The implementation of new COVID-19 lockdowns throughout both the ACT and NSW has effectively ended the Goulburn City Bulldogs' run to the Canberra Region Rugby League First Grade finals.
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The nation's capital began a week-long lockdown last Thursday which was extended by two weeks today, while NSW began a statewide lockdown on Saturday.
Throughout the season, the Bulldogs have sat consistently inside the top four, and it was only defeat at the hands of the Queanbeyan Roos on August 7 which pushed them out.
However, with three rounds remaining before last weekend, Goulburn co-coach Tyson Greenwood remained confident they would break back in before the end of the season.
"If we get on the field, that's awesome, and if not, that's very upsetting for us because we probably had an ideal run to the semis with three teams underneath us," Greenwood said.
"We could have come home strong and really pushed that semi-final position."
Including last weekend, the Bulldogs were supposed to face Belconnen United Sharks, the Yass Magpies, and Tuggeranong Bushrangers in the final three rounds.
But after last Sunday's match was cancelled, the next two weekend's fixtures against Yass and Tuggeranong will most likely be called off as well due to the extension of Canberra's lockdown.
Though First Grade is all but certain to miss out on finals, Greenwood doesn't want their poor fortune to detract from the success the club has had in other grades this season.
The Bulldogs Under 19s side is comfortably in first place on the ladder, while the women's tackle team is in first and the League Tag side is in third.
Even if the round matches don't go ahead, Greenwood hopes the finals are played so these teams have their well-deserved shots at premierships.
"To be honest, COVID is very unpredictable but the way it's going, I don't think we'll get back on the paddock," he said.
"Definitely not for the regular season, but the three teams that are definitely in semis for us, all three of them have secured good positions on the ladder so it'd be very disappointing for them to end the season when they're sitting in such a good position."
Despite facing what looks to be a dispiriting end to the year, Greenwood was very pleased with what he saw on the field.
"When [Jesse Martin, Bulldogs co-coach] and I first came together in late January, we were way behind the eight ball," Greenwood said.
"Usually coaches are announced in October or November, and that's nobody's fault, it was just the way things were with COVID.
"A lot of people wrote us off, but we won our first three games and it was only up from there. We held third position on the ladder until round 12, and unfortunately injuries and a bit of a lack of depth got the better of us."
As a whole, the Bulldogs will end 2021 in a much better position than they were in this time last year.
Over the last 12 months, Greenwood has been particularly pleased with the culture throughout the club, which he said was one in which "everyone's got your back and nobody's going to let you down".
Additionally, he thanked the community for its support throughout the season.
"I just wanted to thank everyone in the town who's gotten behind the club, whether it be our sponsors or our supporters," he said.
"We really appreciate it."
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