With five wins and four losses to show for their nine games, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs still sit in the Intrust Super Premiership top four – but you can forgive fans for being a little disheartened.
Saturday's 21-20 loss to the Dragons was the third nail-biting result at Belmore Sports Ground this season, and the second in which the home side has let a big lead slip. Steve Georgallis's men surrendered a 20-0 lead to lose 22-20 to the Jets in Round 7, before losing from an 18-2 start in their most recent outing.
It makes two 40-minute periods which, if managed correctly, would have seen the Bulldogs at the top of the table, and is frustrating for players and fans alike.
"It was a close one (against the Dragons)," Bulldogs second-rower Lachlan Burr told NSWRL.com.au. "We just didn't stick to our game plan in the second half and unfortunately didn't get the two points.
"We knew what we needed to do, but gave away too many penalties and just weren't completing. A frustrating second half, but we've got next week to improve on it."
In Burr's case, the 2018 season has represented a new challenge, with the East Hills Bulldogs junior returning to the club he called home from 2009 to 2014. Now 25 years of age, Burr had a decorated junior career, representing the NSW Under-16 and NSW Under-18 sides before earning the club's NSW Cup Player of the Year award in 2013.
Belmore is a different place now, but the former Titan is keen to add to his 24 NRL games.
"I'm loving it (being at the Bulldogs)," Burr said. "It's a lot different to when I left, with Des gone, but I'm part-time now as well which I'm still adjusting to. I'm enjoying my time back here.
"I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing and slowly get there (to NRL level). I'm not full-time now, so I've got to work on my fitness a bit more and time management.
"I'm confident I'll get back there."
With Burr on a path of improvement and the Bulldogs looking to put together an 80-minute performance, the side will next face the Newcastle Knights in the Intrust Super Premiership's Magic Round, playing at North Sydney Oval at 1pm next Sunday.
