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The Bulldogs showed plenty of fight by coming from 14 points down late in last Saturday's clash with North Queensland to steal a gritty 22-20 win. While it was only against the struggling Cowboys they showed enough in those frantic last 10 minutes to suggest they should have delivered much more this season if they could have been more consistent, much to the frustration of coach Kevin Moore and their fans. The Panthers ended a worrying run of just one win in six games with their flogging of South Sydney last weekend. Only a similar type of display against the Bulldogs will confirm they have turned the corner heading into the finals.
While they probably won't come face-to-face too much during the 80 minutes, this match is all about the battle of the fullbacks. In the blue corner there's Bulldogs No.1 Luke Patten, who will play his last home match on Monday night for the club he joined way back in 2001. 'The General', who is off to the English Super League next season, has been a great servant for the club and his experience and security at the back will be vital in this encounter. Over in the black corner is winger-come-fullback Michael Gordon. It was supposed to be all doom and gloom for the mountain men when Coote succumbed to injury but in Gordon, Elliott has found a more than handy replacement. The Blues winger led the charge against the Bunnies with 30 points last weekend and he has seemed to go to another level since re-signing with the club last month.
While the Bulldogs are already thinking about their end of season trip, this match probably means more to them than the Panthers who have their finals spot all sewn up. Club heroes Patten and halfback Brett Kimmorley (retiring) are playing their last match in front of their home fans which should ensure the Blue and Whites play with plenty of commitment and emotion for the 80 minutes. Most of the stats point to a victory for the visitors, the Panthers having won seven of the last 10 matches between the two sides, while the Dogs have won only one of their last five at ANZ Stadium. But the Bulldogs have already had one victory over the Panthers this week, snaring Kiwi international Frank Pritchard from Penrith for the next three years, and I can see them having more joy on Monday night.
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