Will Cameron Ciraldo have the media back “pissing in our pocket” after Friday night’s blockbuster against the Storm in Melbourne?

Or will the Bulldogs coach be pissing in the wind trying to convince us that recent changes to his spine have not caused an unnecessary headache as we approach the business end of the NRL season?

I certainly don’t mean to be crude about this.

But since Ciraldo brought up the “pissing” contest following last week’s loss to the Roosters, I thought it was worth investigating a little further to try and work out which direction the wind is blowing in the countdown to this massive clash against the Storm.

It’s fair to say that many Bulldogs fans are still putting their faith in Ciraldo to prove the doubters wrong again by turning around last round’s disappointing loss and taking down the competition favourites on their home track.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Though just as many I speak to are still struggling to comprehend why the Bulldogs needed to axe Toby Sexton and Reed Mahoney in the first place, given the team had led the comp for most of the season.

Another loss here would only elevate those doubts.

Already the Dogs have gone down in three of their last five games with Lachlan Galvin in the driver’s seat wearing the No.7 jumper.

Yet on the back of the comprehensive 32-12 loss to the Roosters, Ciraldo did a good job diverting the attention away from Galvin and also his new No.9 Bailey Hayward by focussing on other areas that let the Bulldogs down.

When asked if the recent changes to spine had contributed to the patchy run of form, Ciraldo was quick to put it back on the media.

“I think everyone was pissing in our pocket last week about how good it looked,” Ciraldo said, referring to the previous 32-14 win over the Warriors.

“So not too concerned about that but when you lose possession, I think it was close to 70/30 in that middle part of the game, it’s pretty hard as a spine player.

“When the possession is against you like that and you’re giving stupid penalties away… not much the spine can do.”

No question, the spine can’t do it’s job if the forwards aren’t winning the battle in the middle.

But I still found the “pissing in our pockets” comment a bit ironic given the way the Bulldogs had worked the media so well — to get the stats out in the public domain that supported Ciraldo’s decision to drop Sexton based on the team’s inability to score points.

Yet you can spin it any way you want. In the end, it always comes down to the most important numbers of all — the scoreboard.

And since Galvin’s call-up in round 20, the Bulldogs have lost to the Dragons, Tigers and Roosters, with wins over the Sea Eagles and Warriors.

While it’s understandable Ciraldo will and should continue to do all he can to protect his young playmaker from any unnecessary outside noise, there is no doubt Craig Bellamy won’t be falling for it.

There is not a coach in the game who knows how to break down opposition teams like Bellamy does.

And you just know he will have a special plan up his sleeve to make sure Galvin gets the full and unfiltered Melbourne Storm welcome when he makes his way onto AAMI Park on Friday night.

As the Tigers and Roosters have done in recent weeks, Galvin can expect some heavy traffic coming his way, and his defence will well and truly be put to the test.

The Storm’s defence won’t allow Galvin or any of the Dogs too many opportunities, so they will have to nail whatever they get the instant the moment strikes.

It is huge pressure for a 20-year-old playmaker who has also already had to deal with the off-field controversy Galvin has this year.

After the Storm this round, the Dogs take on the Panthers and the Sharks before the finals kick off.

For all that has been said and written about the Dogs in recent months since Galvin’s arrival, we are about to find out once and for all if Ciraldo pulled the right rein making the changes he did.

It was always done specifically with the big end of season games in mind.

Now they are on the Dogs’ doorstep, there is no turning back.

ARE ROOSTERS WASTING $500,000 OF THEIR SALARY CAP ON DCE?

Meanwhile, pressure builds on Manly’s outgoing skipper Daly Cherry-Evans ahead of his 350th milestone match against the Dolphins.

I’m among the group convinced DCE should consider retirement rather than potentially risk his legacy playing on next year at the Roosters.

While it is obvious to every fan that DCE’s form has fallen off a cliff in recent weeks, the stinging analysis from both Matty Johns and Cooper Cronk on their Fox League podcast this week relating to DCE’s lack of willingness for collision must be especially concerning for the Roosters.

“He’s 36 years of age, may or may not be playing on next year, we’ve got no idea,” Cronk said on the Matty and Cronk podcast.

“But there’s one thing that you need to be able to do as a halfback at the latter stages, is you need to stay physical. And on the weekend, there’s a couple of moments where Daly sort of removed from physicality.”

READ MORE NRL

RUN HOME: Panthers’ double chance hopes slashed; inside contender’s stunning freefall

LATE MAIL: Souths star’s surprise return locked in; Flanno’s reveal over young gun

NOV 1 STATE OF PLAY: $1m-a-year bid sparking Sharks cap fears; Bears raid hits Storm, Titans

Cronk then exposed two moments in the loss to the Tigers where DCE didn’t put his body on the line.

So with talk the Roosters’ contract will be worth around $500,000 for the one season, you are entitled to question if it will be money well spent.

Some think it’s a calculated risk that will not leave the Roosters too badly out of pocket if it backfires in respect to their salary cap.

Yet I reckon the Roosters would be better off paying that money to help keep other young players they already have — like Hugo Savala given he is currently on about $80,000 and deserving of a significant upgrade.

Don’t forget the Roosters forked out about $300,000 this year to buy Chad Townsend, and how did that work out for them?

Why should DCE be paid for what he’s achieved in the past at Manly when Savala has come through the system and he is now the future?

With Manly now out of the finals race, Cherry-Evans has three games left to convince everyone his time is not up.

While the Roosters are privately making calls to let it be known they have no intention of pulling out of the deal, the comments from Cronk prove not even all their closest allies are sold that this $500,000 gamble is a smart bet.

WHY RAIDERS HAVE MORE TO PROVE THAN PANTHERS

How good is it having a Friday night double blockbuster to give us an early taste of finals footy, kicking off with the Panthers and Raiders in Mudgee before the Storm tackle the Dogs in Melbourne.

We are about to find out exactly who are the genuine contenders and who still has work to do.

Regardless of the Panthers’ loss to the Storm last round, they played well enough to convince everyone that they are well and truly on target for a fifth straight title.

For that reason, I don’t think the result here will matter too much to Ivan Cleary given what he already knows his team is capable of.

But for Ricky Stuart’s Raiders, it’s a different story entirely.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

They have done a tremendous job to lead the competition when almost no one considered them a top four chance to start the season.

But there is no question many still have some justifiable doubts if the Raiders have the defence to match their razzle dazzle attack against the big guns when it matters most.

Factor in that the Raiders haven’t played a current top eight team since their win over the Roosters back in round 13.

Yet with their final two games of the regular season against the Tigers and Dolphins, this will be their last chance to convince everyone why they deserve the respect to align with their position on the competition ladder heading into the finals.