The Canterbury Bulldogs have found themselves in a pit of injury-riddled despair, and they only have themselves to blame.
Locked into third place, a near full-health squad, heading into a week one final against the Melbourne Storm, who have also, by the way, been hit with injuries as well.
It would make sense to rest your stars to gear up for a finals ambush at AAMI Park, wouldn't it?
Apparently not.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo opted to field a full-strength 17 for their Round 27 clash against the Cronulla Sharks, in a bid to build some kind of momentum before finals after a subpar six weeks of football.
Unfortunately for 'Ciro', this move had the opposite effect.
Star centre Bronson Xerri was taken out early in the match with a Category 1 HIA, which has ruled him out of this week's clash against the Storm.
Another man set to miss the clash is the winger to his left, Marcelo Montoya, who suffered a low-grade ankle ligament sprain and a capsular strain.
With Jacob Kiraz's return being anyone's guess, and two outside backs ruled out, this is how the Dogs must line up if they want any chance of pulling off an upset against the Storm.
Buckle up, because for this to work, some stars (and a coach) will need to put their egos aside.
Sincerely, a hopeful Bulldogs fan.
Note: this article has been written with the assumption that Kiraz will not be playing.
Fullback: Connor Tracey
Fairly self-explanatory, Connor Tracey is the Bulldogs' best fullback and should not be moved under any circumstances.
Moving on.
Wingers: Jethro Rinakama and Enari Tuala
If you told a Bulldogs fan that this winger pairing would be the club's best option heading into a finals match against the Storm, they'd probably cry.
Not because they aren't good, they just aren't good enough.
Alas, Jethro Rinakama and Enari Tuala are the best the Bulldogs will get on the wings in this clash, which will unfortunately leave Blake Wilson out of this side.
Tuala has proven to be a solid starting winger, taking out tough carries while being reliable on the defensive end as well. A close-to-90 per cent tackle efficiency speaks for itself, which already puts him ahead of Wilson for a finals match.
Then we have the rookie Rinakama, who would be playing just his fifth first-grade match.
Having scored three tries in his first four matches, Rinakama is an attacking weapon, and while he is rough around the edges, you would be getting similar production to Wilson.
If he is in your long-term plans, he's likely the best option on the sting.
Centres: Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton
Oh boy, this is where it gets interesting.
I want to come out on the record and say I believe Matt Burton is a five-eighth, no question.
The issue here isn't so much that Burton is a centre, but that Lachlan Galvin is not.
Burton is the club's next best thing at centre, and if I'm Ciraldo, I'm choosing a Dally M Centre of the Year and premiership winner at the position, over any other option at the club.
Burton and Ciraldo, and maybe Phil Gould, will need to put their egos aside for the sake of the team.
Stephen Crichton is my other centre; this week, next year, next decade, and the one after that too.
Halves: Lachlan Galvin and Toby Sexton
Can we just play Lachlan Galvin at his actual position, please?
Galvin is an Origin-calibre five-eighth at his best (which he has not been since he called Leichhardt "home"), and Toby Sexton is a genuine halfback.
Do I think Galvin can grow into a top-tier No. 7? Absolutely.
Can he do it in the next five days? No.
Sexton returns to the halfback jumper for me, not because I think he was the answer all along, but because he is the only answer right now.
In 2026, my halves will remain Galvin and Burton, but with so many stars out, the Bulldogs cannot afford to leave quality players out of this side due to stubbornness.
The Bulldogs are in a strong position this week, and if they're going to defeat the Storm in Melbourne, they'll need to swallow their pride.
