HAVING worn a Bathurst Bulldogs jumper since 2004, Scott Johnston knows a strong start to the season is no guarantee of finding Blowes Clothing Cup glory.
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Yet the experienced and versatile back can’t help but be excited by the start he and his fellow Bulldogs have made to season 2017.
After six rounds the Bulldogs are undefeated, with only Orange Emus sitting higher on the ladder on the back of two additional bonus points.
The Bathurst side has the best defensive record in the competition, on average conceding no more than a converted try each game, and last Saturday Bulldogs showed plenty in attack as well when beating Parkes 70-7.
“It has been a very long time since we’ve had a start like this, I think you’d have to go way back. Even when we won the comp in 2010 I don’t think we has such a strong start, I think you’d have to go back to the middle of the 2000s to find a start like it,” Johnston said.
"There’s a really good feeling at the club at the moment.”
Though the experience of players such as Johnston are a big asset to Bulldogs, he feels it is the younger members of the first XV who have been key to the winning streak.
He also thinks they will be vital as Bulldogs look for continued success.
“I think the young blokes at the club are the reason why we are going so well. We’ve got four or five blokes who have made their first grade debut this year and there are a couple of others who have only played a couple of seasons too,” he said.
“I really think they are going well. They are setting the standard at training and also when they are playing.
“The big thing is that nobody is letting anybody down, everyone is putting in the effort and we are getting the rewards for that.
“I think you always need a bit of luck to be there at the end of the year, but if we can stay relatively injury free, these young blokes are only going to get better.”
There are still three sides Bulldogs are yet to face this season – an improved Dubbo Rhinos, competition leaders Emus and the currently third placed Forbes.
This Saturday Bulldogs will meet Rhinos, who hold a three and three record, in Dubbo and Johnston is expecting a challenge.
“They went down 20-0 to Dubbo ’Roos last week, but I think it was only 3-0 at half-time, so they are definitely a good side,” he said.
“I think their problem might be playing for 80 minutes, that might be letting them down a little bit, but we are certainly expecting a tough game.
“It is very important that one, we treat our opponents with a lot of respect like I think we do every game, and we’ve got to execute our game plan well. If we can do that, then I think the scoreboard will take care of itself.
“The big key for us this season is backing each other. When we’ve done that, we’ve shown we’re a good team.”
Johnston said there is still room for Bulldogs to improve, stronger starts one area he identified.
“Against the bigger clubs we can’t afford to be giving them 10-15 points head start,” he said. “Probably the one negative for us so far has been our starts.”
Kick-off in Dubbo on Saturday will be at 3.15pm at Caltex Oval.
