The Bulldogs have been criticised for picking Drew Hutchison over specialist No.7 Toby Sexton at halfback amid fears they don’t have the halves or props to climb up the ladder in 2024.
Cameron Ciraldo has handed the key No.7 jersey to former Roosters veteran Hutchison over Sexton, while his starting props for Round 1 are Max King and Poasa Faamausili.
“Cameron Ciraldo backs Drew Hutchison over Toby Sexton, who misses out for Round 1,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.
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“This is no surprise. Hutchison trialled in that No.7 jersey, so we knew that he was going to get first crack.
“After the first trial against Melbourne, I thought the Bulldogs were looking really good. After the second trial against Cronulla I thought the opposite.
“They had a strong team that first 20 minutes and the one position that still worried me is halfback.”
Paul Kent believes Hutchison has been picked to do a job for Ciraldo and not necessarily because he is a better halfback prospect than Sexton.
“I think Hutchison has been a little bit out of sorts at halfback,” Kent said.
“From my understanding Cameron Ciraldo has got him there because he just likes the way he points the team around.
“I think Sexton is going to be the better halfback eventually if he is not already there now. He seems to have more strings to his bow.
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“I think Hutchison is basically there because he gets the team around the park.”
However, Anasta believes Hutchison makes the Bulldogs too predictable in attack and his style won’t bring out the best in Matt Burton or the Bulldogs’ strike outside backs.
“Let’s be honest they don’t have a luxury of riches in their halves,” Anasta said.
“I am going to put it out there. My concern is I think they have got two five-eighths playing in the halves.
“Matt Burton comes as a centre to play five-eighth. He is a really good five-eighth but he needs a genuine No.7 inside of him.
“He has now got an ageing five-eighth who is not fast, not that creative and doesn’t really take pressure off his back-rowers or players around him because he doesn’t run the ball that much.
“I know I am being pretty brutally honest, but as I watched that game against Cronulla because Hutchison is not a threat they just slid off.
“And the firepower that they had around them in Crichton and their new players and Kikau, they are now double teamed because they know that Hutchison is not going to run the ball or he isn’t a huge threat with ball in hand.
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“If I am the Bulldogs I am going for a genuine No.7. Sexton, yes he hasn’t set the world on fire, but he has got speed, he is more creative and he is a No.7.
“He can unlock Burton more I believe than Hutchison. After the trials I was not convinced that Hutchison was definitely the man for the job, so why wouldn’t you go for a genuine No.7?
“I am a bit confused by it. I know they don’t have a luxury of riches in terms of their halves, but I would have gone with Sexton.”
Dave Riccio believes there is little difference between the two halfback options and Hutchison got the nod after a better pre-season on the training paddock.
“I think you are talking about a much of muchness for the standard of half that you are talking about,” Riccio said.
“They are in a similar boat. My understanding is Drew Hutchison has won this jersey on points on the back of his pre-season.
“He has outpointed Sexton in bringing the team together. Secondly they have Jaeman Salmon at No.13 who will create more opportunities.”
However, Brent Read warned the Bulldogs need to land some front-rowers or it won’t matter who is steering the ship at halfback.
“I don’t think it matters who they play at halfback because they have got no middle forwards,” Read said.
“They are so weak through the middle of the field and they know it.
“They tried to get Sio Siua Taukeiaho. He got sent back because of a medical problem. Their middles are so weak.
“I don’t think it matters who plays halfback there. They are going to struggle.”
“But it does still matter if you are trying to make the top eight,” Anasta interjected.
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“I’m not saying they are going to make it, but I want to give them a chance.”
Read believes the Bulldogs need to make halfback and prop their priority positions to fill if they want to complete their rebuild and contend again after years of missing out on players in those positions.
“I don’t think they can make the top eight,” Read said.
“They are weak in the halves and the middle forwards. They are average. They are still rebuilding.
“They need to find a halfback. That is a massive issue for them. They won’t get one this year, but next year they need to find a halfback.
“They have had a go at a few blokes. They had a go at Mitchell Moses at one point. There was talk about Luke Brooks at one point. They need to land someone because it is a big deficiency.”
Source Agencies
