Overcoming Eels loss no worry for Moore - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Overcoming Eels loss no worry for Moore

By Steve Jancetic 28/07/2009 07:21:04 PM Comments (0)

Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore has become accustomed to lifting his side from disappointment this season - which is why overcoming a loss to Parramatta won't pose too many problems.

Twice this season the Bulldogs have been stripped of wins they seemingly had in the bag with the NRL docking the `Dogs two points for fielding 14 players during their win over Penrith in round two.

As if that wasn't bad enough, video referee Steve Clark then incorrectly denied young centre Jamal Idris a match-winning try against St George Illawarra in round 10.

But each time the Bulldogs have responded to adversity in devastating fashion.

When it became official they would lose the points for breach against the Panthers they went on a five-game winning streak.

The week after going down to the Dragons they turned around and thumped premiership big guns Melbourne 26-10.

"I think we've proved throughout the year that we've handled a few other setbacks and bounced back the week after and we intend to do the same this week," Moore said.

"You've got to find a positive in everything - we're disappointed about the result but we need to learn a few things from it and just focus on working hard for Souths this week."

The loss to the Eels left the Bulldogs stuck in a dogfight with Gold Coast and Melbourne for a top two berth, which offers a guaranteed second chance in the first week of the finals.

But despite the setback, Moore was confident the Bulldogs had made some progress against the Eels with Queensland Origin prop Ben Hannant's return from a knee injury leaving the rookie coach with a full squad from which to choose from for the meeting with the Rabbitohs.

"The last month has been fairly disruptive, as it has been for a lot of clubs," Moore said.

"We came off a Monday night game to travel to New Zealand and then we travelled on a Friday night up to Brisbane - we've had injuries, suspensions and blokes who were away on Origin.

"They're not excuses from our point of view but it's good to have that all over and done with."

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs on Tuesday began planning for life without Hazem El Masri by signing Melbourne winger Steve Turner for the next two NRL seasons.

The 24-year-old is likely to slot straight into El Masri's wing spot after the NRL's all-time leading pointscorer announced this would be his final year in the game.

Despite his relative youth, Turner brings plenty of experience to the Bulldogs, having played in the last three grand finals with the Storm.

Turner famously turned his back on the last team that attempted to lure him from Melbourne when he reneged on a contract he had signed with Gold Coast in 2006.

But it appears there is no impediment for Turner this time around, with opportunities at the Storm limited by salary cap restraints.

"It's a new beginning for me at the Dogs, a club on the rise and they're doing the right things and heading in the right direction," Turner told reporters.

"With Hazem retiring at the end of this year hopefully I can slot into the right side wing and cement my spot there."

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