Bulldogs unveil the master plan as Ryles and Ciraldo show their maturity

From Cameron Ciraldo finally pulling the trigger on his "Plan A" at Belmore to Jason Ryles making the tough, transparent calls at Parramatta Kenty and Woz look at how the landscape of the competition is shifting. 

The Ciraldo Blueprint

The mystery surrounding the selection of Locky Galvin at Canterbury has finally been solved as the Bulldogs prepare for their upcoming clash against the Dragons. In a move that highlights the growing tactical depth within the club, Galvin has been handed the halfback jersey, signalling the official launch of what head coach Cameron Ciraldo has dubbed his Plan A.

Speaking on the latest episode of Kenty Blitz, hosts Kenty and Warren explored the calculated nature of the transition. Kenty noted that Ciraldo has handled the young star with extreme care, intentionally nursing him through the disruptive State of Origin period before pushing the go button.

"He figured out what the team looks like if they are going to win a grand final," Kenty explained. "That is what the smart coaches are able to do. You can look at every club at every stage of their development and ask, if we win the grand final, what players are still going to be in this team?"

Attacking Flair vs Defensive Grit

The move sees Toby Sexton shift to the extended bench, a decision fuelled by the side’s recent difficulties in translating defensive grit into points. Kenty suggested that while the Bulldogs have excelled in keeping opposition scores low, they need the attacking flair Galvin provides to compete with the heavy hitters like Melbourne and Canberra.

Honest Conversations at Parramatta

The theme of coaching maturity extended to Parramatta, where Jason Ryles has earned respect for his transparent handling of Dylan Brown. Despite Brown being omitted from the starting side, the dialogue between coach and player has been described as remarkably upfront.

"There has been nothing dishonest about any of their conversations," Kenty remarked. "Ryles recognised that his best football is going to be played at another club in the future, and he is prioritising the development of the players who will be there next season."

Breaking the Cookie-Cutter Mould

Beyond individual player movements, the hosts debated whether a club like the Titans would be brave enough to appoint Ben and Shane Walker, whose unconventional style focuses on time in possession rather than the standard obsession with completion rates.

Kenty argued that the current coaching landscape is often hampered by a fear of failure. "Most clubs would rather pick a coach who they know is not going to win and will get them to eighth or seventh spot," he said. "They are not going to do any better than that, but they won't finish any worse than tenth, and that keeps the board out of the line of fire."

The "Bottom Club" Tax

The episode concluded with the popular Ask Kenty segment, where the duo addressed the secret tax that forces struggling clubs to pay roughly fifteen per cent more for talent. According to Kenty, the only way to break this cycle is through the kind of disciplined junior recruitment currently being showcased at the Raiders.

Watch the whole episode on Fanatics TV.