The Bulldogs had racked up a 94-0 lead before the mercy rule was enacted with Gunnedah sharing the scoring around, according to Dogs coach Sean Hayne.

The Gunnedah mentor was pleased none of his troops were injured from the match but couldn’t help but feel for the South West Robins.

“You can’t blame them but it comes down to players playing out the season,” he said. 

“If they sign up at the start, you expect them to see the year through but that happens at every club, they all go through stages.

“It’s disappointing for the club when this sort of thing happens.”

There wasn’t much to take from the game form-wise for Hayne and his mind is firmly focused on next week’s home game against Narrabri.

The match will decide who takes out second spot on the ladder and gets a crack at North Tamworth in the major semi along with a second chance if a loss occurs in that match.

“We’ve got to try and tighten up our middle, be more committed in defence and make sure we get off our line,” he said.

“We have to do the little things right, it’s going to be a tough game and hopefully we turn up with the right attitude.

“We just need to be ready to go from the start. Last week’s game against Norths, we gave them a start and we did it last time against Narrabri as well.

“The good teams are going to make you pay for it but the blokes know what’s expected of them.”