NRL 360 guests Dean Ritchie and Brent Read clashed over Lachlan Galvin amid the Bulldogs’ terrible form.
A heavy defeat to the Dolphins on Friday evening, their fourth in a row, led to serious inspection from the panel, who dismissed injuries as an excuse for their dip.
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The Dogs conversation almost came to its conclusion when Ritchie chipped in with one final question for his colleague Read, sparking a heated debate.
“Are you still on the Galvin for seven bandwagon? Because everyone in rugby leave thinks he is a good six except you,” he asked Read.
“Why are you so stubborn in saying he’s seven only.”
Read hit back, replying: “He’s a good six as well. I’m not saying he’s a seven only.
“I think he’d be really good in the seven but I don’t think he’s their issue. I don’t think he’s the problem at that footy club.”
“He’s the playmaker and they’re not winning so he’s got to be part of the issue,” argued Ritchie.
Read responded: “Nathan Cleary couldn’t win games on his own!
“People have got to help him. Stick him in the Dragons and see how he goes. I’m just saying. he’s not the only bloke to blame.”
Host Braith Anasta then jumped in and suggested Read was being “ridiculous”, before asking him if Galvin was a half-eighth or a halfback.
When Read began to hesitate Anasta interjected, saying: “Just answer the question”.
Gorden Tallis also sided with Anasta and demanded Read say where he thinks Galvin’s best position is, with all three going against the journalist.
However all four pundits did at least agree that Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo was wrong to point the finger at the refereeing on Friday, arguing none of the decisions they made changed the outcome of the match.
Ciraldo had asserted his belief post-match that Jacob Preston’s late shot on Isaiya Katoa was not worthy of a sin bin.
“I don’t know what he wanted him to do,” Ciraldo said of the tackle.
“Katoa has got the ball, he’s going to tackle him and then he releases it in a millisecond before he hits him.
“I don’t understand it, but we had to be tougher through that period. We defended great for a couple of minutes after that and then after 10 plays or so we let in just a soft try.
“I can’t control that, but I can control us being a bit tougher for longer after that.”
The Bulldogs are in desperate need of a response to turn their season around, starting with a game against the Cronulla Sharks at Magic Round.
Originally published as Brent Read and Dean Ritchie clash in heated argument over key Bulldogs issue on NRL 360