A glutton\u2019s 56 per cent share of possession against Manly saw the Bulldogs throw 21 offloads and 320 passes on Sunday afternoon, skewing their recent numbers along with the involvement of Burton and Galvin.<\/p>\n
Between them, Canterbury\u2019s halves handled the ball 139 times – most top halves touch the ball 50\u201360 times a game – and skinned the Sea Eagles as they did so.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs\u2019 short passing, fast-moving attack<\/a> went into overdrive when running downhill against Manly. Just as it did a month earlier when pushing uphill against Ciraldo\u2019s old side, in an 8-6 loss to Penrith that was the best game of 2025<\/a>, State of Origins included.<\/p>\n Lachlan Galvin is showing promise at the Bulldogs scrumbase.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n Against the Panthers and the defensive system that Ciraldo piloted, Canterbury threw 297 passes and 17 offloads. Game management in the final few clutch moments, as much as anything, proved the difference.<\/p>\n \u201cOffload to change of angle\u201d is as good a way as any to stretch an elite defence, and Ciraldo has regularly pointed to honing Canterbury\u2019s attack with the finals in mind – where elite defence reigns.<\/p>\n To put the Bulldogs\u2019 ball movement in context, the NRL average is 247 passes and 9.4 offloads per game.<\/p>\n Loading<\/p>\n As the Bulldogs\u2019 offloads went to hand and Manly\u2019s defence was dragged this way and that, Canterbury unfurled an attack that could beat any NRL opposition.<\/p>\n For the past 18 months, you could say that about their defence<\/a>. This was the first time you\u2019d dream that way with the ball in blue and white hands, though the true test will come with time. Manly\u2019s unreliable form makes them an unreliable barometer.<\/p>\n After Galvin\u2019s own personal grudge match against the Tigers, sterner defences await in the Warriors, Roosters (though they too possess Manly\u2019s inconsistency) and the Storm.<\/p>\n Then comes Penrith in round 26, finishing fast with a last-to-fifth-straight title fairytale just waiting to be told, with the defensive system Ciraldo holds so dear.<\/p>\n By that point, we might see how close he has come to cracking it.<\/p>\n NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Lachlan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/551a8cd94a70c8c4069b0de22922212f3ec29685.jpeg\")
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