Panthers prepare for NRL’s dogs of war

Beware the NRL’s Dogs of War.

For the third time this year Canterbury are apparently a club in crisis. Coach Des Hasler’s future allegedly in doubt. Josh Reynolds under investigation for a night out.

More importantly, the team’s season has gone down the drain after another 30-point flogging left them 13th on the ladder with 11 losses.

They’re the same headlines they copped when Manly flogged them 36-0 in round four. And when Penrith taught them a 38-0 lesson in round 13.

But last week’s 42-12 loss to Brisbane and the ensuing dramas have Panthers coach Anthony Griffin more on edge than ever ahead of Thursday night’s clash.

Why? Because in round five, as the board met to discuss Hasler’s future, his men stepped up to defeat Brisbane 10-7.

And then in round 14, when they stared down the barrel of a fifth straight loss, they shocked St George Illawarra 16-2.

“It just makes them harder to beat,” Griffin said.

“It would be nice if they had a nice quiet week.

“When Canterbury have a bad week like they did last week, they’re a really strong football club.

“Every time they have had a bad week this year they have bounced back with a win and a really strong performance. That’s the stuff we’re getting ourselves prepared for.”

Thursday night’s clash is vital for ninth-placed Penrith. A loss could send them four points behind St George Illawarra in the race for eighth spot with five rounds to play.

But it’s even more important for the Bulldogs.

Hasler refused to give up hope of a finals spot when asked on Wednesday morning, and claimed his team could still win their last six games to stay within a chance of making the play-offs.

The Bulldogs face five of the teams ranked between sixth and 11th on the run home, as well as the struggling South Sydney, meaning movement up the ladder isn’t completely impossible.

“I think they’ll come here with a real semi-final mentality just like we have,” Griffin said

“It will be a real tough game of football.

“I watched them play Brisbane last week. They certainly had a lot more speed and variety in their attack. I wouldn’t expect them to put that away.

“I just think that’s them having to win their games at the back end of the year and improving their attack.”

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