagai
NEW ZEALAND
Grade: A
What’s Working: Winning when they should – five of the six Warriors wins have come against teams outside the Top 8 and they have won four of those by more than a score.
What’s Not: Playing in Sydney – turned in their worst showing of the year when playing the Sharks.
Best: Jackson Ford
Most Disappointing: Jacob Laban
NORTH QUEENSLAND
Grade: B-
What’s Working: Scoring – the Cowboys have scored 28 or more in five of six.
What’s Not: Defence – they are as flimsy as any team in the premiership.
Best: Scott Drinkwater
Most Disappointing: Reuben Cotter
PARRAMATTA
Grade: C-
What’s Working: Heart – despite a hefty injury toll the Eels continue to turn up and play for their coach.
What’s Not: Defence – the Eels have not conceded fewer than 20 while they have allowed 49+ three times.
Best: Jack Williams
Most Disappointing: Jack De Belin
PENRITH
Grade: A+
What’s Working: Everything – scored 40+ four times and conceded 12 or fewer five times.
What’s Not: Finding minutes – players like Tago cannot get time on the field.
Best: Dylan Edwards
Most Disappointing: Blaize Talagi
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Grade: F
What’s Working: Nothing – from boardroom dysfunction to player unrest.
What’s Not: The halves – the team has not surpassed 20 all year.
Best: Hamish Stewart
Most Disappointing: Valentine Holmes
SOUTH SYDNEY
Grade: A-
What’s Working: Left-edge Attack – Johnston and Mitchell have 19 tries between them.
What’s Not: Starting Bronson Garlick – Souths need to move to Smith.Mamouzelos.
Best: Latrell Mitchell
Most Disappointing: Jayden Sullivan
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Grade: B+
What’s Working: Attack – few teams can run up points as quickly as the Chooks.
What’s Not: Consistency – the Roosters can play long periods of horrid footy.
Best: James Tedesco
Most Disappointing: Angus Crichton
WESTS TIGERS
Grade: A+
What’s Working: Defence – the Tigers have not conceded more than 22 all season.
What’s Not: Boardroom – drama still permeates the club off the paddock.
Best: Alex Twal
Most Disappointing: Heamasi Makasini
The Willie M Team of the Week
This week’s team of of jokers and jesters:
- Tyrell Sloan (Dra)
- Marcelo Montoya (Bul)
- Jack Howarth (Mel)
- Matt Timoko (Mel)
- James Schiller (New)
- Cameron Munster (Mel)
- Ethan Sanders (Can)
- Toby Rudolf (Cro)
- Tom Starling (Can)
- Tom Flegler (Dol)
- Teig Wilton (Cro)[
- Francis Manuleleua (New)
- 13.Trent Loiero (Mel)
- Sitili Tupouniua (Bul)
- Briton Nikora (Cro)
- Harry Hayes (Bul)
- Trey Mooney (New)
Coach: Cameron Ciraldo (Bul)
Referee Gradings
This week’s officiating gradings:
- Ashley Klein (C-)
- Belinda Sharpe (B)
- Wyatt Raymond (C+)
- Grant Atkins (D)
- Liam Kennedy (D-)
- Adam Gee (C+)
- Gerard Sutton (C-)
- Peter Gough (D)
The 2026 Field Goal Update – 9
It was a very nice weekend for preventative field goals with Adam Doueihi putting the cherry on top for the Wests Tigers while Jamal Fogarty put Manly ahead with a rare first half field goal against Parramatta.
Fun Fact #1
Melbourne were beaten as a favourite in five of their last six losses.
Fun Fact #2
The Storm have never finished worse than sixth under Craig Bellamy with the exception of 2010 when they were banned from playing.
Fun Fact #3
The Storm have never conceded more than the 232 points they have through the first eight rounds.
Rumour Mill
The 20th NRL team is set to come from Queensland with a Western Brisbane team the rumoured red-hot favourite to beat out New Zealand contenders Wellington and Christchurch and the Central Queensland longshot. Jarome Luai has very publicly been linked with a move to the PNG Chiefs. There is speculation that the NRL are looking to ditch Mal Meninga as Perth Bears coach before the club plays its first game.
Moronic Coaching Decision of the Week
Cameron Ciraldo has a permanent lock on this dubious honour with his constant meddling, this week getting the gong for dropping the non-hooker he backed as his long-term hooker eight rounds into the season after sending the more than competent hooker with the club last season backing. All of a sudden reserve grader Jake Turpin is the answer. It must be completely infuriating for the Canterbury faithful.
The Coaching Crosshairs
Dean Young is just one game into his second stint as St George Illawarra’s interim head coaching gig but any hopes of him getting the head job permanently ended on Anzac Day with an utter humiliation at the hands of the Roosters. Dean Young talked strong and acted strong after getting the job, notably firing fellow assistant Michael Ennis, but at the end of the day Young has been in charge of the Dragons defence and on the biggest stage they will play on all year they conceded 62 points and could have conceded 80 so bad was their defence. There is a faction of the club already against Young and there is just no way he can get the job even if the Dragons go on a winning run from here.
Watch It
Buckle down for the best video ever seen in the 22 years of this column. Forwards kicking field goals. Gallen, Vautin, Carroll, Hindmarsh … incredible.