Depleted Dogs still a big danger

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REVVED-up Canterbury players have spoken about the siege mentality master coach Des Hasler is set to implement at Belmore in the ugly aftermath to their Good Friday clash.

Hasler is renowned for rallying his playing group in a crisis and the five-time grand final coach is ready to bring his depleted side together tighter than ever before for Sunday's clash with in-form St George Illawarra.

David Klemmer and James Graham confront the referee during the Souths game. Source: Getty Images

In another day of drama on Tuesday following the Bulldogs' controversial loss to South Sydney:

* All four Bulldogs players charged — James Graham, David Klemmer, Michael Lichaa (all contrary conduct, dissent) and Sam Kasiano (dangerous contact with the head/neck) took early pleas;

* Hasler was forced to name five new players in his side to play St George Illawarra this Sunday at ANZ Stadium; and

* Canterbury desperately wanted to contest Graham's contrary conduct charge but reluctantly backed-out on legal advice at the last minute.

Hasler, the master at mind games dating back to his Manly days, will come out firing when cornered.

"I guess we're down on troops now. It's always the tough times where the tough people come out and Dessy is certainly one of them and he wants his teams to be tough," star centre Josh Morris said.

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"It's about overcoming those challenges and we have one ahead of us for the next month with injuries and suspensions."

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Hasler mastered the siege mentality philosophy when coaching Manly, who won premierships in 2008 and 2011.

"I can only ever speak for myself from how I know Dessy and it doesn't matter what kind of corner he's backed into or what difficult situation we're facing he's always a fighter. I like to see myself like that as well and I guess that's why all the boys like playing for him," said Sam Perrett, who will replace the injured Brett Morris at fullback.

And prop Aiden Tolman added: "Going off what (Des) has done in the past, and previously at Manly as well, when backs were against the wall he always seems to get the most out of his players.

"At the end of the day Des can only do so much and it's up to the players to go out there on the weekend and make sure they perform. I've got 100 per cent confidence in the team. Whatever team we name on the weekend is going to do a good job."

Brett Morris will miss the Dragons match with a hamstring injury. Source: Getty Images

For his two charges — one of dissent and one for dangerous contact over the charge down-attempt that injured Rabbitohs half-back Adam Reynolds, Graham will be suspended for four matches.

Klemmer will miss three games, forward partner Kasiano two games while Lichaa will be available for the Dragons game.

With Brett Morris (hamstring) and centre Tim Lafai (knee) out long-term through injury, Tim Browne, Lloyd Perrett, Antonio Kaufusi, Chase Stanley and Corey Thompson come into the 17.

Asked did he feel the club was "hard done by", forward Josh Jackson said: "It's hard to say. You look at things and people see them differently but at the end of the day rules are rules.

"It'll be hard to play without guys like James and a strange feeling not to play alongside him but I'm sure we still have enough experience in our team with guys like Aiden Tolman and Frank Pritchard — who will step up for us off the bench — so we're not lacking there."

Pressed to discuss the 'Bulldogs haters' on social media, Jackson said: "I try to stay away from all the media and social media so by distancing myself from it I think it's the best course of action."

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Big brother Izzy is watching

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AS LATE as Monday night, superstar code-hopper Israel Folau was texting his younger brother John, letting him know where he could tidy up some areas in his game.

The NSW Waratahs fullback had just finished watching John play his third NRL match for Parramatta in their 22-6 defeat against Wests Tigers, and thought he'd flick his little bro some pointers.

"He'll usually send me a 'good luck' text before each game, then he'll sum up how I played,'' John told The Daily Telegraph, making it clear he prefers "to be known as John, not Izzy's brother''.

Daily Telegraph — Pictured: John Folau — Parramatta Eels media hour. Photographs taken of two players that journalists talked too. Old Saleyards Reserve, Gladstone Street, Parramatta NSW Australia Source: News Corp Australia

"He told me there were a few things I needed to work on, but he was proud of me and to keep working hard at training.

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"There were small things like 'effort on effort', just doing back-to-back stuff on the field.

"I listen to him, he's been there, he's been through it all, it's just good to learn off him, and I try to make myself a better player.''

John Folau has now featured on the wing the past three games for the Eels and last week re-signed with the club for a further two years.

Given his famous surname, there was always going to be plenty of interest in the 20-year-old from the outside world.

Softly spoken, tall and with similar facial features to his famous 26-year-old brother, John is a lot heavier than Israel, and revealed he was a rampaging backrower up until a few years ago.

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"We're two different people, we have two different playing styles, Izzy is more of a quicker, skilful person, while I like the body contact and the roughness,'' John said.

"I actually grew up as a forward, and it was only when I came to Parramatta that I ended up in the outside backs.

"I'm on the wing now, but I'd say I've played less than 10 games there.

"Every game is a challenge. It's not like junior footy where you have your good teams and your bad teams — every game in the NRL is tough. That's what I've got to get used to.''

The Eels wasted no time locking down Folau, 20, declaring on the weekend the youngster would be staying put until at least the end of 2017.

Halfback Chris Sandow went to school with Israel, and recalled John sitting on the sidelines watching the pair run around for Marsden State High School in Brisbane.

"I think Johnny was taller than me even back then,'' Sandow said.

Chris Sandow says John Folau has always had a good work ethic. Pic Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

"I remember Johnny really well. He was quiet back then but to see him work really hard and get this opportunity is really good. He's a big boy who is still learning the game.''

After beating premiers Souths — and bagging two tries in the process — Folau and his teammates must somehow regroup against the Gold Coast.

The Eels' two wins this season have come at home, and Folau is sure to have fans excited each time he touches the ball.

Israel is also guaranteed to drop his brother a few encouraging text messages after the game.

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Half chance for battle of GI-ants

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THE Cowboys are preparing for Greg Inglis to make a shock switch to the halves in a move that would pit him directly against fellow superstar Johnathan Thurston.

South Sydney named John Sutton to replace half Adam Reynolds but there are suggestions Inglis could yet be moved from fullback to five-eighth with Sutton remaining in the backrow.

That would allow gun 20-year-old Alex Johnston to play in his preferred position of fullback.

Rabbit-oh's Greg Inglis during a training session at Redfern. Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Johnston is off contract and being hunted by several clubs including the Gold Coast Titans and he is considering leaving Redfern for the opportunity to play fullback.

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North Queensland beat South Sydney twice last year and have the forward pack size to combat the reigning premiers.

However, they don't have the size in their halves, Thurston and Michael Morgan, to combat Inglis who at 195cm and 105kg would be the world's biggest five-eighth.

While Thurston now wears the No. 7, he follows the ball and will consistently be marked by Inglis if he does play at five-eighth next Monday night.

Inglis wore the No. 6 for Melbourne throughout their 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons in which the Storm competed in three grand finals.

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The Rabbitohs are still missing Dylan Walker and while the game is at ANZ Stadium it presents a great opportunity for the Cowboys to extend their winning streak to three games following their defeat of the Panthers on Monday night.

Cowboys coach Paul Green backed Inglis to shine if he was shifted to five-eighth.

"There is talk of Inglis playing in the halves. He won a grand final playing five-eighth for Melbourne," Green said.

"He's no stranger to that position. There is also talk about John Sutton.

"Losing your key playmaker is a big loss. They have good replacements.

"They are a tough team."

The Cowboys are battling their own injuries with wingers Antonio Winterstein and Matthew Wright both limping today after a torrid affair in Penrith.

"We will assess the boys over the next couple of days to see how they recover," he said.

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Get rid of trouble makers, says Morris

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BULLDOGS stars Josh Morris and Aiden Tolman want the NRL to "get rid" of the culprits who threw full bottles at match officials last week.

The NRL continue to investigate the drama, with some people having already been identified. They face life bans if found guilty.

"That definitely isn't a good look. We need to find who those people are and make sure they're dealt with accordingly," Morris said.

A touch judge falls after being hit by a bottle. Source: AAP

"Ever since I've come to the club in 2009, the club has been working hard to rid themselves of that image and they have done a lot of work in regards to that.

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"It only takes a minority to try and throw it back in the spotlight what was happening a decade ago and we certainly don't want to have a bad image at the club as players and we don't want the fans to be portrayed that way.

"Bulldogs fans are very passionate as well but there is a minority — and they're at every club — who go out there to cause trouble. We need to go out there and find out who they are and get rid of them."

There is a chance police could charge the culprits with assault. The Bulldogs, NRL and ANZ Stadium management have held meetings.

Fellow patrons who attended the match have also been interviewed about the culprit's identities.

"You don't want to see that in any sport, especially our game. I think those guys have been caught and hopefully they get punished from whatever they see fit," Tolman said.

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"There's 40-odd thousand fans on the weekend and two misbehaved. That's not the Bulldogs. That's not what we're about.

"We're a great family club, we've got a great culture here and those sort of fans aren't welcome at our games and I'm sure they won't be in the future."

Morris meanwhile denied kicking Souths hooker Issac Luke in the face during the Friday night match. It resulted in an eight-point try but Morris wasn't charged by the match review committee.

"I didn't know why I'd been called over and if you look back at the footage I'm pretty dumbfounded about what happened. If I would have been charged, I certainly would have fought it because I thought I didn't make any contact with his head whatsoever," Morris said.

"If I did do it, I would've pleaded guilty but it's one of those things where I'm frustrated that I'm not on report but we still copped an eight-point try for it so it's a catch-22 I suppose.

Bulldogs fans react towards the match officials at full time against the Rabbitohs. Source: Getty Images

"I don't know how much my foot missed him by but I certainly know I didn't make contact and if I did I would've felt it at that stage. There were (camera) angles and freeze-frames which made it look like I did but I know within myself that I didn't and I would've apologised to Issac straight away."

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Rabbitohs to make early call on Sutton

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IT WILL be a case of Friday or bust for John Sutton with South Sydney to make an early call if their club favourite makes a miracle return from a broken jaw for the big clash against a red-hot Johnathan Thurston and his Cowboys.

Rather than wait until just before Monday night's kick-off, coach Michael Maguire said he would know Friday if Sutton would be ready to start at five-eighth, despite breaking his jaw just three weeks ago.

Adam Reynolds receives attention from the trainers after being tackled by James Graham. Source: Getty Images

Sutton will be a welcome addition for the Bunnies who have lost starting half-back Adam Reynolds to a knee injury.

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However, Maguire confirmed Friday was also when the club would meet with a surgeon to learn the full extent of Reynolds' injury, and just how long their gun No. 7 will be out of action.

Should Sutton fail in his own bold bid to return, Maguire will have to weigh up what he does with his halves.

Greg Inglis slotted into the role at times during the Dogs' clash — he also won a Clive Churchill Medal wearing the No. 6 _ but Maguire will wait until how Sutton responds.

"Greg is doing as great job at fullback, he showed what he was capable of at five-eighth for a period of the game against the Bulldogs, but for us, John has been in the position before, and he's done a great job when he's had the opportunity,'' Maguire told The Daily Telegraph.

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"We've got to assess him at the end of the week, but we're looking forward to having him back given the circumstances. It's one of those ones where he'll need to pass a fitness test, and he'll also have to get it scanned, and we'll make a decision from there. That will be a telling factor as to which way we go.''

Maguire said Sutton had not been rushed back, and would have been selected, even if Reynolds was fit.

While Maguire focuses on Sutton — George Burgess will also fight his dangerous contact charge at the NRL judiciary tonight — Thurston is keen to help the Cowboys to a third straight Monday night win.

Thurston said the loss of Reynolds was huge, but Souths had no shortage of back-up halves options, including Inglis.

There is talk Greg Inglis could play in the halves against the Cowboys. Source: DailyTelegraph

Seeing Inglis and Thurston, two of the greatest players in the game, potentially go head to head in the halves would be the highlight of the round.

"It's an unfortunate injury for Adam, he's a massive link for their team, and he's a huge loss,'' Thurston told The Daily Telegraph.

"But Madge (Maguire) has a great squad, and whoever he puts in will fill the role.

''Greg has won a Clive Churchill Medal there, so I think he'd be pretty comfortable in that role.

"He's been in outstanding form, and the captaincy is obviously agreeing with him.''

As for his own form, Thurston said: "The last couple of weeks our middle third have done an outstanding job laying the platform for us. I've been able to step back and pick and choose the times I come into the game. I think that's been the key the last couple of weeks.''

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Eels’ away record twice as bad as any team

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PARRAMATTA may have to rethink switching games to ANZ Stadium — or any other away venue — with statistics showing they are now more than twice as bad on the road than any other NRL team.

The Daily Telegraph can today reveal that, following Sunday's loss to Wests Tigers at Homebush, the Eels have slumped to an atrocious away success rate of only 14.6 per cent.

Incredibly, the figure is less than half that of even nearest rivals the New Zealand Warriors, a club forced to deal with international flights, unfamiliar hotels, even currency changes every second week of the year.

Parramatta's Chris Sandow looks on as a try by Tigers James Tedesco is awarded. Pic Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

Worse, the Eels decision to switch its biggest games to ANZ Stadium for financial gain are also coming at a huge cost, with the club having now lost 17 of its past 18 matches at the Olympic venue.

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"And I know the hoodoo or whatever you want to call it, it's being spoken about,'' Eels enforcer Anthony Watmough said. "Not by the players as such.

"But we know our record away from home, it's going to be talked about.

"We just have to stay positive because in a couple of away games this year, against Canterbury and Wests Tigers especially, we were in them up to our eyeballs. We just couldn't finish it."

Which, unfortunately, has become the ballad of Parramatta.

According to Fox Sports Statistics, the Eels have won just seven of 48 games away from Pirtek Stadium since 2012.

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Even when you include the 'home' games played at ANZ Stadium, that figure rises only slightly to 15.8 per cent — which is still almost half that of the Warriors, who have an away success rate of 30.8 per cent.

Then comes Wests Tigers (33.3 per cent), St George Illawarra (33.3 per cent) and Canberra (38 per cent).

"We have to start turning up, no matter where we play,'' Eels half-back Chris Sandow said. "Against Canterbury away, we should have won that game.

"But I got injured. Then Semi Radradra got injured.

"We just have to turn up with the right attitude. Treat it like any other patch of grass — hold the ball and complete our sets.

"We obviously have a good feeling at Pirtek Stadium ... but it has to be the same no matter where we play."

Thankfully for Parramatta fans, they face the Gold Coast this Saturday at home. Since 2012, the Eels have won 18 of 29 matches at home for a success rate of 62 per cent.

Anthony Watmough talks with referee Jared Maxwell after a knock on decision went against his side Pic Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

But as for how they overturn their atrocious run on the road?

"We actually don't need to change too much,'' Watmough insists. "I've reminded the boys this week that against Canterbury, we were in that up to our eyeballs.

"We played that with the same intensity, the same toughness as against Manly the week before at home. Injuries just got us in the end.

"We couldn't get any ball and ran out of puff. Then against the Warriors away, we gave up way to much possession. It took it's toll.

"Then on Monday against Wests Tigers, we were in the grind for 70 minutes. This was despite the fact that, with the injuries we've had to start the year, we hardly had a backline.

"We should have won that game too — and done it with backrowers playing in the centres — but the Tigers did some freakish things and it got away from us."

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