MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Stephen Crichton should have been sin-binned for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck tackle

There’s something very familiar about what the Bulldogs are doing now – and it’s stirring up some bad memories.

Their amazing run to the finals has taken me back to a time in my career I prefer to keep locked away.

The 1995 grand final.

Back then the Bulldogs got hot at the right time of year and eventually beat my Manly team in the decider 17-4.

Their 2024 team is treading the same path.

These Dogs have learned some new tricks under coach Cameron Ciraldo and they’re suddenly snapping at the heels of the competition heavyweights.

They also have momentum, which is the most crucial thing you can have at the business end of the season.

Since Magic Round they’ve won 10 of their past 12 games. That’s up with minor premiers Melbourne as the best record over that period.

I keep hearing people say you can’t win the comp from outside the top four, but I reckon that’s garbage.

The Bulldogs are fifth place on the ladder and even if they finish there after 27 rounds – they can definitely go all the way.

How Crichton didn’t get sin-binned for his high hit that put Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the wobbly boots, is beyond belief.

I’ve always said once you get into the finals it’s a whole new ball game. In the finals you have massive crowds filling stadiums and that’s what you want as a player.

It brings out the best in you.

The ’95 team finished in sixth place and took the title, knocking out the more fancied Broncos, Raiders and Sea Eagles on their run.

This current batch of Bulldogs can do the same, I truly believe that.

The big similarity they share with Terry Lamb’s team from almost three decades ago is a commitment to defence.

Ciraldo has them tackling with that old “Dogs of War” mentality. Their defensive line is tighter than my old mate Des Hasler.

They are frustrating teams into making errors then scoring up the other end.

I’m so impressed by their resilience, which isn’t something you could say about Canterbury teams over the past decade.

They were amazing over in Auckland on Friday night, fighting back from 12-0 down to roll the Warriors.

Most teams would have folded in that atmosphere, with a sell-out crowd on hand for Shaun Johnson’s final home game = they even named their stadium after him!

To overcome that for a 34-18 win tells me this team isn’t just building for the future.

They are here and now. They can win the whole thing.

Their belief is through the roof.

Ciraldo has created a team with match-winners who have big-game experience and it’s rubbing off on the others.

Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau and Josh Addo-Carr have all won NRL grand finals.

Which brings me to a very concerning issue heading toward the finals.

How Crichton didn’t get sin-binned for his high hit that put Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the wobbly boots, is beyond belief.

The NRL needs to sort out some consistency with this ASAP.

All this fancy new terminology coming from the refs and Bunker about “medium impact” and “mitigating circumstances” when it comes to high tackles is leaving fans scratching their heads.

I fell off my chair at Leichhardt when Manly’s Corey Waddell was sin-binned for making high contact with – what the referee called - the “bony” part of his arm.

Say what? When I studied human anatomy at high school, I’m pretty sure the whole arm was made up of bones!

Their decision-making on sin-bins makes me think someone is throwing darts up in the Bunker.

Let’s get the same two or three people in the Bunker for every game so we start getting some consistency.

Better still – chuck NRL Head of Football Graham Annesley in there!

He knows all the rules and every Monday holds a press conference talking about refereeing decisions.

Fix it now – or it will end up costing a team the premiership.

AND DON’T GET ME STARTED

I can already hear the whingeing.

The Melbourne Storm are going to rest many of their star players this weekend against the Cowboys and the bleating has begun.

Resting players damages the integrity of the game; it rips off the fans; it gives an unfair advantage to their opponents …. blah, blah, blah.

I say to Craig Bellamy – go for it.

The Storm have claimed the minor premiership and are three wins clear at the top of the table.

In my book, that entitles him to do whatever he damn likes.

And if Bellamy wants to save his stars from making a long trip to Townsville on the dreaded five-day turnaround, then that’s smart play from the master coach.

As for the paying customers being denied value for money because Melbourne is under-strength.

Well, Cowboys fans should be happy – because a full-strength Storm would smack their bums.

And if there are any Storm fans moaning after making the trip north, I would ask them this: would you rather win a round 26 game that no one will remember or win a premiership?

I think we all know the answer to that one.