In 2021, Canterbury-Bankstown and North Queensland were below average. The Dogs managed just three wins and the Cows seven, in seasons that tested their fans’ resolve.
The Bulldogs appeared to be at the back end of a three-season jettisoning of deadweight that would directly lead to the arrival of a new wave of signings in 2022. Along with the return of Phil Gould, the freed up finances and names like Matt Dufty, Paul Vaughan, Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton gave fans of the blue and white great hope that would surely see an end to recent Bulldog suffering.
The Cowboys’ situation was a little different, with a young and developing 2021 squad blessed with talent lacking the direction required to turn it into a serious top-eight contender. The Paul Green era had brought the highs and nothing better than a 13th-placed finish between 2018 and 2020.
When Todd Payton assumed control of the team in 2021, the errs had been firmly ingrained in terms of recruitment and retention and the 2015 NRL champions had bottomed out in every sense.
Thus, both clubs required an injection heading into this season.
Perhaps it was ideas, talent, support staff and coaching nous that was required, yet after three weeks of the 2022 NRL campaign it appears that the solution to the issues faced by both clubs may well have been answered in a manner far simpler than many would have expected.
The Dogs recruited in numbers.
Gould aside, an entire new back line was employed, forwards added to provide extra grunt and a handful of young and still unproven men were brought into the club in the hope they would become the next generation of Canterbury stars in a few years’ time.
It all looked compellingly positive and promising on the outside and the potential for long-term Bulldog improvement under Trent Barrett does appear possible.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
However, after three rounds of the NRL premiership, the Bulldogs face the same issues of recent seasons, with just 28 points scored across the opening three rounds of the competition and a lone win, ironically against the Cowboys, to show for all the investment and change that has taken place.
At the heart of the Bulldogs’ continued inability to seize opportunity and score points when afforded the field position to do so, is the absence of a controlling and dominant number seven.
Jake Averillo set out to make that position his own over the opening fortnight of the season, yet late in the week leading into the clash against the Sea Eagles in Round 3, Barrett made a stunning change and reverted to a Brandon Wakeham/Burton partnership in the halves, off the back of Wakeham’s stunning performances in the lower tier.
Ultimately, the change did little to improve the fortunes of the team and with two men seemingly in front of him, Kyle Flanagan now seems to be in something of a limbo, as the third halfback option in a club desperate to find someone capable of steering a rudderless attack in scoring situations.
North Queensland’s recruitment during the off-season was less prolific. Peta Hiku is a solid signing and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has immense upside, yet the acquisition of Chad Townsend already has signs of master stroke written all over it.
As the Bulldogs signed flashy backs and the odd fire-brand in the forwards, the Cowboys signed what every side requires; a steady-headed, skilled and composed halfback.
Take a look back through the NRL championship teams over the last four decades and find me a poor halfback. There isn’t one.
And as heavily invested as the Bulldogs may be in their highly skilled and potentially flashy new back line, after three weeks of the season, the Cowboys appear to have improved far more thanks to the signing of a man capable of settling the team and controlling the tempo of games.
With Valentine Holmes rampant and Tom Dearden causing all sorts of damage against the Broncos on Sunday afternoon, it would have been easy to look past the foundational influence Townsend had on the contest.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
The 2016 premiership winner with the Sharks allowed Dearden his own space, never missed a tackle across the 80 minutes, kicked the ball 19 times for 632 metres and forced two drop-outs. His passing was mostly impeccable and the balance he provided to the Cowboy’s attack pivotal in the thrashing they handed to their southern Queensland rivals.
At 31, Townsend will never win the Dally M Medal, nor many accolades from those looking at individual achievement above the more important and often quiet contributions made that result in team success.
The Bulldogs have a host of fresh talent on board and look to be improving, yet still have no solution at the scrum base. After three weeks of play, North Queensland sit second on the ladder and are probably a little unlucky not to be on the top rung.
Chad Townsend has been a key contributor to that early season success and clear evidence as to just how important a controlling half-back is and forever will be in rugby league.