On the back of an 8.12 (60) to 3.15 (33) loss to Inverell at Varley Oval, the Bulldogs will have back-to-back byes with the representative round and the side’s regular bye.

Gunnedah coach Andrew George spoke to the Namoi Valley Independent earlier in the week of the importance of this game and Maher said the Saints were just too good on the day.

“Very disappointing,” Maher said of the top of the table clash.

“They were the better team on the day. We didn't execute our small skills and they did a lot better.”

Inverell led by 15 points at both quarter and half-time before slightly extending the lead to 6.10 (46) to 3.11 (29) at three-quarter-time.

Inverell then held Gunnedah goalless in the final quarter to take out the win.

The loss did little to dent the confidence of Maher who rates his side as a genuine premiership contender.

“Not at all, we’re still capable of doing it [winning the competition],” Maher said.

“We’ve just got to knuckle down in the next two weeks and show we're one of the better teams in this comp.”

Maher rated the games of coach George and Brent Hartley as two of the best performances from the loss.

He also said there was two key areas where the Bulldogs would need to match Inverell when they next meet in round 18. 

“Inverell, as soon as the ball was turned over, they all moved back, flooded and they were yapping. They never stopped talking and we did,” Maher said.

In other matches, the Tamworth Kangaroos 15.21 (111) beat Narrabri 7.7 (49) while New England took the win against Moree. who forfeited