The Origin period should do the world of good for Mitch Moses, who is playing frustrated at the moment. <\/p>\n
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Meanwhile, a legend believes the Bulldogs confidence has \u201ccrumbled\u201d and the signs indicate that they\u2019ll struggle to climb out of the hole they\u2019re in.<\/p>\n
Read on for the key Talking Points out of Magic Round 11.<\/p>\n
BRONCOS SILVER LINING OF ORIGIN PERIOD AMID WORRYING THREE-GAME SKID<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say the bye has come at a good time for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael Maguire said what every Broncos fan was thinking following the club\u2019s 42-12 loss to the Warriors on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
After three consecutive losses by a combined margin of 72, it could be viewed as an understatement. <\/p>\n
Injuries are killing the Broncos no doubt, but there\u2019s still enough talent on the park to not be losing by these sorts of margins.<\/p>\n
While Maguire wanted to take a closer look at how the first half was officiated<\/a> given Brisbane were on the wrong end of a 10-3 penalty count and had just 30% of the ball, ultimately, it isn\u2019t an excuse.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to be better than what we saw out there today,\u201d Maguire said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe boys will have the bye now and we\u2019ll get a few rolling back in over the next couple of weeks, but in saying that, the players that I\u2019ve got out there, I know they\u2019re very capable of being better than what we showed tonight. <\/p>\n \u201cOur discipline was just off tonight. When you put pressure on yourselves, a team like the Warriors are going to put some pressure back on you.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought when we do have the ball, we\u2019re very capable but there are things like kicks and penalties to tidy up.\u201d<\/p>\n The Origin period can be a tough time for a club like Brisbane, who are generally well represented. <\/p>\n However this season, it looks as if only Pat Carrigan is a certainty to play all three games. Payne Haas will be picked when available. <\/p>\n Kotoni Staggs has earned a spot in Game I, however his spot is in doubt when Latrell Mitchell returns. Meanwhile, Gehamat Shibasaki and Ezra Mam have been named on an extended bench. <\/p>\n Brisbane have the bye this weekend, but do have to play in Round 15 and Round 18 which will be held when players are in Origin camps.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s just Carrigan and Haas (if fit) forced out due to Origin selection, the Broncos could come through a normally tricky period quite ok.<\/p>\n More good news for Broncos fans is that Maguire said some injured troops will be back on deck after the bye, notably Brendan Piakura and Grant Anderson.<\/p>\n The Broncos ended Magic Round with a 5-6 record, good for 11th on the ladder.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not ideal but Maguire has faith in his side. He\u2019s seen enough in the past and even during the form slump to suggest things will get back on track. <\/p>\n \u201cThe boys, to their credit, they\u2019re fighting. I\u2019m really proud of how they go about what they\u2019re doing at the moment,\u201d Maguire said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to getting the boys back after a little bit of a break now and we\u2019ll get back into our game. We know what our (best) game looks like but we just got to make sure we find that now.<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t been giving ourselves our best opportunities to be able to perform how we can and that\u2019s on us, that\u2019s on everyone. Myself included. So, we\u2019ll look at how the games are being played at the moment or how we\u2019re playing the game.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018DON\u2019T NEED ANY HELP\u2019: Dragons star, coach fume at controversial call<\/a><\/p>\n WARRIORS WARNING: Broncos star\u2019s missed opportunity as Wahs excite Suncorp<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019LL ASK QUESTIONS\u2019: Cowboys\u2019 big issue with atrocious Bunker call<\/a><\/p>\n Boyd injury dampens Warriors win | 07:32<\/p>\n BIG $3.3M QUESTION AS BULLDOGS IN \u2018MASSIVE HOLE\u2019<\/p>\n We\u2019re not even halfway through the season, and hope in a top eight finish for the Bulldogs is fading fast.<\/p>\n Things are dire at Belmore after five straight losses, the latest an ugly 38-16 defeat at the hands of the Sharks.<\/p>\n Once a stout defensive unit, the Bulldogs conceded 30 points in the first half. Through ten games, they\u2019re letting in 27 points per game, which is ten more a contest than last season.<\/p>\n Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo lamented his side\u2019s defensive struggles post-game, but didn\u2019t want to make any excuses. <\/p>\n What\u2019s so puzzling about this team is the fact they\u2019re not far removed from one of the performances of the year across the competition.<\/p>\n They\u2019re the only team to lower Penrith\u2019s colours this season, and they managed to do that with ease. <\/p>\n But since, it\u2019s like a completely different team has taken the field. <\/p>\n \u201cYou see their win over Penrith and think they can win the comp but they\u2019ve fallen off a cliff. How can they get up for that game, but not for any other?\u201d former Bulldogs star Braith Anasta wondered.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re in a massive hole and it doesn\u2019t look like they\u2019re going to get out of it anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Panthers legend Greg Alexander believes the side\u2019s confidence is shot.<\/p>\n \u201cThe big worry for the Dogs is that when the Sharks were on the attack, you thought, they\u2019re going to score here,\u201d Alexander said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo if I\u2019ve got it going through my head, Dogs fans, Dogs players, Dogs staff (would be thinking it too).<\/p>\n \u201cTheir confidence has crumbled and you can tell by the way they\u2019re playing footy. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s (Ciraldo) trying to keep things upbeat but when you dig yourself into a hole, sometimes it\u2019s impossible to pull yourself out and I don\u2019t know how they save their season. I don\u2019t know if anyone has any answers.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bulldogs are in free fall.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n There are several problems to pinpoint.<\/p>\n The defensive issues have been mentioned above but in attack, they offer very little as well.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no cohesion seemingly and in turn, no potency.<\/p>\n On several digs at the Sharks\u2019 line, the Bulldogs ended their set safely held. <\/p>\n Warriors great Shaun Johnson believes he knows why the Bulldogs are struggling with ball in hand, shifting the focus away from the much-maligned halves pairing of Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton. <\/p>\n \u201cA lot has been made about their attack and their halves but they\u2019re missing cattle in the middle third of the park,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got halves who aren\u2019t playing off any ruck speed. Yes, the noise is around the six and seven like it always will be, but they\u2019re attacking set defensive lines every single time. <\/p>\n \u201cThere is no manipulation of the defensive line. You got fully set defensive lines who have got all the energy in the world to get off their tryline. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a double-edged sword. You don\u2019t get your attack right, you get these feelings of \u2018we should\u2019ve scored\u2019 and your compounding tour defence. <\/p>\n \u201cYour attack needs to help your defence and when you\u2019re playing off a dead ruck, it doesn\u2019t matter who the halves are, you\u2019re always going to struggle.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bulldogs forwards were expected to be one of the team\u2019s strengths this season with the arrival of Leo Thompson.<\/p>\n While he missed the first seven weeks of the season with injury, Thompson is not playing anywhere near his $3.3 million contract as Michael Ennis noted.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve spoken about the leg speed of the Dolphins forwards tonight. We\u2019ve given (Sharks prop) Addin-Fonua-Blake the VB Hardest Working Player award for his ability to create momentum with late feet. Where is that coming from Leo Thompson or Max King?\u201d Ennis said. <\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n Bulldogs suffer 5th straight loss | 01:35<\/p>\n WHY LEGENDARY HALFBACK IS \u2018NOT FULLY SOLD\u2019 ON SOUTHS<\/p>\n While the Sharks have been the ultimate \u2018Jekyll and Hyde\u2019 team in 2026, the Rabbitohs haven\u2019t been much better when it comes to delivering consistent performances.<\/p>\n