The unfortunate reality of having a win-at-all-costs culture in professional sport is that there is always a cost.
This week it was Toby Sexton’s reputation.
For better or worse, we were given an insight into just how ruthless the Bulldogs are prepared to be in their hunt for premiership glory.
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? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
It was exposed by the calm and calculated way Sexton was conveniently thrown under the bus to try and ensure Lachlan Galvin a smooth transition into the No 7 jersey in the team to take on the Dragons on Saturday.
As the Bulldogs PR machine rolled into gear, you started hearing from a conga line of senior journos and expert commentators spruiking almost identical stats about Sexton’s unflattering attacking numbers.
You’re entitled to question, were they planted, or did they simply appear out of thin air.
Because it certainly looked to be a clearly an orchestrated campaign to change the narrative around Galvin, who until now has worn the wrath of most Bulldogs fans who have seen him (fairly or unfairly) as a destabilising influence at the club since his mid-season switch from Wests Tigers.
It started on Monday when it first leaked that Cameron Ciraldo was planning a backflip on the decision last weekend to omit Galvin from the squad that beat the Cowboys.
By Tuesday the Galvin bandwagon was in full swing ahead of the naming of the team, as the Dogs sat back and left it to a mounting media posse to expose Sexton’s shortcomings after setting their trap.
The stats highlighted included how Sexton had the least try assists and line breaks of any of the halfbacks in top four teams, while it was also pointed out how Sexton had not registered a single try assist in the past seven weeks.
Across various media platforms, the same stats were reappearing time and again.
It was also highlighted how the Dogs had struggled to score points against the Cowboys last round, despite the fact the Cowboys have one of the worst defensive records of any team.
What wasn’t mentioned was that the Cowboys were also fighting to try and save their season last week in front of their home fans, while the Bulldogs were missing their No 1 attacking weapon in Stephen Crichton who was rested after Origin, along with Kurt Mann.
Dogs’ react to Galvin starting at 7 | 01:56
The other key stat that was conveniently overlooked but uncovered by NRL 360 on Wednesday night was the Bulldogs’ stunning win/loss record depending on when Sexton was playing or unavailable.
Over the last two seasons, the Dogs have a 33.3-win percentage when Sexton is missing (winning only three of nine) compared to a 71.9 per cent winning record when Sexton is playing (winning 23 of 32).
If you put Nathan Cleary’s name alongside those numbers most people would be blown away.
Yet it hardly rated a second glance because it obviously didn’t fit the script that dominated this week’s discussion.
Ciraldo also appeared on breakfast radio on Wednesday chewing the fat with Vossy and Brandy on SEN, detailing how tough it was to drop Sexton, but saying ultimately it was for the betterment of the team.
Ciraldo spoke well about how the Bulldogs had been trying to evolve their attack knowing they need to improve to beat the teams with the better defensive structure in the big games.
And like Billy Slater did with dropping Daly Cherry-Evans to make way for Tom Dearden in the recent Origin series, it is a tough but brave call by Ciraldo who has backed his judgment ahead of popular opinion to try and take the Dogs to the next level.
‘Dogs’ season is riding on this call’ | 04:21
One way or another, Ciraldo is not going to die wondering if the team will be better with Galvin wearing the No 7 jumper ahead of Sexton.
For that you can only commend Ciraldo’s courage and conviction.
Obviously, no one is better equipped to decide what is ultimately best for the Bulldogs than the head coach.
And in time it will be Ciraldo left to own the decision one way or another.
If Galvin doesn’t take the Bulldogs to the next level, Ciraldo will wear the fallout.
But if the Dogs’ do go on to end-of-season success, he will be a genius.
The only issue I had was how it all played out, as Sexton’s reputation was basically chewed up and spat.
I just felt it could have been done with a lot more dignity so to not undervalue the influence Sexton has had on the Bulldogs’ rise to date.
Even allowing for Sexton’s unflattering attacking stats, he was good enough to help guide the Dogs to the top of the ladder for basically two thirds of the season.
For that I reckon Sexton deserved a bit more gratitude than has been shown this week.