Bulldogs halfback Moses Mbye has labelled Monday night's game against the Sharks as the club's "biggest" challenge yet this season.
With the Sharks sitting atop the NRL Telstra Premiership ladder Mbye was excited for his side to be the hunters and not the hunted for once, with other clubs usually out to make a point against the Bulldogs' huge forward pack.
Mbye put their 32-20 loss to the Raiders last weekend down to attitude, and is expecting their display against Cronulla to be similar to their clash against fellow premiership heavyweights Melbourne two months ago where they emerged six-point victors.
"In terms of challenges, it's our biggest one of the season yet. We're coming up against the benchmark of the competition so it'll surely test where we are at as a team," Mbye said.
"We've become the challengers now with them above us. Everyone wants to knock the top of the table team off, it is what it is when you're rolling high.
"Our attitude is the main thing we'll take out of that [Storm] game. Our attitude in Canberra was good but the thing was that games go for 80 minutes and our attitude was only good for 65 so it just wasn't there for us," Mbye added.
"We're hunting a complete performance and if we can put it together this week it'll be nice."
Bulldogs prop Tim Browne was gutted by his side's performance in Canberra and was filthy not to come away with the competition points.
Making matters worse for the Bulldogs is that Greg Eastwood – who produced over 200 metres against the Raiders – injured his knee and won't be available for the next month
"I thought we did a lot to put ourselves in the best position to win in Canberra. But now it's fair to say [Cronulla is our biggest test]. It's always good to face the most in-form team," Browne said.
"It's going to be tough too with Greg. He is our Mr Fix-It. He plays everywhere and does everything. He's one of our old heads, he's just full of experience that I feed off so he's definitely a massive loss."
Browne and Mbye also had the chance to poke fun at young goal kicker Kerrod Holland following his misfiring performance in the nation's capital.
Both Browne and Mbye have kicked conversions in their time at the Bulldogs and couldn't help but jibe the Singleton junior.
"If he kicks like he did last week I might have to jump in," Mbye laughed.
"Nah, he's a pretty good kicker and the conditions weren't ideal for him. With one of them, the ball was rolling off the tee. Big Timmy Browne slotted a couple last year though so maybe he'll be next to get the call-up."
Browne, who by this point stood beside Mbye, added: "I have too. I've kicked at 75 per cent throughout my career so I'm pretty happy with that."
Holland himself – who has kicked at 72 per cent this season – even laughed off his last-start goal kicking performance.
"You just have to laugh at yourself I suppose and not think too much about it. It's something I've been working hard on but you have to erase it out of your head because there's a game of footy going on," Holland said.
"When the next one comes around though hopefully they score near the post. The boys have been giving me a hard time about it, asked me 'what's going on?' after the game but you just have to move forward."
