Bulldogs halfback Toby Sexton has revealed a team meeting five weeks ago was the trigger for the side's sparkling attacking form.
The bedrock for the club's success this year has been built on a relentless defensive effort, with coach Cameron Ciraldo incorporating many of the systems he used to turn Penrith into an NRL powerhouse.
There were concerns, however that Canterbury lacked the attack to threaten to competition's top sides throughout the finals.
It's a topic the club discussed internally, with a 20-18 loss to the Cowboys in Round 20 the trigger for a stunning turnaround.
The questions around their attacking struggles have largely been thrown out the window in the past five weeks, the Bulldogs averaging 31 points a game since Round 21.
Bulldogs v Sea Eagles: Round 26
Sexton has played a key role in the surge, emerging as one of the most underrated halves in the game.
"About five weeks ago we had some conversations around our attack," Sexton said. "It wasn't where we needed it to be. That was because we'd focused on our defence, and rightly so given the way we defended last year.
"But we knew if we were going to go to the next stage in this competition, then our attack needed to improve. Slowly we've improved it and started to score a few more points."
Sexton's emergence comes after a rocky start to the year that saw him overlooked for the Bulldogs No.7 jumper through the opening 11 weeks of the season.
Halves to watch: Sexton's passing game
Instead, the halfback was sent to reserve grade after Ciraldo told him to simplify his game and focus on doing the basics right.
It was a bitter pill to swallow at the time, but the 23-year-old recognises the stint in NSW Cup laid the foundation for the success he's currently enjoying in the NRL.
"It was challenging," he said. "You train all pre-season to be the starting seven in Round 1. For that not to happen was challenging. Cameron's been honest with me the whole run and made it clear if I was playing well in reserve grade, I'd get my chance.
"I got to go back to Cup and work on a few things, especially around my defence, my kicking game and leading the team. He made it clear when I came back that none of that was to change.
"Along the way I've been able to pick up a few things and understanding how the boys want to play. It's just gone on a massive rise since then."
While Sexton has had the attack firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, the defence has remained as solid as it has all season.
Canterbury haven't conceded a point in the second half of their last three games and currently have the best defence in the competition.
This weekend will provide another test of the side's defensive resolve when they host Manly in front of a big crowd at Accor Stadium on Friday night. Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton will miss the clash due to suspension, with Kurt Mann also ruled out after fracturing his clavicle.
A victory will keep Canterbury's hopes of a top-four finish alive, while the seventh-placed Sea Eagles are pushing for a home final in the opening week of the playoffs.
Match: Bulldogs v Sea Eagles
Round 26 -
home Team
Bulldogs
5th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
7th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
The Sea Eagles boast multiple attacking weapons of their own, led by halfback Daly Cherry-Evans and fullback Tom Trbojevic.
A proud Queenslander, Sexton grew up watching Cherry-Evans steer the Maroons to multiple State of Origin series victories. There will be no admiration on Friday night, however, with the Bulldogs halfback eager to outplay his teenage idol.
It's a challenge Sexton's teammates feel he is ready for, with edge forward Jacob Preston seeing a noticeable shift in the halfback's confidence in recent weeks.
"He's been exceptional," Preston said. "He went through a bit of adversity at the start of the year and he's grown not only as a football player but as a human being.
"He's absolutely killing it at the moment. He's leading our side around awesomely and I love playing alongside him."
While Ciraldo has been the public face of this year's surge up the ladder, there are plenty of other figures who have played a vital role in the club's on-field success.
Assistant coach Jason Taylor has been placed in charge of the Bulldogs attack and has worked closely with Sexton throughout the season to develop the emerging halfback.
The fruits of that effort have started to show in the past month, with Sexton hoping there are plenty more points to come before the season ends.
"It's taken a little while for the boys to understand the way he does things and what's expected," Sexton said. "The boys are buying in at the moment.
"He gives you every chance to play well on the weekend with the level of detail he goes into in regard to opposition defences and how we can pick them part. It's a relationship I'm keen to keep building."
Halves to watch: Sexton's kicking game
Sexton's impressive form has seen rival clubs take a greater interest in his contract situation.
The halfback is signed to the end of next season but is free to negotiate with other teams from November 1 if the Bulldogs don't lock him down sooner.
Sexton's value will skyrocket if he can lead Canterbury deep into the finals, but for now, that's a conversation for another day. The current focus is simply on keeping his team's attack humming in the run to September.
"My job’s just to play footy and that’s it. I’ll continue to focus on that."
