The Bulldogs got the season upset on Monday and an altercation between two players may have contributed to that.
The Dogs accumulated 34 points for the Eels, true candidates for the premiere, and bore no resemblance to the team that has been struggling for the past five years.
It has now been revealed byNews Corp. journalist Paul Kent that debutant Jacob Kiraz had harsh words with teammate Corey Allan after the Bulldogs ’13th round loss to the Panthers.
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According to the report, some players sat on the cutlery after the loss feeling “very comfortable” with it and Kiraz spoke, letting Allan know how he felt about it.
The two had a “healthy verbal altercation” in the cutlery and were reportedly also a wake-up call for senior players.
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“It’s a very good sign,” Kent told NRL 360 on Tuesday.
“In the dressing room after the game, what is very annoying for many fans is that the players make a little joke and laugh after losing a game.
“And Kiraz at the time only had three games in his NRL career and he basically broke the shit and exchanged a few words. He thought he should have taken the loss a little harder than he did.
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“It created a bit of a feeling inside the camp that the kids have had enough of the older boys who are probably too defeated by defeat and therefore felt too comfortable with defeat.
“I think this week caused a bit of a mental change, a change in his attitude and if we saw it … I’m not saying that was the only reason.”
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Braith Anasta, who won a first charge with the Bulldogs in 2004, believes Kiraz’s words could have been a “ton of attention” for his teammates.
“It’s a kick in the ass if a young man tells you you’re hurting, it’s kind of a wake-up call and maybe the call they needed,” he said.
“You can see the desire in Kiraz”.
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Kiraz turned his back on a Top 30 deal with the Knights to join the Bulldogs this season in a train and test deal. He made his NRL debut in round 7 and instantly became a fan favorite.
The 20-year-old has held his place at 17 since round 11, when players outside the Top 30 can play in the NRL.
It has also signed a Top 30 agreement for 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, Corey Allan is just a few games behind a hamstring injury. He went through rounds 11 and 12 in the New South Wales Cup before receiving a call-up for the first-team team in the 13th round defeat of the Panthers.